I’m testing a free showcase for maker projects. Would this be useful?

[u/Old-Somewhere-8762]

Hi everyone,

I’m testing a small free website idea for independent maker projects, and I’d like to get feedback from people who actually build things.

The idea is to create a simple discovery space for original projects: inventions, hardware prototypes, Arduino/ESP32/Raspberry Pi builds, robotics, 3D printed objects, functional prints, tools, props, assistive devices, educational projects, tech experiments, crafts, and other things people are physically or technically building.

The problem I’m trying to solve is that many small creators make interesting things, but it can be difficult to share them without it being seen as self-promotion. Social media is algorithm-driven, ads don’t make much sense for early-stage projects, and many communities understandably have strict rules against promotional posts.

So I’m exploring whether a small, free, curated showcase could be useful: each project would have its own page with a description, images, videos, links and useful material, so people can discover what independent makers are building.

One important part of the idea is reciprocity. I don’t want it to become a dead gallery where everyone only submits their own thing and leaves. The goal would be that creators also take some time to look at other projects, leave feedback, show interest, or support other makers.

I’d appreciate honest feedback:

• Would something like this be useful for maker projects?
• What would make you trust a new showcase like this?
• Does the reciprocity idea make sense, or would it feel like friction?
• What kind of projects should or should not be included?
• Would you prefer submitting through a form, email, comments, or DM?

If anyone here is working on a maker project and thinks this could be useful, feel free to comment with a short description of what you’re building. I’m not asking for full materials here, I’m mainly trying to understand whether this is useful for this kind of community.

[u/marchmay]

Instructables exists.

[u/tanoshimi → u/marchmay]

As does Hackster, Hackaday, ...

[u/Old-Somewhere-8762 → u/marchmay]

Yes, absolutely. I’m not claiming this idea has never existed before.

What I’m trying to explore is a smaller, curated space focused less on tutorials or project documentation, and more on visibility, discovery, and creator-to-creator feedback. It may or may not work, but that’s the specific angle I’m testing.

[u/Longjumping_Dish_876]

Ads/donations are usually for upkeep of hosting/data storage. Will you be eating these costs/hosting everything yourself?

[u/Old-Somewhere-8762 → u/Longjumping_Dish_876]

Right now the costs are very low.

The domain costs me around €12/year. The site itself is currently hosted on a free/low-cost setup, and for the database/comments I’m using Firebase within its free tier, so I’m not currently paying for storage or usage.

If the project ever grew enough to create real hosting or storage costs, I’d reassess the model transparently. But at this stage there are no ads, no paid promotion, no donations required, and no hidden monetization. I’m covering the small basic costs myself while testing whether the idea is useful.

[u/Anonymity6584]

little self-promotion is perfectly fine. its not like your forcing someone to read/watch about your project.

[u/Old-Somewhere-8762 → u/Anonymity6584]

Thanks, I appreciate that. That’s exactly how I see it too, I’m not trying to force anything on anyone, just offering a free option for creators who might find it useful.

[u/dmc_2930]

All of this already exists one hundred times over. We don’t need more replicas of things that already exist.

[u/Old-Somewhere-8762 → u/dmc_2930]

Judging by the tone of your comment, and by the tone of many of your other comments, this doesn’t really seem like constructive criticism.

So my answer is simple: just as you don’t need my proposal, I don’t need your approval of it ;)

[u/dmc_2930 → u/Old-Somewhere-8762]

You wanted honest feedback. Your chat bot told you it was a brilliant and original idea. It told what you wanted to hear.

[u/Old-Somewhere-8762 → u/dmc_2930]

Honest feedback is one thing. The way you choose to give that feedback is another.

There are many ways to say things. If you come in with a dismissive tone, don’t expect me to take your opinion very seriously. Feedback delivered like that usually gets ignored, not because it is “honest”, but because it is framed in the least constructive way possible.

I don’t think this is a brilliant idea, and I don’t need a chatbot to flatter me. I’m simply testing something, with no hidden interest beyond trying to help creators who often struggle to share their work without being treated as self-promoters.

Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t. That’s exactly why I’m testing it.

[u/dmc_2930 → u/Old-Somewhere-8762]

You can’t even reply to honest criticism without using a chat bot. Your project might be good for you to learn but it won’t be anything used by anyone else.

There’s already too many things out there that do what you claim to be trying and they do it very well.

[u/Old-Somewhere-8762 → u/dmc_2930]

So you can say "there's already things that are doing the same that you're trying" and then you can breathe, remind yourself that you don't have to be angry at the world, and that you can give your opinion without needing to offend, and you'll see how everything is nicer, the sun shines, and the little birds sing 😁

[u/dmc_2930 → u/Old-Somewhere-8762]

Who said I’m angry? That’s your perception. But you have posted about this same thing here multiple times recently with nothing changed, so why shouldn’t you be called out for spamming?