hhc
@mikeymykey.bsky.social
Melbourne dev building an app that turns recipe photos into smart grocery lists. Looking for beta testers!
www.opabinia.com.au
mikechiao.substack.com
www.opabinia.com.au
mikechiao.substack.com
Pinned
hhc
@mikeymykey.bsky.social
· Sep 28
1/8
Food, for me, has always been my connection to home.
After moving to Australia from Asia, re-creating the tastes I grew up with became my passion. It was my way of bridging thousands of kilometers, right from my own kitchen.
Food, for me, has always been my connection to home.
After moving to Australia from Asia, re-creating the tastes I grew up with became my passion. It was my way of bridging thousands of kilometers, right from my own kitchen.
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #31
Today was less about code and more about clarity. My store page read like a generic grocery list app, even though the real magic is turning recipes into a grocery list you can actually cook from. #buildinpublic #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #31
Today was less about code and more about clarity. My store page read like a generic grocery list app, even though the real magic is turning recipes into a grocery list you can actually cook from. #buildinpublic #homecooking
December 1, 2025 at 7:46 AM
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #31
Today was less about code and more about clarity. My store page read like a generic grocery list app, even though the real magic is turning recipes into a grocery list you can actually cook from. #buildinpublic #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #31
Today was less about code and more about clarity. My store page read like a generic grocery list app, even though the real magic is turning recipes into a grocery list you can actually cook from. #buildinpublic #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #30
1/5
Small tweaks took my landing page from 'Prototype' to 'Product'.
* Lazy loading YouTube embeds (Performance) ⚡️
* Mobile hamburger menu (Accessibility) 🍔
* Scrollspy navigation (User Orientation) 🧭
* Dynamic subtitles (Delight) ✨
#buildinpublic
1/5
Small tweaks took my landing page from 'Prototype' to 'Product'.
* Lazy loading YouTube embeds (Performance) ⚡️
* Mobile hamburger menu (Accessibility) 🍔
* Scrollspy navigation (User Orientation) 🧭
* Dynamic subtitles (Delight) ✨
#buildinpublic
November 28, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Opabinia Dev Log #30
1/5
Small tweaks took my landing page from 'Prototype' to 'Product'.
* Lazy loading YouTube embeds (Performance) ⚡️
* Mobile hamburger menu (Accessibility) 🍔
* Scrollspy navigation (User Orientation) 🧭
* Dynamic subtitles (Delight) ✨
#buildinpublic
1/5
Small tweaks took my landing page from 'Prototype' to 'Product'.
* Lazy loading YouTube embeds (Performance) ⚡️
* Mobile hamburger menu (Accessibility) 🍔
* Scrollspy navigation (User Orientation) 🧭
* Dynamic subtitles (Delight) ✨
#buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #29
1/5
If my mum can't understand the landing page in 5 seconds, I've failed. Feedback said the name "Opabinia" is clever but obscure. It didn't evoke food or ease. I realized I was designing for techies, not home cooks. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
If my mum can't understand the landing page in 5 seconds, I've failed. Feedback said the name "Opabinia" is clever but obscure. It didn't evoke food or ease. I realized I was designing for techies, not home cooks. #buildinpublic #homecooking
November 26, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Opabinia Dev Log #29
1/5
If my mum can't understand the landing page in 5 seconds, I've failed. Feedback said the name "Opabinia" is clever but obscure. It didn't evoke food or ease. I realized I was designing for techies, not home cooks. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
If my mum can't understand the landing page in 5 seconds, I've failed. Feedback said the name "Opabinia" is clever but obscure. It didn't evoke food or ease. I realized I was designing for techies, not home cooks. #buildinpublic #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #28
1/5
How do you visualize the invisible? I tried a flow: Mess -> Scan -> List -> Meal. But it flawed. It implied the app cooked dinner. Opabinia is the Recipe Enabler, not the chef. The UX had to make that distinction clear. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
