Hardcover Live

Hosted by Adam Fortuna & Stelian Dobrescu

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Aug 2026

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Each week Adam & Ste focus on a specific feature, idea or prototype in Hardcover and iterate on it together or with guests.

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August 5, 2026Episode 6559 min

#65 - Book Vibes

Unlocking Book Recommendations with Vibes: An Inside Look at the Future of ReadingDiscover how hardcover is revolutionizing book discovery through its innovative recommendation system called Vibes. In this episode, we explore the technology behind personalized book suggestions, how Vibes creates tailored recommendations, and what’s coming next for this powerful tool.Key Topics:- The concept of book Vibes: understanding the fingerprint of books based on reading data- How Vibes uses a recommendation engine powered by vector databases and machine learning models- Behind the scenes of generating book vectors and how cosine similarity finds similar reads- The process of training the model with millions of books and the importance of probabilistic genres- How user preferences and collaborative ranking refine recommendations- The role of genre data, axioms, and World types in shaping book suggestions- Excluding books and authors from recommendations and the impact of user feedback- Plans for expanding Vibes’ features, including API access and customization options- Visualizing vectors and genres to better understand book relationships- Future ideas for recommending based on user book clubs, want-to-read lists, and moreTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction to hardcover's new recommendation feature, Vibes02:10 - How hardcover knows the data behind your reading habits03:39 - Creating an advanced book search system that finds what you don't know04:36 - Building a recommendation engine to match niche book preferences05:04 - Upcoming features and API integrations for Vibes06:30 - Exploring trending and personalized recommendation Vibes11:27 - How Vibes generates up to 250 book recommendations for your taste12:23 - The technical backend: vector databases and cosine similarity in recommendations14:45 - Training a two-tower model for book vectors and genre understanding16:16 - Incorporating user collaborative data for personalized suggestions17:02 - Experimenting with signals and signals weights to refine recommendations18:21 - The role of popularity weights and social signals in suggestion quality19:50 - Handling classic and crossover genres like Pride and Prejudice22:23 - Why different genres and classic books show up in recommendations25:13 - Visualizing vectors and the potential for future genre space exploration26:46 - How axioms and world types help refine genre and book classification37:52 - Building the system from scratch: the development process and lessons learned49:16 - Feedback, tuning, and future improvements for Vibes58:54 - Making recommendations accessible for all users and future API plans60:41 - Closing thoughts: the vision for discovering books that match your unique tasteThis episode offers a comprehensive look at the technology shaping personalized book discovery. Whether you're a niche reader or just love finding your next great read, learn how hardcover’s Vibes system can help you explore books in ways you never thought possible.

December 1, 2024Episode 641 hr 1 min

#64 - Building Stats

SummaryIn this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss their personal lives, including updates on Adam's house purchase and Ste's experiences with friends visiting. They transition into discussing the development of their hardcover project, focusing on new features, user interface improvements, and data management strategies. The conversation highlights the importance of user feedback and the ongoing efforts to enhance the platform's functionality. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss the ongoing development of their project, focusing on the transition to Ruby workflows, optimizing data management, enhancing user experience with custom stats, and integrating visual components. They also explore user profile features, social stats, and the upcoming shift to OAuth for authentication, highlighting the importance of user privacy and the potential for future developments.TakeawaysAdam is preparing for a house purchase, which is both exciting and daunting.Ste had a busy week with friends visiting and experiencing unusual snow in Paris.The hardcover project is making progress with new features and updates.User feedback is crucial for improving the platform's functionality.The team is implementing new filtering options for book lists.Stats tracking is being enhanced to provide better insights for users.The conversation emphasizes collaboration and iterative development in tech projects.Visual design and user experience are key focuses in the hardcover updates.The team is exploring ways to improve data management and presentation.Future plans include refining features based on user needs and feedback. The transition to Ruby workflows has streamlined development processes.Optimizing data management enhances user privacy settings for different viewers.Custom stats improve user experience and provide valuable insights.Integrating visual components allows for better user interaction.User profile features can include social stats to enhance engagement.Transitioning to OAuth will improve API authentication and security.The development team is excited about the potential for open sourcing their project.User feedback is crucial for refining features and functionalities.The importance of clear communication in development is emphasized.Future developments will focus on enhancing user experience and functionality.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates05:07 House Purchase and Weather Changes10:01 Hardcover Development Updates14:50 New Features and Goals in Development20:00 Stats and Data Management24:58 Final Thoughts and Future Plans29:35 Streamlining Development with Ruby Workflows32:41 Optimizing Data Management and User Privacy35:43 Enhancing User Experience with Custom Stats39:11 Integrating Visual Components and User Interaction44:42 Exploring User Profile Features and Social Stats55:39 Transitioning to OAuth and Future Developments

