Building Checkmarked: From Idea to Launch
The story of how a weekend project turned into a platform for developers.
Marko Radak
Every product starts with a problem. For Checkmarked, it was a frustration I experienced firsthand.
The Frustration
I was reviewing portfolios for a freelance project, and every single one looked the same:
- "Full-stack developer with 5+ years experience"
- "Proficient in React, Node, Python, AWS..."
- "Led development of scalable applications"
But how could I verify any of this? I couldn't. I had to trust that people were being honest about their experience.
That's when I thought: What if portfolios could verify themselves?
The Weekend Prototype
The first version of Checkmarked was built in a weekend. It was rough:
- Basic GitHub OAuth
- Simple file analysis
- A very ugly UI
But it worked. I could connect my GitHub, and it would pull out the technologies I actually used based on my code—not what I claimed to use.
The "Aha" Moment
The real breakthrough came when I added contribution analysis.
Instead of just listing projects, the system could show:
- Your exact contribution percentage
- Which files you wrote
- What your role actually was
Suddenly, "Led frontend development" wasn't just a claim—it was backed by commit history showing you wrote 70% of the React components.
Building in Public
I shared the prototype on Twitter, expecting maybe a few likes. Instead:
- 200+ developers signed up in the first week
- Dozens of feature requests poured in
- People started asking when they could pay for it
Turns out, I wasn't the only one frustrated with unverifiable portfolios.
What I Learned
Building Checkmarked taught me a few things:
1. Solve Your Own Problem
The best products come from genuine frustration. I built Checkmarked because I needed it, not because I thought it would be a good business.
2. Ship Early, Iterate Fast
The weekend prototype was embarrassingly basic. But shipping it early meant I got real feedback from real users before investing months in features no one wanted.
3. Trust the Community
The developer community has been incredible. Feature suggestions, bug reports, and encouragement have shaped the product more than any roadmap could.
What's Next
We're just getting started. On the roadmap:
- More templates and customization options
- Team portfolios for agencies and companies
- Integration with more platforms beyond GitHub
- API for embedding verification anywhere
Thank You
To everyone who's signed up, shared feedback, or just tried the product—thank you. Building something people actually use is the best feeling in the world.
Want to be part of the journey? Create your portfolio and let us know what you think.