A developer known as 'Gangzi' shares his month-long journey building two AI tools for overseas markets, resulting in zero revenue. He emphasizes that development accounts for only 10% of the work, while marketing and operations are the real challenges. The market is saturated with similar tools, and converting free users to paid is extremely difficult. He notes that the most profitable path is often selling courses or building communities. His advice: validate demand first, avoid crowded spaces, and have a clear monetization strategy before building. This candid account is a valuable reality check for indie hackers and technical founders considering AI tool出海.
A developer's honest post-mortem on building AI tools for global markets, earning zero revenue, and learning that selling is harder than coding.