December 1, 2024Episode 6358 min

#63 - 2024 Year in Books

SummaryIn this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss various personal updates, including seasonal changes and the exciting news of Adam's house purchase. They reflect on their previous year's book project and plan for the upcoming 2024 Year in Books, focusing on technical improvements, user experience, and community engagement. They also navigate the complexities of AI art and copyright concerns while finalizing book selection and genre tagging. In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss various aspects of their book platform, focusing on past achievements, new metrics, and the integration of user feedback. They explore the idea of incorporating moods into book statistics, the design of user experience, and the technical challenges of hosting. The conversation also touches on future plans for community engagement and the impressive growth of their user base.TakeawaysEnjoying seasonal changes and personal milestones.The excitement of purchasing a new home.Reflecting on the success of last year's book project.Planning improvements for the upcoming Year in Books.Technical migration to enhance user experience.The importance of community engagement in projects.Navigating the complexities of AI art and copyright.The need for clear communication regarding art usage.Finalizing book selections and ensuring proper genre tagging.The balance between creativity and legal considerations in art. Reflecting on past achievements can guide future improvements.Incorporating user feedback is essential for growth.Exploring new metrics can enhance user engagement.Moods can add depth to book statistics.Designing user experience is crucial for retention.Technical choices impact hosting costs significantly.Community engagement drives platform growth.Tracking series popularity can provide valuable insights.Adapting to user needs is key to success.Continuous iteration is necessary for improvement.Chapters00:00 Seasonal Changes and Personal Updates03:03 Exciting News: House Purchase06:04 Reflecting on Last Year's Book Project09:03 Planning for the 2024 Year in Books11:58 Technical Improvements and Code Migration15:02 Enhancing Visuals and User Experience18:01 Community Engagement and Artist Contributions20:54 Navigating AI Art and Copyright Concerns24:08 Finalizing Book Selection and Genre Tagging28:41 Reflecting on Past Achievements33:29 Exploring New Metrics and Categories36:13 Incorporating Moods into Book Stats39:20 Designing the User Experience43:01 Technical Insights on Hosting and Performance50:23 Future Plans and Community Engagement

December 1, 2024Episode 621 hr 22 min

#62 - Stats & Monthly Wrapped

summaryIn this conversation, Adam and Ste reconnect after a break, sharing personal updates about their lives, travels, and reflections on current events. They discuss the cultural experiences from Adam's recent trip to Europe, touching on the importance of community and history. The conversation shifts to the political climate, emphasizing the value of their work in promoting reading and education. They also share insights into their personal lives, including family activities and leisure pursuits. The latter part of the discussion focuses on the development of a stats page for their platform, exploring user interface enhancements and data visualization techniques. In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss various aspects of data visualization, focusing on SVG animation techniques, the importance of color schemes for accessibility, and enhancing user experience through interactive charts. They explore the representation of reading data, including pages read versus minutes listened, and the design of bar charts and heat maps. The conversation also touches on user engagement features for supporters and the significance of comparative analysis in user ratings. In this conversation, Ste and Adam discuss various features and metrics for a reading platform, focusing on user engagement, reading analytics, and privacy concerns. They explore how to present reading data effectively, including metrics like average reading pace, series tracking, and user contributions. The conversation also touches on future enhancements and the importance of user control over their data.takeawaysReconnecting after a break can be refreshing and necessary.Travel experiences can deepen one's appreciation for culture and history.Current events can impact personal and professional perspectives.Focusing on reading and education is vital in today's climate.Personal life experiences can enrich conversations about work.User interface design should prioritize user experience and flexibility.Data visualization can enhance understanding of user engagement.Collaboration is key in developing effective tools and features.Autumn is a time for introspection and reflection.Continuous improvement in product design is essential for user satisfaction. Animating SVG lines can be done easily with dash arrays.Using pages read instead of minutes listened simplifies data representation.Color schemes should consider accessibility for colorblind users.Interactive charts enhance user engagement and understanding.Defining a color palette is crucial for data visualizations.User features like 'see more' can improve engagement for supporters.Bar chart aesthetics can be improved with gradient colors.Library breakdowns can provide insights into book ownership.Heat maps can reveal deeper insights into reading habits.Comparative analysis helps users understand their ratings better. User engagement can be enhanced by linking saved books to user profiles.Supporter features can provide additional insights and data.Reading metrics like average shelf time can offer valuable insights to users.Mood impact and genre pace can influence reading speed and preferences.Series tracking can help users understand their reading habits better.Data privacy is crucial; users should control what stats are public.Monthly stats should be easy to share and find for users.Future developments will focus on improving user experience and data presentation.The platform aims to provide meaningful insights rather than superficial stats.Using tools like cursor can streamline the development process.

