Series: How Did I Build MineEco system? Part 2 - Building the MineEco System

In this section, we explore the process of building the MineEco system from the ground up. Starting with the outdated MineOrder system, I faced numerous challenges. The legacy system relied on outdated technologies like the .NET Framework and an inflexible, monolithic design. These constraints limited adaptability and scalability, making it difficult to meet modern technological and business demands.

To overcome these barriers, I embarked on a journey of transformation, leveraging modern tools, frameworks, and architectural patterns. This shift was crucial for developing a system that not only meets current business needs but is also poised for future growth and adaptability.

We will delve into the detailed process of constructing the new system, focusing on planning and design, and share insights into creating a scalable, flexible solution that aligns with industry standards and technological advancements.

Reconstructing the System

Challenges of Redoing the System

Inflexibility: The original MineOrder system faced significant limitations due to its outdated design. Built using Xamarin and the .NET Framework, it was not designed with scalability in mind. The system’s architecture was heavily tied to traditional POS hardware, restricting its adaptability to modern standards and evolving business needs. This rigidity created substantial challenges in scalability and flexibility, particularly as the industry shifted towards mobile and hardware-independent solutions.

Outdated Design Principles: MineOrder’s initial architecture relied on monolithic structures, making updates cumbersome and resource-intensive. The centralized nature of this design hindered easy scaling and adaptation to market changes, especially as newer, more modular approaches became industry standards.

Replanning and Redesign

To address these challenges, I undertook a comprehensive redesign of the system, focusing on several key improvements to adopt new technologies and facilitate future updates:

• Modern, Scalable Technologies: Transitioning to .NET Core for the backend, which handles APIs and web-based functionalities, and MAUI for the frontend, enabled cross-platform compatibility. This transition supports app delivery across various platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and facilitated the development of a more modular and scalable system.

• Microservices Architecture: Adopting a microservices approach provided enhanced flexibility and simplified future upgrades, allowing for a more efficient and distributed system.

• Cloud Integration: Leveraging cloud services for data management and infrastructure offered scalable solutions that enhanced flexibility and cost-effectiveness. This integration was based on modern DevOps practices and automation, supporting the system's growth and adaptability.

Picture: The architect design of MineEco

Development and Cost Considerations

The development phase presented significant challenges, as balancing the creation of a robust, scalable system with the constraints of a startup budget was crucial. Opting for AWS Free Tier offered a cost-effective solution for cloud infrastructure, though it’s important to note that it is not entirely free but rather affordable within certain usage limits. Azure DevOps was chosen for its efficiency in managing operations and automating processes, which was crucial for keeping development and deployment costs under control. This strategy ensured that the system could be developed effectively while staying within budgetary constraints.

Implementing modern technologies required a deep understanding of system architecture and significant experience with AWS and Microsoft Azure. Balancing these requirements with cost constraints necessitated extensive self-directed research, drawing on my previous experience with medium and large-scale projects. This effort was essential to ensure that the system was both well-designed and cost-efficient.

Key Learnings and Insights

Embrace Modern Technologies Early: Transitioning to modern technologies like .NET Core and MAUI was essential for overcoming the limitations of legacy systems. Although it took nearly six months of research, design, and setup, early adoption of scalable and flexible technologies significantly improved system performance and adaptability.

Importance of a Modular Architecture: Adopting a microservices architecture instead of a monolithic design provided greater flexibility and ease of maintenance. This modular approach allows individual components to be updated or scaled independently, which is crucial for adapting to evolving market needs.

Cloud Integration Benefits: Leveraging cloud services for infrastructure and data management offered scalability and cost-effectiveness. Cloud-based solutions supported growth and enhanced operational efficiency, making it easier to handle fluctuating demands and manage resources effectively.

Balancing Cost and Quality: While the AWS Free Tier and Azure DevOps provided cost-effective solutions, it was important to understand their limitations and manage expectations. Effective cost management required careful planning and a deep understanding of the resources and constraints associated with these tools.