How do you visualize the invisible? I tried a flow: Mess -> Scan -> List -> Meal. But it flawed. It implied the app cooked dinner. Opabinia is the Recipe Enabler, not the chef. The UX had to make that distinction clear. #buildinpublic #homecooking
November 25, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Opabinia Dev Log #28
1/5
How do you visualize the invisible? I tried a flow: Mess -> Scan -> List -> Meal. But it flawed. It implied the app cooked dinner. Opabinia is the Recipe Enabler, not the chef. The UX had to make that distinction clear. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
How do you visualize the invisible? I tried a flow: Mess -> Scan -> List -> Meal. But it flawed. It implied the app cooked dinner. Opabinia is the Recipe Enabler, not the chef. The UX had to make that distinction clear. #buildinpublic #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #27
1/5
I got roasted. Constructively, at least. I thought I was selling a smart app to fix "cognitive load." A sharp user pointed out I was writing a UX thesis, not selling the joy of cooking. They were right. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
I got roasted. Constructively, at least. I thought I was selling a smart app to fix "cognitive load." A sharp user pointed out I was writing a UX thesis, not selling the joy of cooking. They were right. #buildinpublic #homecooking
November 24, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Opabinia Dev Log #27
1/5
I got roasted. Constructively, at least. I thought I was selling a smart app to fix "cognitive load." A sharp user pointed out I was writing a UX thesis, not selling the joy of cooking. They were right. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
I got roasted. Constructively, at least. I thought I was selling a smart app to fix "cognitive load." A sharp user pointed out I was writing a UX thesis, not selling the joy of cooking. They were right. #buildinpublic #homecooking
My rice cooker called me an idiot.
I tried a "lazy" one-pot Hainan chicken rice, ignored the "max fill" line. The result was a tragic mix of both raw AND overcooked mushy rice.
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
Building Opabinia. 🛒 opabinia.com.au
#cookingfail #homecooking
I tried a "lazy" one-pot Hainan chicken rice, ignored the "max fill" line. The result was a tragic mix of both raw AND overcooked mushy rice.
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
Building Opabinia. 🛒 opabinia.com.au
#cookingfail #homecooking
Measure Twice, Steam Once. Be lazy, but not stupid.
My rice cooker called me an idiot.
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:32 AM
My rice cooker called me an idiot.
I tried a "lazy" one-pot Hainan chicken rice, ignored the "max fill" line. The result was a tragic mix of both raw AND overcooked mushy rice.
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
Building Opabinia. 🛒 opabinia.com.au
#cookingfail #homecooking
I tried a "lazy" one-pot Hainan chicken rice, ignored the "max fill" line. The result was a tragic mix of both raw AND overcooked mushy rice.
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
Building Opabinia. 🛒 opabinia.com.au
#cookingfail #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #26:
1/5
I've been hunting ghosts this week. 👻 Not the spooky kind, but the digital kind.
I had a bug where the app would ask about "duplicate items"... from a shopping list you already finished and deleted! A true ghost in the machine. #buildinpublic
1/5
I've been hunting ghosts this week. 👻 Not the spooky kind, but the digital kind.
I had a bug where the app would ask about "duplicate items"... from a shopping list you already finished and deleted! A true ghost in the machine. #buildinpublic
November 14, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Opabinia Dev Log #26:
1/5
I've been hunting ghosts this week. 👻 Not the spooky kind, but the digital kind.
I had a bug where the app would ask about "duplicate items"... from a shopping list you already finished and deleted! A true ghost in the machine. #buildinpublic
1/5
I've been hunting ghosts this week. 👻 Not the spooky kind, but the digital kind.
I had a bug where the app would ask about "duplicate items"... from a shopping list you already finished and deleted! A true ghost in the machine. #buildinpublic
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #25:
An app can be 100% functional but still feel 100% "broken." This week was a huge push to fix all the small, annoying UI bugs that were driving me crazy.