October 15, 2024Episode 6156 min

#61 - Stats and End of Year Plans

SummaryIn this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss various topics ranging from culinary trends in France to seasonal changes and outdoor activities. They delve into winter preparations, project updates, and technical challenges faced in their work. The discussion also covers the resurgence of Rails and caching strategies, as well as community contributions and future plans for their projects. In this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss the ongoing development of their application, focusing on UI enhancements, data integration, and user experience improvements. They explore the challenges and solutions related to statistical data presentation, the use of chart libraries, and the transition to Rails for better performance. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community engagement and feedback in shaping the future of their product.TakeawaysYoung chefs in France are revitalizing traditional restaurants.Seasonal changes inspire outdoor activities like hiking.Winter preparations involve gathering plans and shipping projects.Technical challenges arise from the current architecture of their platform.Rails is experiencing a renaissance with new deployment options.Caching strategies are evolving to improve performance.Community contributions are encouraged for artwork and coding.Custom headers for books can enhance user experience.The importance of security in project development is emphasized.Future updates will significantly improve app performance. The UI development is focused on integrating custom data for a better user experience.Customization options for users, such as uploading cover images, are being prioritized.Statistical data presentation will be improved with flexible layout options.The team is considering the use of SVG for charts to enhance maintainability.Community feedback is crucial for refining the application and its features.Transitioning to Rails is expected to improve development speed and performance.The current challenges with Next.js are prompting a shift to a more controllable framework.The team is excited about the potential of Rails to streamline their workflow.Maintaining user excitement is essential for the success of the application.Future updates will focus on enhancing the overall user experience and addressing community needs.Chapters00:00 Culinary Trends in France02:59 Seasonal Changes and Outdoor Activities06:02 Winter Preparations and Project Updates08:59 Technical Challenges and Architectural Improvements15:01 Rails Renaissance and Caching Strategies19:58 Community Contributions and Future Plans30:00 UI Development and Custom Data Integration32:59 Enhancing User Experience with Customization35:56 Statistical Data Presentation and Layout40:13 Chart Libraries and SVG Implementation47:00 Future Planning and Community Engagement52:00 Transitioning to Rails and Performance Improvements

October 15, 2024Episode 601 hr 1 min

#60 - Dashboard & Inertia.js

SummaryIn this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss their recent experiences, including attending the FANX convention and the upcoming Dragonsteel convention by Brandon Sanderson. They delve into the technical aspects of migrating their application from Next.js to Rails, addressing challenges and solutions encountered during the process. The duo also shares insights on the development of a customizable dashboard and stats page for their application, while contemplating the future of augmented reality and AI in reading and design.TakeawaysSte shares his experience at a friend's wedding and returning with a cold.Adam discusses his excitement for the upcoming Mediterranean cruise.FANX convention was a fun experience for Adam, with many panels and vendors.Brandon Sanderson's Dragonsteel convention is highly anticipated.The duo discusses the challenges of migrating from Next.js to Rails.They explore the potential of a customizable dashboard for their application.The importance of user-specific data in the migration process is highlighted.Ste presents a mockup of the dashboard with various widgets.The conversation touches on the future of augmented reality and AI in reading.They express excitement about the potential of AI to enhance development. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates03:00 FANX Convention Experience05:58 Brandon Sanderson's Dragonsteel Convention08:53 Gaming Cafes and Community Spaces10:11 Migration from Next.js to Rails10:55 Technical Challenges in Migration14:52 Dashboard Mockup and Features19:58 Stats Page Development30:02 Future of Augmented Reality and AI

