112 lines
4 KiB
Markdown
112 lines
4 KiB
Markdown
# Product Ideas — Research 2026-02-17
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## Selected: SnapAPI (Screenshot API)
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### Concept
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URL → PNG/JPEG/WebP screenshot via API. Full-page capture, custom viewports, wait-for-selector, device emulation.
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### Why
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- Reuses DocFast's Puppeteer/Playwright infra (90% shared)
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- Can run on same Hetzner VPS
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- Mid-tier market underserved (Urlbox $99+, cheap options have bad DX)
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- Proven demand — developers need this constantly
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### Pricing (EUR)
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- Free: 100 screenshots/mo
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- Starter: €9/mo (1K)
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- Pro: €29/mo (5K)
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- Business: €79/mo (25K)
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### Competitors
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| Competitor | Price | Weakness |
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|-----------|-------|----------|
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| Urlbox | $99+/mo | Enterprise-only, overpriced |
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| ScreenshotOne | $9/mo for 1.5K | Limited customization |
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| ScreenshotAPI.net | $9/mo for 1K | Bad docs, slow support |
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| CaptureKit | $7/1K | Newer, limited track record |
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### Tech Stack
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- Node.js + Puppeteer/Playwright in Docker
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- Same auth/billing pattern as DocFast (Stripe)
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- PostgreSQL for usage tracking
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- Hetzner CAX11 or shared with DocFast
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### MVP Timeline: 2-3 weeks
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---
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## CEO Setup Plan for SnapAPI
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### Phase 1: Infrastructure (Day 1-2)
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1. Create Forgejo repo `openclawd/snapapi`
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2. Set up Hetzner server (or colocate with DocFast)
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3. Domain: pick a domain (snapapi.dev? screenshotapi.eu? capturefast.dev?)
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4. SSL + nginx reverse proxy
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5. PostgreSQL database
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### Phase 2: Core Product (Day 3-7)
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1. API endpoint: `POST /v1/screenshot` with URL, viewport, format, full-page options
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2. Puppeteer worker pool (reuse DocFast patterns)
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3. Auth system (API keys, email verification)
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4. Usage tracking + rate limiting
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5. Free/paid tier enforcement
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### Phase 3: Billing (Day 7-10)
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1. Stripe integration (checkout, webhooks, subscription management)
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2. Pro key provisioning on payment
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3. Cancellation → downgrade flow
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### Phase 4: Website & Docs (Day 10-14)
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1. Landing page (same build-time templating as DocFast)
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2. API documentation
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3. Legal pages (Impressum, Privacy, Terms)
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4. SEO basics (meta tags, sitemap, JSON-LD)
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### Phase 5: Operations (Day 14-17)
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1. CEO skill file (copy DocFast CEO pattern)
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2. Uptime monitor cron
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3. Support mailbox (FreeScout)
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4. Support agent cron
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5. CEO scheduling (morning/afternoon/evening sessions)
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6. Off-site backup (BorgBackup to Storage Box)
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### Phase 6: Launch (Day 17-21)
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1. Marketing specialist for launch copy
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2. Product Hunt listing
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3. SEO quick wins
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4. Monitor first users
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### Key Learnings from DocFast to Apply
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- Ship with `.env` persistence from day 1 (no recurring checkout failures)
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- CI/CD with secrets from Forgejo from the start
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- `overflow-x: clip` not `hidden` for sticky nav
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- FreeScout `text` field needs HTML for formatting
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- FreeScout threads are reverse chronological
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- `needs-reply` must check unassigned tickets too
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- Support agent MUST have hard security rules (never leak keys)
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- Build-time HTML templating (zero deps)
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- Status page from day 1
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- Brotli compression from day 1
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- Server healthcheck cron from day 1
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---
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## Other Ideas (Backlog)
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### OGPix — OG Image Generation API
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HTML template + data → 1200×630 social preview image. Same Puppeteer infra. Vercel's solution is platform-locked. €12-39/mo. Low-medium competition.
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### HookBin — Webhook Testing & Debugging
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Temporary endpoints to capture webhooks. Real-time inspection, forwarding, replay. Webhook.site: free→$49 gap. €7-19/mo. Easiest to build (1-2 weeks).
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### MailProbe — Email Validation API
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Syntax, MX, SMTP verification, disposable detection. Undercut at €0.001-0.003/email vs competitors at $0.005-0.008. High competition but high demand.
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### ResizeNow — Image Optimization API
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Resize, compress, convert images. Cloudinary charges $89+/mo. Sharp/libvips is fast. Risk: Cloudinary free tier is generous (25K transforms).
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### WaitlistAPI — Waitlist Management
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Email collection + referral tracking + position. €12-29/mo. Low competition but churny (customers leave after launch).
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### CronPing — Cron Job Monitoring
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Dead man's switch for cron jobs. Cronitor $24/mo, Healthchecks.io is open source competitor. €7-19/mo. Simplest product (1-2 weeks).
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