Self-Reliance in Research: Conducting extensive research and leveraging previous experience were crucial for navigating the complexities of modern system architecture. For non-technical startup members, this might be challenging. Fortunately, my experience with these technologies facilitated the proper development of MineEco. This self-directed approach ensured that the system was designed with a comprehensive understanding of current technologies and cost constraints.

Future Plans and Improvements

Continuous Updates and Industry Alignment: With the system configured for DevOps, ongoing updates and improvements will be essential to keep it aligned with industry standards and evolving business needs. Strategic planning for future enhancements, along with staying informed about emerging technologies, will be crucial for maintaining a competitive edge and ensuring the system remains effective and relevant.

Responding to Customer Feedback: Future developments for MineEco will focus on integrating customer feedback and requests to better address their business needs. By actively engaging with users and adapting the system based on their input, MineEco aims to enhance functionality, improve user experience, and address emerging requirements.

Expanding with SaaS Solutions: With the foundational core of the MineEco system already established, we are well-positioned to expand and adapt by integrating new features as requested by our business customers. This capability allows MineEco to evolve into a SaaS solutions provider, offering tailored functionalities that address emerging business requirements. By leveraging the existing system’s flexibility, we can continuously enhance our offerings to meet the evolving needs of the market and deliver increased value to our customers.

Lessons Learned for adopting software startups

Adopt Modern Technologies Early: Embracing scalable and flexible technologies from the start enhances system performance and adaptability, laying a strong foundation for future growth.

Prioritize Modular Architecture: Opt for a microservices architecture over a monolithic design to improve flexibility and ease of maintenance. This approach allows for independent updates and scaling, essential for adapting to evolving market needs.

Leverage Cloud Solutions: Utilize cloud services for their scalability and cost-effectiveness, which support growth and operational efficiency.

Balance Cost and Quality: Effectively manage startup costs by understanding the limitations of affordable solutions and planning strategically to ensure quality without overspending.

Conduct Thorough Research: Deep research and self-reliance are crucial for navigating system complexities and designing effective solutions.

Plan for Continuous Improvement: Implement DevOps practices to facilitate ongoing updates and keep the system relevant and competitive.

Expand Strategically: Build upon the core system to integrate new features and adapt to business requirements, supporting long-term growth and relevance.

Conclusion

This concludes Part 2 of my series on building the MineEco system. In this section, I covered the foundational aspects of how MineEco was constructed, focusing on the overarching process rather than diving deeply into technical details. If you have any questions or need assistance with implementing or setting up the platform, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help.

In the upcoming Part 3: Overcoming Obstacles, we’ll explore the various challenges faced during the development of MineEco and the strategies employed to address them. I’ll share practical insights and lessons learned that can guide other startups through similar hurdles and help them build resilient, high-performance systems.

Series: How Did I Build MineEco system? Part 1 - The Beginning of the MineEco

Series: How Did I Build MineEco system? Part 1 - The Beginning of the MineEco

Introduction

The journey to rebuilding the MineEco system—MineEco being the name of my project—began with my trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. In 2019, I launched MineOrder, which faced significant challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While this setback was disappointing, it provided valuable lessons for future projects.

Returning to the Niagara Falls region in 2023 and spending several months there, I conducted extensive research into the market potential for a new system. This research was pivotal in shaping the MineEco system, which is grounded in the principles of mobility, eco-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. MinePOS provides a flexible, software-based solution for seamless operation across various devices and platforms, while MinePOP streamlines the checkout process to reduce costs and enhance efficiency for retailers.

The Inspiration

My initial goal in the Niagara Falls region was to explore opportunities for starting a software development company. However, I faced significant barriers, including high costs and elevated unemployment rates among developers in the regions. The Covid-19 pandemic further impacted the business environment, leading to a noticeable downturn.

These challenges prompted me to reconsider my approach. Rather than pursuing a new software development business, I chose to leverage the insights gained from these experiences to pivot my strategy. This shift in perspective was instrumental in shaping the MineEco system.

