Running a small software studio means making hundreds of product decisions with limited time, limited resources, and no large team to hide behind.
At Devakto, we have learned that the best way to build software is to stay close to real users, ship improvements frequently, and share what we are learning along the way. That philosophy shapes everything we build — including Showesome Screen Recorder, our flagship Chrome extension for screen, tab, and camera recording.
What "building in public" means to us
Building in public is not just posting screenshots on social media. For us, it means sharing progress, listening to feedback openly, documenting decisions, and improving products based on real-world usage rather than assumptions.
We do not spend months building features in isolation. We release focused improvements, observe how people use them, and iterate quickly. Many of Showesome's most useful capabilities started this way — a simple request from a user often reveals a broader workflow problem worth solving.
The principles behind our products
Every project at Devakto follows a few core principles.
Start with a real workflow
We rarely begin with a feature list. We start with a workflow that feels unnecessarily complicated and ask how we can make it simpler.
For Showesome, that workflow was screen recording. People wanted to explain ideas, report bugs, create tutorials, and share feedback without sign-ups, watermarks, or complicated software. The solution was not adding more features — it was removing friction. We wrote more about that in Why we built Showesome Screen Recorder.
Ship focused products
Many products try to solve every use case on day one. We prefer a focused tool that solves one problem well over a large platform that never fully launches.
That approach let Showesome grow from a lightweight recorder into something used by developers, educators, support teams, founders, and product managers.
Keep interfaces honest
We care about predictable software. Users should understand what a button does before clicking it. Files should end up where they expect. Important actions should not hide behind layers of menus. The best interface is often the one that needs the least explanation.
Listen more than we guess
Many product decisions come directly from users — feature requests, support questions, usability feedback, and small complaints that reveal bigger opportunities. Building in public works when feedback is treated as product research.
Showesome as a real example
Showesome Screen Recorder is the clearest example of how we build.
What started as a simple Chrome extension expanded through user feedback and repeated observation of recording workflows. Over time we added:
- Focus Mode for clearer tutorials and demonstrations
- Virtual backgrounds for camera recordings
- Screen and camera recording with a movable bubble overlay
- Recording management and workflow improvements
- A growing library of tutorials and guides
Every addition answered one question: Will this make recording and sharing information easier? If the answer was not clear, the feature usually did not ship.
Why we separate product content and studio content
Different audiences look for different information. Someone searching for help recording a Chrome tab with audio does not need our company story. Someone curious about how Devakto operates may not need another step-by-step tutorial.
So we keep content focused:
On Showesome (recorder.showesome.com):
- Product tutorials and setup guides
- Feature documentation and troubleshooting
- Release notes
On Devakto (devakto.tools):
- Product development lessons and studio updates
- Launch stories and design decisions
- Thoughts on building software as a small team — here on Devakto Insights
For curated links to the best Showesome guides without duplicating articles, see our Guides hub.
What we are building next
We are exploring new Chrome extension ideas and working on our first paid product. It is still early to share details, but the goals are the same: solve a real problem, keep the experience simple, remove unnecessary friction, and build something we would genuinely use ourselves.
In the meantime, we keep improving Showesome and sharing what we learn — on the product blog for users, and here for anyone following the studio.
Why we share the process
Building software independently can feel opaque from the outside. Most products appear only after years of development, which makes it hard to see how they evolved.
We believe there is value in sharing the journey — the experiments, mistakes, feedback, and lessons that shape a product over time. That is what Devakto Insights is for: not just announcing what we built, but documenting how and why we built it.
About Devakto
Devakto (DEVΛKTO) is an independent software studio focused on browser-based productivity tools. We build software with an emphasis on clarity, practicality, and user experience. Our goal is not the largest collection of products, but tools that solve meaningful problems well.
Showesome Screen Recorder is our flagship product today — and the foundation many future ideas are growing from.
Frequently asked questions
What is Devakto?
Devakto is an independent software studio that designs and develops browser-based tools, including Showesome Screen Recorder. Website: devakto.tools.
What is Showesome?
Showesome Screen Recorder is a Chrome extension for screen, tab, window, and camera recording. It is developed and maintained by Devakto. Product site: recorder.showesome.com.
Where can I find Showesome tutorials?
Product tutorials, setup guides, and feature documentation live on the Showesome blog. Devakto's Guides hub links to featured guides without copying them.
Why does Devakto have a separate Insights section?
Devakto Insights focuses on company updates, product development, design decisions, and lessons learned while building software. Product-specific help stays on the Showesome website.
How can I follow Devakto?
X @AktoDev, LinkedIn, or email contact@devakto.tools.