It's hard for solo developers to gain attentions
I've been building side projects for a while and I'm hitting the same wall every time, the building is the easy part. Getting anyone to notice is 10x harder than writing the code.
Reddit removes your posts if you're a new account. HN restricts Show HN for new users. Twitter/X algorithm buries you unless you already have followers. Product Hunt feels like a pay-to-play leaderboard now.
I get why platforms do this. There's a real spam problem. But it creates a dead end where you need an audience to get distribution, and you need distribution to get an audience.
What's actually worked for you? Not the generic "build in public" advice, but specific things that got your first 10-100 real users. Reddit removes your posts if you're a new account. HN restricts Show HN for new users. Twitter/X algorithm buries you unless you already have followers. Be an active and useful member of a community before trying to leverage that community for your own gain. It's not a bad trade. Or just pay. That's literally why 95% of founders raise VC money. They can build the app on their own. The money is needed to spread the word. You may have seen YouTube ads for Monday, Base44, etc. This is how the cash gets spent. The algorithm chicken-and-egg problem is real, but Reddit's spam filters are actually your biggest hint at what works, genuine community participation over months before you ever mention your project. The platforms that seem most restrictive are often the most rewarding once you're established. I've hit this same wall repeatedly, built product after product without knowing where to even start looking for users. The depression from launching into silence is brutal. I'm currently building something to help with this exact problem and would love to give you free access in exchange for honest feedback if you're interested. I totally agree with you. I think the latest push from the oligarchy of the solo ai pressure adds to the isolation and their dominance. The solo entrepreneur developer needs to network, more than ever.