Research and Planning

To better understand the local market, I engaged with businesses and stores in the Niagara Falls area. These conversations revealed the barriers within the software development industry and highlighted the need for alternative solutions.

From these discussions, it became evident that the software development industry had significant barriers, making it a less viable path for me. The high costs and competitive nature of the industry reinforced the need for a different approach. I found myself questioning whether to continue with the original approach or pivot to something new.

Instead of following a traditional software development path, I explored new approaches that would address local business needs while circumventing industry challenges. This research ultimately guided the conceptualization of the MineEco system, designed to offer innovative and adaptable solutions based on the insights gained.

Concept Development

With a clearer understanding of the market, I began re-researching global POS and checkout systems, focusing particularly on Canada, the US, Australia, Singapore, and Vietnam—countries where I have lived or visited. This involved examining industry standards, market conditions, and the necessity of traditional POS setups.

A key aspect of my research was questioning the necessity of hardware for running a store with a POS system. Specifically, I explored whether businesses truly needed traditional POS setups or if there were alternative solutions for functions like printing receipts. This questioning was crucial in shaping my approach to developing a more adaptable system.

By comparing these insights with the existing MineOrder system, I identified areas for improvement and adaptation. This led to the creation of the MineEco system, which features software-based solutions like MinePOS and MinePOP. These solutions are designed to be more flexible and cost-effective, allowing businesses to operate efficiently without being tied to traditional POS and hardware constraints.

Initial Challenges

MineOrder’s outdated technical stacks presented significant challenges when revisiting the project. These outdated technologies made it difficult to move forward and required a substantial overhaul to meet current industry standards.

Additionally, I reached out to various potential collaborators to discuss the possibility of reforming MineOrder and collaborating. However, I faced rejections due to several factors, including differing visions, the high demands and high risks of the project.

In response to these challenges, I decided to go by myself and opted to use modern technologies such as MAUI for app development and .NET Core for microservices. This decision was crucial for building a system capable of adapting to rapid infrastructure changes and meeting current industry standards. Collaborators were deterred by the project's technical complexity, high resource demands, and ambitious goals, which posed significant risks and required specialized expertise.

End of Part 1

This concludes Part 1 of my series. In the next installment, Part 2: Building the MineEco System, I will delve into the process of constructing and implementing the ecosystem. I’ll share insights and experiences on setting up the Mine Ecosystem, focusing on both technical and strategic aspects which may help startups having a full picture of how to build a high scale system, not a product or an application.

Lesson learned: Embrace the desire for self-improvement and seek better approaches to help yourself and others. Unexpected journeys often lead us to where we truly belong. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and explore new adventures. Growth and meaningful experiences often come from taking bold steps beyond familiar boundaries.

Series: How Did I Build MineEco system? Part 2 - Building the MineEco System

Lessons Learned and Shared from Startup Problems (stage 2)

1. Having More Passion for the Solution Than the Problem is a Problem:
Observation: Focusing on the attractiveness of the solution rather than maintaining a focus on solving the problem can lead to missing the real issues customers face.

Lesson: Ensure that your passion is directed towards understanding and addressing the customer's problems. A solution-driven approach without a deep understanding of the problem can result in misaligned products.

2. Chasing a Solution Before the Problem is a Form of Waste:
Observation: Guessing what may happen to customers is like predicting an unclear future. Developing solutions without identifying the customer problem leads to wasted resources.

Lesson: Avoid developing solutions based on assumptions. Instead, invest time in identifying and validating the customer problem before working on the solution. This ensures that your efforts are targeted and effective.

Why These Lessons Matter
Customers Don’t Care About Our Solution; They Care About Their Problems:

Core Insight: Customers are primarily focused on their own needs and challenges. They seek solutions that address their specific problems.

Actionable Takeaway: To ensure that your solution is effective and valuable, you must deeply understand and directly address the customers' needs and problems. This customer-centric approach will help you create products that resonate with users and solve real issues they face.