TinyLog: How I Build Software From My Phone
My entire dev setup fits in my pocket
I wanted to keep shipping while away from my desk. So I figured out how to code from my phone.
mlut - Tailwind CSS alternative for custom websites and creatives.
Last week’s winners
The following products got the most votes during the past launch week.
🥇 Shiori — The only bookmark manager you’ll ever need
🥈 LinkScan — Unlimited QR codes. Cancel anytime, keep them.
🥉 Notra — Turn your daily work into publish-ready content
Personal favorite
DansUGC — Real human UGC models. You can have the best product in the world, but if nobody sees it, it doesn't matter. Distribution is everything.
What’s new?
TinyShots native (Mac app) got a bunch of updates:
Remove background from images using on-device AI
Direct Edit mode (edit single images directly)
Image export with true transparency
Flip images horizontally or vertically
Runs natively on both Intel and Apple Silicon
Bug fixes
Reply to this email if you want free access to the alpha.
How I Build Software From My Phone
Something different this week. I’ve been coding from my phone and I want to show you how.
Tailscale puts my Mac and iPhone on the same private network. Doesn’t matter if they’re actually on the same WiFi or not. My MacBook can be at home and I can connect from anywhere. Same IP every time. Termius (iOS) lets me SSH into my Mac from my phone. Open Claude Code. Ready to build. All of this is free.
I use tmux to keep my terminal session alive. Start something on my desk, walk out the door, keep going on my phone. Same Claude Code session. Switch back to my Mac later and it’s all still there.
For anything visual I use Jump Desktop. It mirrors my Mac screen on my phone so I can see and interact with the full UI. I’m building TinyShots as a native Mac app right now, so I need to actually see what I’m building.
Need to bring my MacBook? It goes in my backpack lid closed. Connected to my iPhone hotspot for internet. I use Amphetamine to keep it awake with the display off. Now I’m walking around with a powerful computer on my back and a terminal in my pocket.
I use this at the gym between sets. Waiting in line somewhere. Any moment where I’d rather be shipping than standing around.
If you want to try it out yourself, copy this newsletter into any AI and it’ll walk you through the setup.
Fair warning though. A closed MacBook with no airflow can overheat. Don’t run this for hours. I keep it to short sessions. Use your own judgement. And honestly, downtime is good too. Not every minute needs to be productive. But when I want to ship, I can. From anywhere.
Tweet of the week
PS
As always, you can reach me by simply replying to this email or messaging me on 𝕏 @chrissyinspace.