Yakov (yakiiiv)

About

I'm Yakov. I've been writing code since 2012, and honestly, I'm kind of tired of it :)

For most of my career I've been reworking other people's online stores on Magento. Now I've finally decided to make something of my own. First up: Tenot, a journal app.

Background

A short history of my side projects

A Chrome extension. To switch music in streaming services like SoundCloud with hotkeys, without opening the browser. Back then the browser couldn’t do that, and I felt like an inventor. Later it got built into Chrome… and into operating systems in general. Thanks for confirming it was a good idea. Then I abandoned it, didn’t update it for the new Chrome Web Store rules, and it got removed. But before that, 2,000 people used it!

A drawing notes app in React Native. What I mostly drew in it were plans for finishing it. I didn’t finish it.

Electronics. Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, and an LED 3D cube. The rest of my gadgets will stay a secret.

Tenot, a journal app. This one I will finish. Honestly.

Principles

Now, seriously: my rules

  1. Convenience beats feature count. People open an app for a specific task, and it should get done fast. An app can have plenty of features, but each one should make that task easier, and each one should come with instructions.

  2. Nothing extra. To me, minimalism isn’t an empty screen — it’s having nothing you don’t need. If a feature doesn’t help, it won’t be there.

  3. No subscriptions. If an app runs on your phone, there’s no reason to pay for it every month. That’s why the paid versions of my apps are a one-time purchase. If I ever need my own server, I’ll try to do without a subscription there too.

  4. I make the decisions. I work alone: developer, designer, tester, and the boss who approves everything — that’s all me. I couldn’t find a partner among my friends, and I don’t want to hire strangers. Decisions are fast, and the responsibility is mine. What I miss, your emails point out. So don’t hesitate to write to me!

Beyond code

In my free time

I work out at home. Recently bought dumbbells. We’ll see how long I last. I love driving around the city at night. I love watching TV shows. I entertain my two kitties.

I like working to brown noise (or whatever it’s called) or the sound of a train. Weird, but it helps me focus.

I also love walking. In the winter of 2026, I walked 10 kilometers a day for four months straight. Turns out Puma sneakers aren’t great for that.

And at least once a year I head to the mountains. Because the only thing better than mountains is more mountains!

Get in touch

Write to me

Questions, ideas, feedback. Found a bug? All the more reason to write.

Email me