iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 14/07/2026

Abstrax is live and available to try. If you have used it, we would love to hear what felt useful, what felt unclear, and what should be added next. useabstrax.com

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 09/07/2026

The Abstrax docs are live. They should be direct and useful, not padded out. If anything is unclear, missing, or wrong, an issue would be really helpful. Docs: useabstrax.com/docs

010

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 06/07/2026

Because Abstrax runs on your server, the CLI is open source. You can inspect the code, check what commands do, open issues, or suggest improvements. That felt like the right default for this kind of tool. github.com/useabstrax/abstrax

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 04/07/2026

Abstrax can be installed with: curl -fsSL useabstrax.com/install.sh | sh Then: abstrax version Full install guide: useabstrax.com

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 01/07/2026

I'm bringing something new to the world. Abstrax is an open source CLI for Linux server admin commands you can actually remember. Made for devs who manage their own servers and occasionally end up thinking: “What was the command again?” 🌐 useabstrax.com

010

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 28/11/2025

From feedback on the initial launch of hosted.md I pushed out a little update last night. For anyone editing templates, there's now a "rebuild after save" toggle. Saves you from having to edit a page or triggering a build manually!

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 22/11/2025

Some useful feedback already for hosted.md! First up is adding a "rebuild site after save" toggle to the template editor section. It'll default to off, so you can make multiple changes before it rebuilds your site but for those 1 off situations, it'll make things easier! Just toggle it and edit!

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 20/11/2025

I'm still working on the position of the toggle as it's not working as you'll see from the screenshot. But when you come into this page, you'll have the toggle at the top so it should be easier to see. I think no matter where the option goes though there's a risk of someone forgetting to toggle it.

100

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 15/10/2025

Then those emails are actually going to be dynamic in content, based on what actions you've done / not done. I came up with a list of combinations / options and then grouped them and settled on 3 emails over the course of the week. See the screenshot for my notes which may explain better.

100

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 15/10/2025

The simple config used to generate the onboarding email schedule for hosted.md. Would probably add a few more options in the config if it was turned into a package but would something like this be useful to anyone else? #laravel

210

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 02/08/2025

@rickmills.uk has already managed to find a few issues for me to fix ahead of getting the beta users onboard! Get tunnel visioned on your own project sometimes it's easy to miss obvious things! 🤦‍♂️

100

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 01/08/2025

We. are. there. Time to onboard @rickmills.uk so he can give it a test before we unleash it to the waitlist. There's still time to get onboard, become an early adopter and get it cheaper for life! Sign up at hosted.md Beta launch will be Wednesday 6th August! #buildinpublic #staticsites

140

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 23/07/2025

Hopefully have a clean edit page setup 🤞 We'll see what the beta users have to say! Want to be one? Make sure to be on the mailing list hosted.md #buildinpublic #markdown #staticsites

031

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 22/07/2025

Did a little planning last night... Got my final list that I need to complete, or partially complete for some of them as i've limited the scope of some of them. Now's the time to get on the wait list if you want beta access + exclusive discount code 😎 hosted.md #buildinpublic

041

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 17/07/2025

After using filament for so long, it took a while to get used to the Livewire components from FluxUI but really dig some of the stuff you can do with them. Enjoyed putting this little button together that lets you switch theme but also optionally rebuild your static site after switching! #laravel

010

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 09/07/2025

Sneak peak of part of the Themes management pages. 👀 Little popover sidebar that will show the description of the theme, along with the templates that are included and can be customised. Probably more UI / UX work to do to make it perfect but it'll do for now to get it out there and in your hands

010

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 27/06/2025

Everything's coming together with the site updates for hosted md. New header is ready and all the pages mapped out in the nav and one page done which can serve as a basis for the rest of them! Time to write more content.

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 13/06/2025

Had another day off posting yesterday aside from some auto reposts i have setup. It's nice to occasionally not have to worry about scheduling or making those posts! Cracking on though tonight with stuff, getting new site provisioning all working! Close to a working app!

100

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 05/06/2025

Never lose track of where you are when navigating around your folder structure! Handy little breadcrumb trail built into the page manager. #buildinpublic

140

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 04/06/2025

Another little sneak peak from the page management 👌 Keeping the page creation a simple process! (hopefully)

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 01/06/2025

Easily preview your page with hosted.md to make sure your markdown syntax is correct! Early release will be coming sometime in the next few weeks, make sure you're on the wait list for early access! 👌 #buildinpublic #sneakpeak

020

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 26/05/2025

Another cheeky sneak peak today 👀 Nice drop down button for creating a new page or a new folder in the current folder you're in.

