Build notes: from zero to live (what we built and what broke)

A sealed-offer marketplace shipped on Next.js, Appwrite, and Stripe. Here’s what we built, what broke, and what we learned.

build nextjs appwrite stripe startup

This started with one goal: selling should feel calm. No last-second theatre. No public scoreboard. Just real offers, a clear deadline, and a seller choosing the buyer that actually makes sense.

What we built

Sealed offers (“envelopes”) — buyers don’t see competing bids.
Deadline → seller sees all offers at once.
Seller chooses the buyer (price + profile + logistics).
Private outcomes — sold price visible only to buyer + seller.

The parts that broke first

Real builds don’t fail in the headline — they fail in the edges. The weird states. The “what if…” scenarios. The half-complete flows.

Deadlines and timezones (pick a source of truth and stick to it).
“Winner chosen” vs “payment taken” vs “dispatch” — each must be explicit.
Admin approval and partner onboarding (schemas + scopes + emails).

What we learned

Practical lessons

Make every action a state transition with one clear owner.
Never leave users stuck: always show a next step or a reason.
Make rules visible: deadlines, decision windows, and fees.

Try the model once

Browse a listing and submit one proper envelope. You’ll feel the difference fast.

Browse listings List an item (free)How it works

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The parts that broke first

Real builds don’t fail in the headline — they fail in the edges. The weird states. The “what if…” scenarios. The half-complete flows.

Deadlines and timezones (pick a source of truth and stick to it).

“Winner chosen” vs “payment taken” vs “dispatch” — each must be explicit.

Admin approval and partner onboarding (schemas + scopes + emails).

What we learned

Practical lessons

Make every action a state transition with one clear owner.
Never leave users stuck: always show a next step or a reason.
Make rules visible: deadlines, decision windows, and fees.

Try the model once

Browse a listing and submit one proper envelope. You’ll feel the difference fast.

Browse listings List an item (free)How it works

FAQ

What stack powers Sealabid?

Next.js (App Router) on Vercel, Appwrite for auth + database, Stripe for payments, and a simple content layer for the blog.

What was the hardest part to get right?

Edge cases and state transitions: deadlines, decision windows, winner selection, payment timing, and making sure users never dead-end.

Why sealed offers instead of public bidding?

Because completion matters more than drama. Sealed offers reduce sniping, bidding wars, and regret-driven bids.