https://helsh-js.com/journalLong-form notes from the studio: engineering essays, hiring guides and lessons from the field.enhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/you-have-an-app-ideahttps://helsh-js.com/journal/you-have-an-app-ideaMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat happens when you bring me an idea for an app: I listen, learn your jargon and walk through the steps your user takes, with you.https://helsh-js.com/journal/app-web-app-or-websitehttps://helsh-js.com/journal/app-web-app-or-websiteMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe difference between a website, a web app and a real app, what a browser can do on your phone, and when an app stays the better choice.https://helsh-js.com/journal/what-goes-in-a-first-versionhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/what-goes-in-a-first-versionMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to bring a long wish list down to a first version people can use, and what to do with everything that has to wait.https://helsh-js.com/journal/what-makes-an-app-expensive-or-cheaphttps://helsh-js.com/journal/what-makes-an-app-expensive-or-cheapMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe choices that set the price of an app, from the number of features to integrations and upkeep, and where you can save.https://helsh-js.com/journal/test-your-idea-before-you-buildhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/test-your-idea-before-you-buildMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTConversations, a clickable prototype and a simple landing page: cheap ways to test whether people need your idea, before there is any software.https://helsh-js.com/journal/how-app-store-review-workshttps://helsh-js.com/journal/how-app-store-review-worksMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat Apple and Google check before your app goes live, why an app can be rejected, and what to have ready before you submit.https://helsh-js.com/journal/do-you-need-the-app-storehttps://helsh-js.com/journal/do-you-need-the-app-storeMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTAn app can also install from the browser, with no app store in between. What you gain, what you miss and how to choose.https://helsh-js.com/journal/when-has-your-spreadsheet-grown-too-bighttps://helsh-js.com/journal/when-has-your-spreadsheet-grown-too-bigMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTTwo signs that Excel or manual work is asking too much of you: you repeat the same steps, and you copy and paste a lot. What replaces it depends on the task.https://helsh-js.com/journal/custom-software-or-an-existing-toolhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/custom-software-or-an-existing-toolMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhen an existing tool is enough, when custom software is worth it and how to combine the two, explained with no technical knowledge needed.https://helsh-js.com/journal/connect-your-software-to-your-till-and-accountinghttps://helsh-js.com/journal/connect-your-software-to-your-till-and-accountingMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat a software connection is, what an API does, and why it matters whether software may only read your data or may also change it.https://helsh-js.com/journal/what-ai-can-do-in-a-small-businesshttps://helsh-js.com/journal/what-ai-can-do-in-a-small-businessMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTAI can take over repetitive work if it uses your own data and a person approves. Where to begin, how to catch mistakes and where your customer data goes.https://helsh-js.com/journal/who-owns-your-code-and-datahttps://helsh-js.com/journal/who-owns-your-code-and-dataMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTAsk that question before you start with a developer. What paying does and does not settle, which accounts to check and how it works with me.https://helsh-js.com/journal/an-app-that-works-with-no-signalhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/an-app-that-works-with-no-signalMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow an app keeps working in a basement with no signal, using WTN App as the example: save on the phone first, sync later and show where your work stands.https://helsh-js.com/journal/a-multi-language-website-in-belgiumhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/a-multi-language-website-in-belgiumMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhich languages to choose, why each language gets its own address, what hreflang does and what to translate, right down to your forms and your privacy page.https://helsh-js.com/journal/does-your-contact-form-workhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/does-your-contact-form-workMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTA form can show a tidy thank-you page while the message reaches nobody. Here is how to test it yourself, and how to catch problems.https://helsh-js.com/journal/what-to-prepare-for-a-websitehttps://helsh-js.com/journal/what-to-prepare-for-a-websiteMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat to gather before you have a website built: your goal, your text and images, your logins and who makes the final decision.https://helsh-js.com/journal/how-to-hire-a-freelancerhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/how-to-hire-a-freelancerMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat to look for in a freelance developer: do they ask about your problem, show their work, communicate clearly, and who will own the code?https://helsh-js.com/journal/freelancer-agency-or-in-househttps://helsh-js.com/journal/freelancer-agency-or-in-houseMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat a freelancer, an agency and an in-house team each do well, and which questions help you choose. Written by someone with a one-person studio.https://helsh-js.com/journal/how-to-write-a-briefhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/how-to-write-a-briefMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTA good brief describes your problem in your own words. Which questions to answer, what you can leave open and what that looks like on paper.https://helsh-js.com/journal/your-developer-disappearedhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/your-developer-disappearedMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTYour developer has stopped replying and your software is still running. The order in which to regain access, see what exists and get someone to look at it.https://helsh-js.com/journal/questions-to-ask-before-you-signhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/questions-to-ask-before-you-signMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTQuestions you can ask any developer before you sign, about who does the work, what is included, changes, ownership and what happens after launch.https://helsh-js.com/journal/building-felix-for-boutiqueshttps://helsh-js.com/journal/building-felix-for-boutiquesMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTFelix is my own product and the first pilot has yet to start. Which features came out of sales calls, and why a newsletter is not one of them.https://helsh-js.com/journal/why-felix-sends-nothing-without-the-ownerhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/why-felix-sends-nothing-without-the-ownerMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTFelix drafts messages, and the owner reads and approves them before anything goes out. Why that suits messages sent in someone's name.https://helsh-js.com/journal/why-i-built-readytobingehttps://helsh-js.com/journal/why-i-built-readytobingeMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTReadyToBinge is a side project for discovering new films and series. How I use it myself, and why a chat with friends got added.https://helsh-js.com/journal/what-i-learned-from-wtn-apphttps://helsh-js.com/journal/what-i-learned-from-wtn-appMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWTN App was my app for digital waste transfer notes in the UK. What I built, why it stalled and what I would do differently now.https://helsh-js.com/journal/offline-first-mobile-sync-with-no-signalhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/offline-first-mobile-sync-with-no-signalMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow WTN App worked with no signal: SQLite on the phone, an append-only event stream per chain, conflict rules per role and a QR code handoff.https://helsh-js.com/journal/connecting-to-exact-online-netsuite-and-business-centralhttps://helsh-js.com/journal/connecting-to-exact-online-netsuite-and-business-centralMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe differences between the APIs and authentication of three ERP systems, for developers who have to build against them.https://helsh-js.com/journal/a-pwa-next-to-a-native-apphttps://helsh-js.com/journal/a-pwa-next-to-a-native-appMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTReadyToBinge runs as a PWA in the browser and as a separate app in the stores. What a PWA takes technically, what service workers do and where iOS draws the line.https://helsh-js.com/journal/client-projects-on-cloudflare-workers-and-d1https://helsh-js.com/journal/client-projects-on-cloudflare-workers-and-d1Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat Workers and D1 do well, where their limits are and which kind of project the combination suits. For developers.https://helsh-js.com/journal/behind-this-sitehttps://helsh-js.com/journal/behind-this-siteMon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMTA small terminal with jokes, ⌘K, g shortcuts, a clock and a few easter eggs you have to find yourself. Plus why they are there.