It's the "death by a thousand papercuts" that can kill a user's trust. #buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #25:
An app can be 100% functional but still feel 100% "broken." This week was a huge push to fix all the small, annoying UI bugs that were driving me crazy.
It's the "death by a thousand papercuts" that can kill a user's trust. #buildinpublic
November 11, 2025 at 7:47 AM
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #25:
An app can be 100% functional but still feel 100% "broken." This week was a huge push to fix all the small, annoying UI bugs that were driving me crazy.
It's the "death by a thousand papercuts" that can kill a user's trust. #buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #25:
An app can be 100% functional but still feel 100% "broken." This week was a huge push to fix all the small, annoying UI bugs that were driving me crazy.
It's the "death by a thousand papercuts" that can kill a user's trust. #buildinpublic
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #24:
The most dangerous bug is the "silent" failure. I've been hunting a ghost: new users could sign up, but their local data would never sync to the cloud. They'd just assume the app was broken.
Finally found it. #buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #24:
The most dangerous bug is the "silent" failure. I've been hunting a ghost: new users could sign up, but their local data would never sync to the cloud. They'd just assume the app was broken.
Finally found it. #buildinpublic
November 8, 2025 at 10:30 PM
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #24:
The most dangerous bug is the "silent" failure. I've been hunting a ghost: new users could sign up, but their local data would never sync to the cloud. They'd just assume the app was broken.
Finally found it. #buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #24:
The most dangerous bug is the "silent" failure. I've been hunting a ghost: new users could sign up, but their local data would never sync to the cloud. They'd just assume the app was broken.
Finally found it. #buildinpublic
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #23:
The sign-in screen. It should be simple, but it can create a moment of anxiety: "If I sign in, what happens to the grocery list I just made?" Last few days was about removing that anxiety and building a login flow that respects your data. #buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #23:
The sign-in screen. It should be simple, but it can create a moment of anxiety: "If I sign in, what happens to the grocery list I just made?" Last few days was about removing that anxiety and building a login flow that respects your data. #buildinpublic
November 5, 2025 at 7:47 AM
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #23:
The sign-in screen. It should be simple, but it can create a moment of anxiety: "If I sign in, what happens to the grocery list I just made?" Last few days was about removing that anxiety and building a login flow that respects your data. #buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #23:
The sign-in screen. It should be simple, but it can create a moment of anxiety: "If I sign in, what happens to the grocery list I just made?" Last few days was about removing that anxiety and building a login flow that respects your data. #buildinpublic
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #22:
The last few days have been a deep-dive into something that sounds simple: the sign-out flow.
It turned into a valuable lesson on why some "simple" bugs are so hard to fix, and a huge win for the long-term stability of the app.
#buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #22:
The last few days have been a deep-dive into something that sounds simple: the sign-out flow.
It turned into a valuable lesson on why some "simple" bugs are so hard to fix, and a huge win for the long-term stability of the app.
#buildinpublic
November 3, 2025 at 7:46 AM
1/5
Opabinia Dev Log #22:
The last few days have been a deep-dive into something that sounds simple: the sign-out flow.
It turned into a valuable lesson on why some "simple" bugs are so hard to fix, and a huge win for the long-term stability of the app.
#buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #22:
The last few days have been a deep-dive into something that sounds simple: the sign-out flow.
It turned into a valuable lesson on why some "simple" bugs are so hard to fix, and a huge win for the long-term stability of the app.
#buildinpublic
Your app succeeded because it changed something. What one routine or existing habit was the hardest to break for your users?
November 2, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Your app succeeded because it changed something. What one routine or existing habit was the hardest to break for your users?
