About
Who's behind Fileside?
Hi, I'm Erik, and I'm the sole developer of Fileside. I love building useful and beautiful products that make computing more fun. I've been making software for over 20 years now, everything from games to audio to mobile apps and websites.
My initial motivation for creating a new file manager was to make it easier to keep my large collection of MP3s organised. These days, I also use it for managing the notes in my second brain and as a Kanban board among many other things.
Feel free to get in touch with any questions or feedback you might have. My email is in the footer. I make sure to read and reply to all mails!
How is it funded?
Fileside is completely self-funded, and built according to the principles of organic software. By staying independent, I can focus 100% on making the app the best it can be, rather than chasing growth for growth's sake.
It costs money, because software shouldn't make money from ads or tracking its users. As the saying goes, if you're not paying, you're the product.
I'd love to be able to say that Fileside is completely user-funded, but that would be a lie. It does not bring in enough to support my working on it full-time, so in reality it's mostly funded through freelance work I do next to Fileside. Each and every paying user means a lot though, still hoping to get there one day!
What are its guiding principles?
- User experience first. The app must be enjoyable to use. Its interface should be intuitive enough that a manual shouldn't be needed. No dark patterns.
- Do it right or don't do it at all. Let things take the time they need, and release when they're ready. No half-baked MVP-style features. Details matter.
- Undo for everything. You should never have to worry about losing something by clicking the wrong button. Every action affecting the file system must be undoable.
- Software as craft. Counteract the enshittification of mass-market software by approaching product development as a craft. Carpenter over entrepreneur.