Laid-Off Developer Strips Back Side Project to Focus on One Core Idea

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A developer who was recently laid off returned to a side project called StudyTree, originally built in June as a simple daily learning log. Over time, the project grew cluttered with features like AI reviews, skill profiles, and progress tracking, making it difficult to describe in a single sentence. Rather than adding more functionality, the developer decided to cut scope, rewrite documentation, and rebuild around one core workflow: logging a learning session, receiving AI feedback, and identifying gaps. The goal is to answer a focused question — how can a learner know whether they actually made progress after studying something? The developer plans to test this stripped-down version with a small group of users before considering any further expansion.

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