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Who else spends their "build weekend" on auth, email, and admin panels instead of features?
r/indiehackers
7/24/2025
Content Summary
The post discusses the common frustration among indie hackers of spending too much time on foundational SaaS tasks like authentication, email setup, admin panels, and payments during build weekends. The author explores the idea of using prebuilt solutions or starter kits to save time and focus on core features. Commenters share their approaches, including using tools like Supabase, Firebase, Clerk, and Biela, building reusable libraries, adopting frontend-first MVPs, and creating internal scripts for admin functions.
Opinion Analysis
The mainstream opinion is that building foundational SaaS components from scratch is time-consuming and repetitive, and that using prebuilt solutions like Supabase or Firebase can save significant time. Some users emphasize the benefits of creating reusable internal libraries or scripts rather than relying on third-party tools. There's also a minority view that frontend-first MVPs or no-backend approaches can bypass many of these issues. A few users suggest that the ideal solution would be a comprehensive SaaS tool that bundles authentication, email, admin, and payments in one package.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supabase | https://supabase.com | Backend as a Service | Authentication, database, email integration |
| Firebase | https://firebase.google.com | Backend as a Service | Authentication, backend services |
| Clerk | https://clerk.dev | Authentication | User management and auth |
| Biela | https://biela.app | No-code tools | Skip boilerplate for SaaS |
| Atyourservice.ai | https://atyourservice.ai | Billing | LLM usage billing |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Spending too much time on foundational elements like authentication, email, admin panels, and payments
- Rebuilding boilerplate code for every project
- Lack of reusable or prebuilt solutions that work well for specific use cases
- Time constraints during MVP development
Problems to Solve:
- Reduce time spent on non-core features
- Find efficient and flexible solutions for common SaaS requirements
- Accelerate the building process of MVPs
Potential Solutions:
- Use prebuilt starter kits or SaaS templates
- Reuse custom-built libraries for authentication, email, etc.
- Leverage tools like Supabase, Firebase, or Clerk
- Focus on frontend-first MVPs to avoid backend complexity
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Streamlining development process with prebuilt tools to launch faster
- Creating reusable components for common SaaS functionalities
- Adopting frontend-first MVP strategies to validate ideas quickly
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Leveraging communities like Indie Hackers for peer support and feedback
- Sharing development strategies to attract attention and build credibility
Monetization & Product:
- Building tools that solve common pain points for developers
- Offering free tiers for early-stage users (e.g., Supabase)
- Ensuring product-market fit by addressing real developer needs
User Engagement:
- Encouraging community sharing and discussion around development challenges
- Creating reusable and community-supported tools or templates