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Zhuan Chen
Zhuan Chen

Hi, I'm Zhuan.

I'm an independent software maker. I build small, useful products for problems I know firsthand.

See what I'm making ↓GitHub ↗X ↗

Building

These are the four products I currently keep online. Each started with a problem I wanted to understand well enough to make easier for someone else.

  1. 01

    Anecdote FYI

    anecdote.fyi

    Tell it. Write it. Keep it. A private, kid-led studio for turning family memories, voices, and real handwriting into lasting keepsakes.

  2. 02

    Makefile FYI

    makefile.fyi

    A practical way to learn Make by following a production Makefile from its first target to a managed toolchain.

  3. 03

    Cents FYI

    cents.fyi

    A shared family ledger for allowance, spending, and the balance that remains. It does not move real money.

  4. 04

    Privacy Photos

    privacy.photos

    A private, in-browser tool for making compliant passport photos. Your images stay on your device.

About

I spent years building software at technology companies before choosing to work independently. Now I take small ideas from first principles to something people can actually use.

I'm especially drawn to problems with a complicated system hiding underneath: build tools, money rules, photo requirements. Good software can make those systems feel understandable without pretending they are simple.

The .fyi names are a small clue to what I value. I like products that help you finish the task and leave knowing a little more than when you started.

Say hello

If you're making something thoughtful, have a question about one of my projects, or simply want to compare notes, I'd be glad to hear from you.

Email me ↗