Solo Developer Releases Open-Source Dead Man's Switch for Business Succession

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Graphics and web technology veteran Peter Bishop has released Death Plan Switch, a self-hosted dead man's switch designed to keep a solo developer's business running if the owner goes missing or dies. The tool notifies designated people so that client operations can continue without interruption. Bishop says the project was inspired by a 2012 hospitalisation that cost him his business after he could not hand over data to his technical deputy in time. The software is free to use and study under the MIT license, and was built with help from Claude Code and passed 42 unit tests. Bishop reports that clients see the feature as a selling point when entrusting him with their hosting and technology accounts.

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