1/4
Opabinia Dev Log #21:
This week was all about building a rock-solid foundation for user accounts and data. I've completely re-architected the sign-up and data sync logic to make it more robust, predictable and seamless. #buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #21:
This week was all about building a rock-solid foundation for user accounts and data. I've completely re-architected the sign-up and data sync logic to make it more robust, predictable and seamless. #buildinpublic
November 1, 2025 at 7:54 AM
1/4
Opabinia Dev Log #21:
This week was all about building a rock-solid foundation for user accounts and data. I've completely re-architected the sign-up and data sync logic to make it more robust, predictable and seamless. #buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #21:
This week was all about building a rock-solid foundation for user accounts and data. I've completely re-architected the sign-up and data sync logic to make it more robust, predictable and seamless. #buildinpublic
If you were offered a guaranteed, stress-free 7% return on all your time and money, would you quit the app hustle and take the safe deal? Why do you keep pushing?
October 31, 2025 at 6:58 AM
If you were offered a guaranteed, stress-free 7% return on all your time and money, would you quit the app hustle and take the safe deal? Why do you keep pushing?
Your app succeeded because it changed something. What one routine or existing habit was the hardest to break for your users?
October 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Your app succeeded because it changed something. What one routine or existing habit was the hardest to break for your users?
How did baking bread lead to a penguin parade and a quiet reminder about inspiration?
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
#baking #penguins #life
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
#baking #penguins #life
What Does Baking Bread Have to Do With Watching Penguins?
On a warm spring day, we decided to book a trip to Phillip Island.
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
How did baking bread lead to a penguin parade and a quiet reminder about inspiration?
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
#baking #penguins #life
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
#baking #penguins #life
1/4
Opabinia Dev Log #6: Ever felt like your grocery list vanishes when you need it most? Or items get mixed up between lists? I've been battling exactly that to make Opabinia feel like magic! ✨ #buildinpublic #groceryapp
Opabinia Dev Log #6: Ever felt like your grocery list vanishes when you need it most? Or items get mixed up between lists? I've been battling exactly that to make Opabinia feel like magic! ✨ #buildinpublic #groceryapp
October 27, 2025 at 7:46 AM
1/4
Opabinia Dev Log #6: Ever felt like your grocery list vanishes when you need it most? Or items get mixed up between lists? I've been battling exactly that to make Opabinia feel like magic! ✨ #buildinpublic #groceryapp
Opabinia Dev Log #6: Ever felt like your grocery list vanishes when you need it most? Or items get mixed up between lists? I've been battling exactly that to make Opabinia feel like magic! ✨ #buildinpublic #groceryapp
Airfryer bread, penguins, and a reminder why small moments matter.
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
#bread #mindfulmaking #life
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
#bread #mindfulmaking #life
What Does Baking Bread Have to Do With Watching Penguins?
On a warm spring day, we decided to book a trip to Phillip Island.
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Airfryer bread, penguins, and a reminder why small moments matter.
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
#bread #mindfulmaking #life
open.substack.com/pub/mikechia...
#bread #mindfulmaking #life
1/4
Opabinia Dev Log #19: ✨ Unlocking more awesome for everyone! I've been busy polishing the app, making sure premium features shine for my Gold members, and giving Free users a taste of what's possible. #buildinpublic #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #19: ✨ Unlocking more awesome for everyone! I've been busy polishing the app, making sure premium features shine for my Gold members, and giving Free users a taste of what's possible. #buildinpublic #homecooking
October 24, 2025 at 7:54 AM
1/4
Opabinia Dev Log #19: ✨ Unlocking more awesome for everyone! I've been busy polishing the app, making sure premium features shine for my Gold members, and giving Free users a taste of what's possible. #buildinpublic #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #19: ✨ Unlocking more awesome for everyone! I've been busy polishing the app, making sure premium features shine for my Gold members, and giving Free users a taste of what's possible. #buildinpublic #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #18:
1/5
Huge shoutout to my beta testers! Your feedback is gold. This week you helped me track down a sneaky bug in the subscription flow that could've been a major headache post-launch. #buildinpublic
1/5
Huge shoutout to my beta testers! Your feedback is gold. This week you helped me track down a sneaky bug in the subscription flow that could've been a major headache post-launch. #buildinpublic
October 23, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Opabinia Dev Log #18:
1/5
Huge shoutout to my beta testers! Your feedback is gold. This week you helped me track down a sneaky bug in the subscription flow that could've been a major headache post-launch. #buildinpublic
1/5
Huge shoutout to my beta testers! Your feedback is gold. This week you helped me track down a sneaky bug in the subscription flow that could've been a major headache post-launch. #buildinpublic
Opabinia Dev Log #17:
1/5
Today's mission: Solve the classic "Hey, can you grab the stuff I forgot?" problem.
