This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Ju
Most side projects die the same way:
You set a big goal, jot down some tasks, and then… momentum fades.
I’ve been there more times than I can count (65 dead projects, to be exact). This time, I wanted a system that didn’t just track tasks — but kept me locked onto progress.
That’s where the Arc comes in.
What’s an Arc?
In Indie10k, an Arc is the container for your growth journey.
It connects:
A North Star Goal (something measurable, like reach 1k newsletter subs).
A metric + target value (your scoreboard).
A sequence of steps (the TenK 6 Methodology: List → Pick → Ship → Ask → Measure → Share).
Think of it as a structured habit-builder for indie growth. Instead of vague “do marketing” tasks, you’re running small experiments tied to your goal — and stacking evidence every step of the way.
Why It’s Different From a To-Do List
A checklist can make you feel productive while moving you nowhere.
An Arc is different:
It ties every action back to one guiding metric.
It creates natural accountability (you can’t “check off” growth until you ship + measure).
It builds a story you can share — your evidence, your loops, your milestones.
My Own Arc Right Now
Today, my Arc looks like this:
Goal: 100 active users in Indie10k
Metric: number of completed loops by real users
Loops: posting on Indie Hackers, Product Hunt, Dev.to, and running distribution tests
As I write this, I’m sitting at 98 signups. Two more people and I cross the first big milestone. 🚀
It’s not life-changing revenue yet, but it’s proof of momentum. That’s what the Arc keeps me focused on — the compounding effect of small loops.
Why I’m Sharing This
If you’re a developer building a project, I’d love your feedback:
Does the idea of an “Arc” make sense for guiding growth?
Would you actually track your side project this way?
I’m building Indie10k in public, so early thoughts from fellow devs are incredibly valuable.
👉 Check out Indie10k if you want to try running your own Arc.
Think of it as a daily growth gym — but instead of push-ups, you’re shipping loops.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Ju
Ju | Sciencx (2025-09-26T10:15:56+00:00) Indie10k: Why I Built the “Arc” to Turn Goals Into Growth. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/26/indie10k-why-i-built-the-arc-to-turn-goals-into-growth/
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