429 - Juanjo Valiño

Juanjo Valiño is an iOS Developer based in Spain. Last October he quit hit 9 to 5 job to start the indie hacker journey. Since then, he has become a solopreneur launching as many apps as he can while trying to make a living out of it.

He is currently working on WrapFast, a SwiftUI boilerplate to build AI wrappers for iOS fast.

Twitter → x.com/juanjovn
Newsletter → newsletter.jjvalino.com

Juanjo's Workspace Tour

Workspace Items and Tools

• MacBook Pro 16” M2 Pro 32GB 1TB
• Monitor LG 32UL950-W
• Monitor LG DualUp Ergo
• Herman Miller Embody X Logitech Gaming
• Autonomous SmartDesk Frame
• Ikea Karlby Countertop
• Ikea Alex Drawers
• Vesa Monitor Arm Mount Amazon Basics
• Keychron Q2 Knob
• Logitech MX Master 2S
• Keychron Wooden Palm Rest
• Giant Mousepad Amazon Basics
• Speed Cube MoYu Weilong 3x3 stickerless
• Microphone elgato Wave 3
• Microphone arm Rode PSA1
• Ikea KVART lamp
• Ikea Mosslanda Picture ledge walnut effect
• Ikea Skadis Pegboards
• Bose QC35-II headphones
• Water Bottle from NY Nintendo Store
• Game & Watch The Legend of Zelda
• Laptop vertical stand OMOTON
• Keyboard Coiled Cable AKKO

Software

• Safari
• Xcode
• Visual Studio Code
• iTerm 2
• Spark Mail
• ChatGPT Plus
• Sourcetree
• Proxyman
• Figma
• Trello
• Typefully https://typefully.com/?via=juanjo
• Notes
• Astro ASO Tool https://tryastro.app/?aff=16y8R
• ShipFast https://shipfa.st/?via=juanjo
• CleanShot X
• Timing
• CleanMyMac
• Setapp subscription https://go.setapp.com/invite/zr7dxiv8
• Magnet

What is the most recent item that you've added to your workspace?

It is the laptop stand to have it closed in clamshell mode.

Previously, I had it with a different stand to have it opened, conforming a 3-screen setup.

But I realized it was way too much screen real estate, that it felt distracting and somewhat overkill.

So I tried this option, which I think looks pretty dope on the desk and I’m quite happy so far :)

How do you spark creativity?

I don’t think I have a magic recipe for it.

Probably it’s a mix of:
-Experience
-Staying up to date on what’s trendy
-Getting inspired by the big players on the indie hacking scene
-Trying things and making mistakes.

I think it’s super important to learn to get bored, something that is very difficult nowadays due to having all kinds of distractions within our pocket. I recommend for it the book ‘The Stolen Focus’ by Johann Hari.

Usually new ideas come to my mind while I’m mind wandering — usually while working out (running and surfing)

What does your typical day look like?

I wake up naturally without an alarm.

I go out to the park for 15 minutes, without phone, to have the first light in the morning. I learned from Dr. Huberman that this is super important to sync our circadian rhythm.

Then I go back home, prepare breakfast and a good cup of coffee.

After breakfast I start working: usually answering emails, Twitter notifications and DMs, customer support… a bit of light work.

Then, I take a deep work session—usually coding. I have the Mac and iPhone Focus Mode ON during that. Notifications completely disabled.

I do a daily workout before lunch. Usually running or if the forecast is good enough, I take a 10 minutes drive to the beach to surf.

Then I have lunch and a bit of doomscrolling, YouTube…

I schedule another deep work session in the afternoon.

Around 7:30-8 pm my girlfriend arrives home, so I leverage it to disconnect and spend good quality time with her.

Some days I finish working later, some days earlier. Some days I’m lazy and I barely do anything… It depends on the day. But normally it looks something like that.

What is the most challenging part about being an indie hacker?

I think the greatest struggle is consistency and discipline.

You have to enjoy the process.

Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to wake up every morning and start working on your stuff:
-Without a boss.
-Without anyone saying what you have to do next.
-Without a team to rely on.

However, those are also the things that I like about it. Thus, it’s important that you like the freedom and embracing the uncertainty.