I'm a developer in my 50s. Currently working from home taking whatever gigs come my way. It's already been a week since 2025 ended. Getting older means the new year doesn't feel like a big deal anymore, but checking my bank statements this morning got me thinking about everything I did in 2025.
1. Well... I survived again. Calculated the numbers and I made about 1 million KRW more than in 2024. I have some outstanding payments, but they're not the type to ghost me, so I expect the deposit soon. There was a new project around mid-2025 that... went south lol. If that had worked out, it would've been a very cozy winter, but that's just how life goes. I hasn't completely fallen through yet, so I'm hoping it works out this year. I really wanted to buy a new car...
2. My client list shrunk. In '24, I did more one-off gigs, but in '25, I mostly survived on steady, long-term work. I think the drop in one-offs is due to the economy... things have been rough. Or maybe my already non-existent network just finally dried up. T_T Since I don't use platforms and rely solely on personal connections, I'm getting a bit worried. I occasionally wonder if I should start using platforms to find more work now.
3. I'm actively using AI. For a recent project, over 90% was done through 'mouth-coding' (prompting). The overall project speed is definitely faster. Even I'm impressed with the quality. Clients love it too. Features I couldn't build before because of tight deadlines are now totally doable, so they're bound to be happy. I've reached a point where I can't work without AI. Before, I'd sigh thinking, 'Ugh, I have to hand-stitch this screen again,' but now it's done with one command. It's so convenient. For solo devs like me, AI is a blessing. It's a lifesaver that's extending my career longevity.
4. A new start. I'm moving house soon. Since my home is my office, I'm moving the business too. Thanks to that, my loan is bigger and I have a great reason to work harder. This year, I really want to build my own service. I make this plan every year, try it for a bit, then push it aside because of immediate work. But maybe, thanks to AI, it might actually be possible now. 'Done is better than perfect.' It's one of my favorite quotes, but I can't seem to follow it. My head is so full of thoughts that starting is hard, and even if I start, I burn myself out. I'm hoping this year will be different.
To all my comrades in their 50s, Ari-Ari for 2026! * I saw the National Assembly Speaker's New Year speech recently where he said 'Ari' in Arirang means 'breaking through obstacles,' so let's use 'Ari-Ari' instead of 'Hwaiting.' I liked the sentiment, so I'm using it. Ari-Ari!
"A veteran solo dev shares a grounded yet hopeful look at surviving the industry in his 50s, sparking a discussion on the power of AI prompting and the harsh reality that building your own product is much harder than client work."
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