The Teak Journal

Notes on building great software.

Practical, no-hype guidance on cost, timelines, and technology for founders building web, mobile, and AI products.

How to Choose a Software Development Company (2026 Checklist)

Choosing the wrong development partner is expensive and slow to fix. Here's a practical checklist for picking a software company that actually delivers — with the questions to ask and the red flags to avoid.

March 24, 2026·11 min read

AI & Product

Do You Actually Need AI in Your Product? A Practical Guide

AI is in every pitch deck — but not every product needs it. Here's a grounded way to tell where AI creates real value, where it's just noise, and how to add it well.

March 10, 2026·9 min read

Mobile Development

Flutter vs. React Native: Which Is Right for Your App?

Both let you build iOS and Android from one codebase — but they make different trade-offs. Here's a clear, honest comparison to help you choose between Flutter and React Native.

February 25, 2026·10 min read

Engineering

React vs. Next.js: Which Should Your Startup Use?

React and Next.js aren't really competitors — one is a library, the other a framework built on it. Here's what that means for your startup, in plain English, with a clear recommendation.

February 11, 2026·9 min read

Mobile Development

How Long Does It Take to Build a Mobile App?

From first sketch to the App Store, here's a realistic phase-by-phase timeline for building a mobile app in 2026 — what happens in each stage, and what speeds it up or slows it down.

January 28, 2026·10 min read

Cost & Budgeting

How Much Does It Cost to Build a SaaS MVP in 2026?

The honest answer is "it depends" — but here's the real breakdown of what a SaaS MVP costs in 2026, what drives the number up or down, the hidden costs founders forget, and how to spend smart.

January 14, 2026·12 min read