Jurij Tokarski
Hey 👋 I'm Jurij. I run Varstatt and create software. Usually, I'm deep in the work shipping for clients or building for myself. Sometimes, I share bits I don't want to forget: mostly about software, products and self-employment.
Your Market Tells You Who You Are
Launched as an MVP shop. Clients stayed for 12 months. Eventually I listened.
Being Good To Be Referred
Split your business brand (clients) from personal brand (peers). Build referral relationships through authentic content, not polished marketing.
The Fourth Evolution of MVP
Frank Robinson invented MVPs in 2001. Eric Ries redefined them in 2011. AI is redefining them again in 2025.
Using Shared Packages in Firebase Monorepos
Firebase breaks with file:../shared deps. Use npm pack + tarball approach: preinstall script creates .tgz locally, gets included in deploy.
Build Apps Like LEGO Bricks
Use ports & adapters architecture to swap AI providers like LEGO bricks. Avoid vendor lock-in, optimize costs, test new models easily.
When "Polish Over Security" Costs Real Money
Client wanted to "polish features first, security later." Found exposed OpenAI API key in frontend code. Anyone could steal it and rack up unlimited charges.
Fidder Overengineering Made Me Pay
Reduced Fidder's maintenance costs $17/month → $1/month by fixing architectural mistakes, like expensive Firestore secutiry rules and unnecessary VPS-polling.
If You Throw Away Your MVP Code, It Wasn't an MVP
6-day "MVPs" are prototypes disguised as products. Real MVPs use foundation-first architecture for extension, not throwaway code.
When Optimization Culture Breaks Human Judgment (Digest)
A reading digest on how systems designed to optimize metrics are undermining the human capabilities that actually matter.
I renamed (again) my newsletter (and why)
Changed "Self × Tech" to "Jurij's Workshop" because of etymology and cultural connections; here's the messy process