Openbase
The leading community for developers to discover open-source technologies (YC S20)
Pioneering platform dedicated to empowering developers worldwide to select the most suitable open-source packages for their projects.
Background
Openbase began with a simple realization, developers were struggling to navigate the maze of open-source packages and options.
With the JavaScript ecosystem exploding, finding the perfect solution became a difficult task.
So, we set out to simplify things. Openbase was born to provide developers with the insights they needed – from package popularity to maintenance and development speed.
Our mission? To empower developers, streamline their workflow, and boost productivity. Because when developers thrive, so does innovation.
UX / UI
Collaboration
Research
Usability Testing
Prototyping
Design System
Project
The project emerged from a vision to simplify the complex landscape of open-source software, allowing developers to focus on innovation and product development.
Role
As the Head of Design at Openbase, my role encompassed shaping the platform's user experience and fostering a cohesive design language that resonated with our target audience.
Challanges
Crafting a user experience tailored to the unique needs of developers, necessitating a deep understanding of the developer ecosystem.
Establishing a distinct design language and brand identity amidst a crowded market of developer tools and platforms.
Iteratively refining the platform based on user feedback while maintaining agility and responsiveness to market demands.
Close collaboration with engineering leaders and the CEO was pivotal in ensuring clarity and maintaining a rapid workflow throughout the development process.
Strategy
1
Be part of the developer community through interviews, surveys, and usability testing to gain insights into user preferences and pain points.
2
Adoption of a dark mode interface as a core design principle, aligning with the preferences and workflow efficiency of developers.
3
Development of a robust design system to ensure consistency, scalability, and flexibility in design iterations and updates.
4
Emphasis on information hierarchy and usability testing to optimize the user experience and streamline access to critical insights.
Actions
Designing the platform to enhance developers' accessibility and usability.
Dynamic Navigation
Multi-Product
Comparison
Dynamic Components
Smart Dialogs
Multiple Data Comparisons
Collaborating closely with the CEO and development leading team to align design decisions with the company's vision and business goals
Leveraging prototyping tools such as Adobe XD & Figma to solicit feedback from the community and iterate on design concepts in real-time.
Results
Openbase experienced exponential growth, with monthly active users (MAUs) increasing by:
218% from 2020 to 2021
214% from 2021 to 2022
13% from 2022 to 2023
Organic Growth
User Engagement
User engagement metrics surpassed industry benchmarks, with average session durations exceeding 8 minutes and a user retention rate of over 34%
Market Penetration & Trust
Openbase achieved widespread adoption, with over 500,000 developers actively utilizing the platform to discover and evaluate open-source packages.