A simple 'Share' button sounds easy, but making it smart is where the real work begins. It's not just a button; it's a communication tool. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
Today's mission: Solve the classic "Hey, can you grab the stuff I forgot?" problem.
A simple 'Share' button sounds easy, but making it smart is where the real work begins. It's not just a button; it's a communication tool. #buildinpublic #homecooking
October 22, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Opabinia Dev Log #17:
1/5
Today's mission: Solve the classic "Hey, can you grab the stuff I forgot?" problem.
A simple 'Share' button sounds easy, but making it smart is where the real work begins. It's not just a button; it's a communication tool. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
Today's mission: Solve the classic "Hey, can you grab the stuff I forgot?" problem.
A simple 'Share' button sounds easy, but making it smart is where the real work begins. It's not just a button; it's a communication tool. #buildinpublic #homecooking
What does baking bread 🍞 have to do with watching penguins 🐧?
Find out in my new Substack post!
https://open.substack.com/pub/mikechiao/p/what-does-baking-bread-have-to-do
#adventure #Penguins #HomeCooking #family
Find out in my new Substack post!
https://open.substack.com/pub/mikechiao/p/what-does-baking-bread-have-to-do
#adventure #Penguins #HomeCooking #family
October 20, 2025 at 11:41 PM
What does baking bread 🍞 have to do with watching penguins 🐧?
Find out in my new Substack post!
https://open.substack.com/pub/mikechiao/p/what-does-baking-bread-have-to-do
#adventure #Penguins #HomeCooking #family
Find out in my new Substack post!
https://open.substack.com/pub/mikechiao/p/what-does-baking-bread-have-to-do
#adventure #Penguins #HomeCooking #family
Opabinia Dev Log #16:
1/5
Today, we squashed a sneaky bug that was making some ingredient quantities display twice! You might have seen "to taste to taste Salt" on your list. Annoying, right? 🐛 #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
Today, we squashed a sneaky bug that was making some ingredient quantities display twice! You might have seen "to taste to taste Salt" on your list. Annoying, right? 🐛 #buildinpublic #homecooking
October 20, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Opabinia Dev Log #16:
1/5
Today, we squashed a sneaky bug that was making some ingredient quantities display twice! You might have seen "to taste to taste Salt" on your list. Annoying, right? 🐛 #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
Today, we squashed a sneaky bug that was making some ingredient quantities display twice! You might have seen "to taste to taste Salt" on your list. Annoying, right? 🐛 #buildinpublic #homecooking
Opabinia Dev Log #15:
1/5
It's amazing what you learn building an app. I was focused on a bug in the recipe scanner that was mixing up my dishes! When I edited a name, the change wasn't saving, leaving staged items with the wrong title. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
It's amazing what you learn building an app. I was focused on a bug in the recipe scanner that was mixing up my dishes! When I edited a name, the change wasn't saving, leaving staged items with the wrong title. #buildinpublic #homecooking
October 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Opabinia Dev Log #15:
1/5
It's amazing what you learn building an app. I was focused on a bug in the recipe scanner that was mixing up my dishes! When I edited a name, the change wasn't saving, leaving staged items with the wrong title. #buildinpublic #homecooking
1/5
It's amazing what you learn building an app. I was focused on a bug in the recipe scanner that was mixing up my dishes! When I edited a name, the change wasn't saving, leaving staged items with the wrong title. #buildinpublic #homecooking