010

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 21/05/2025

Little sneak peak of the pages table. 👀 Given you could be loading pages from a Github repo, I've taken some inspiration from it so it will hopefully feel familiar to a user. #buildinpublic #inspiration

020

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 11/05/2025

Here's a screenshot from Fathom, numbers are low 📉 But again, I've actually not promoted it anywhere yet other than here on BSky! The site is still new, SEO never works overnight so the posts and things will take time to gain any traction. 2/4

110

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 30/04/2025

Working on what I hope will be a handing little page for some people! A markdown cheatsheet will be available soon on hosted.md 👌 Just finalised the layout and structure of the page. Will be populating the content over the next few days. Stay tuned 👀

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 28/04/2025

Making a start on turning my proof of concept i put together into a proper app now. As always, starting with what I know best to cut down build time and get the MVP out! #buildinpublic

020

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 14/04/2025

One mistake I made with BlueWing was not getting a blog up on the site from launch of the waitlist holding page. Missed out on some golden time to get ahead with SEO. Not making that mistake again, working on getting a simple blog template added to hosted.md #buildinpublic

010

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 22/02/2025

Updated homepage for Blue Wing is almost done I think. Here's a peak #buildinpublic Time to move onto the content pages

110

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 21/02/2025

👀 Sneak peak at the updates to the bluew.ing site header. Still work to be done but i like how it's coming along so far! #buildinpublic

020

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 19/02/2025

Another new feature for bluew.ing that I quietly pushed out in between real life stuff, is the ability to create drafts! Drafts can be distinguished on the calendar by the coloured dot whereas fully scheduled posts are highlighted in full!

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 16/01/2025

📣 Coming soon to Blue Wing, evergreen content reposting! 😎 Not heard evergreen content before? Let me help explain what it is and how Blue Wing will be able to help. #buildinpublic #marketing #socialmarketing (1/4) 🧵

130

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 14/01/2025

Taken the first pass at evergreen reposting in Blue Wing, last night! Hoping to get this feature rolled out in the next few days. Excuse the test data in the screenshot 😅 #buildinpublic

040

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 06/01/2025

Here's the view modal for this post (before I added the attachment links!) 👌 (3/3)

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 04/01/2025

Sneak peak of the "view post" modal / slide out that i started working on last night. 👀 Still some work to do but would love feedback if anyone has any #buildinpublic 🙏

050

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 03/01/2025

Been so busy with Bluesky stuff at the day job today that I wasn't sure if I wanted to work on Blue Wing tonight. Discipline took over though! Working on a "view modal" when clicking an event in the calendar. #buildinpublic

120

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 28/12/2024

Calling #buildinpublic for some minor UI feedback. Adding a little alert message onto the main scheduler page when you have no accounts added. Which colour fits better on the eyes with the other colours around it, yellow or the amber?

320

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 25/12/2024

Santa has spoilt me this Christmas! Paddle also steamed in with a last minute Christmas present too #buildinpublic

060

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 23/12/2024

This delay in getting approved with Paddle has had some positives come out of it! Managed to hack in a few small "nice to have" extras to Blue Wing that I was going to delay until after launch. A character counter being one of them! #buildinpublic

030

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 21/12/2024

Pretty much just waiting for Paddle to approve us now! Love this period when you're getting close to release. Lots of "fix" commits going in 😅 #buildinpublic

010

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 10/12/2024

Date time picker still needs some work and theres a little quirk with the "copied to clipboard" notification but not too bad

010

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 07/12/2024

Slight break from the usual #buildinpublic posts while Christmas lands in our house. I also need to get a new profile picture. The beard is significantly bigger now 😂

0130

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 05/12/2024

Really fighting the urge to make Blue Wing look "good". I'm using Filament for most of the functionality so while that handles it, the pages are still missing headers / breadcrumbs colour tweaks and are currently full page width. 😅 Got to get it all working first though 👌 #buildinpublic

120

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 02/12/2024

Time to start turning my cobbled together test application into a proper app that y'all can sign up for! Going with Laravel + Jetstream to get up and running with all the basic stuff that no one wants to build! #buildinpublic

000

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 30/11/2024

Hello #buildinpublic from the API again! This time with some media. Playing with the API more while the domain for the Blue Wing landing page propagates!

Hero image from the Blue Wing landing page

020

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 28/11/2024

I was going to post the logo earlier but i got wrapped up in building out the landing page. Just one small section left to do but ran out of time tonight. Will get the landing page completed tomorrow night! #buildinpublic Thoughts on the logo?

030

Mike Barlow @mikebarlow.uk · 27/11/2024

Always dangerous when I decide to have a go at some design work in Figma 😂 🙈 #buildinpublic

110