October 1, 2024Episode 591 hr 2 min

#59 - Building Session - Stats

Today we're advancing on Stats, and we'll be doing a building session on the actual components you'll see on your profile. If you want to get a sneak peek and see how we're building Hardcover, join Adam and Ste in an hour-long live.Sound Bites"That's exciting! That's like a big step.""I live in Europe, so that's pretty much by default.""I managed to implement the add widget, remove widget thing."Chapters00:00 Exploring the Real Estate Market02:57 Living in Salt Lake City vs. Europe06:02 Cultural Experiences and Bookshops09:01 Tech Development and AI Integration11:53 Designing the Dashboard for Readers14:55 Backend Migration Challenges17:58 User Experience and Hydration Issues21:11 Stats and Insights for Readers23:57 Supporter Features and User Engagement26:58 Sharing and Social Features30:01 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

October 1, 2024Episode 581 hr 2 min

#58 – New Stats (part 6)

SummaryIn this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss their recent activities and plans. They talk about embracing the Paris lifestyle, the culture of characters in Japan and South Korea, upcoming events, and their exploration of moving from Next.js to a React app within their Rails app. They also discuss the challenges and complexities of web development, the potential of open-sourcing their codebase, and their plans for building customizable stats and a dashboard for Hardcover. The conversation focuses on designing the dashboard and stats page for the Hardcover app. They discuss the layout, widgets, and insights that should be included. They also consider the technical aspects of data loading and caching. The conversation ends with a plan to create different widgets for the dashboard and stats page.TakeawaysEmbrace the local lifestyle and culture wherever you are.Consider the use of characters and cartoons to denote brands and create a unique identity.Explore different frameworks and technologies to improve the performance and development process of your app.Consider open-sourcing your codebase to foster collaboration and innovation.Design customizable stats and a dashboard to provide users with personalized insights and a better user experience. The dashboard should include widgets for currently reading books, social activity, journal entries, and progress charts.The stats page should provide insights into reading habits, such as genre preferences and reading slumps.Widgets should be adaptable and allow users to customize their dashboard.Data loading and caching should be optimized to ensure fast loading times.Different headers and controls may be needed for the dashboard and stats page.Narratives and qualitative data can enhance the stats page and provide more meaningful insights.Chapters00:00 Embracing the Paris Lifestyle and Culture of Characters05:31 Exploring the Move from Next.js to a React App within Rails12:31 Challenges and Complexities of Web Development14:37 The Potential of Open-Sourcing the Codebase20:27 Building Customizable Stats and a Dashboard for Hardcover31:59 Designing the Dashboard and Stats Page55:11 Customizable Widgets for Personalized Dashboards56:25 Optimizing Data Loading and Caching58:07 Adding Insights and Qualitative Data to the Stats Page

October 1, 2024Episode 571 hr 4 min

#57 – New Stats (part 5)

SummaryThe conversation revolves around Ste's eventful trip to South France and Adam's use of the Apple Vision Pro for focused reading. They discuss the deployment of a new update for hardcover and the feedback received from users regarding the desired stats for reading habits. The top themes identified include pages read, genres read, books read, top authors, and comparisons with other readers. The chat GPT analysis aligns with these themes and also highlights the desire for a year-end summary and understanding trends in reading habits. The conversation explores different visualization options for tracking genre preferences over time and understanding the correlation between genres and themes. It also delves into the desire for insights into reading habits compared to others and the triggers behind reading slumps. The conversation highlights the importance of narrative-driven stats and the potential for sentiment analysis to understand readers' experiences. The top four stats mentioned are books read, pages read, authors, and genres. The conversation concludes with plans to create prototypes of these stats and potentially release them to supporters for feedback.TakeawaysSte had an eventful trip to South France, experiencing a 12-hour train journey due to vandalism, but ultimately enjoyed the sunny beach with his family.Adam shared his use of the Apple Vision Pro for focused reading, finding it helpful for deep concentration.They discussed the deployment of a new update for hardcover, including color-coded avatars and the potential for users to customize their colors.The feedback from users highlighted the desire for stats on pages read, genres read, books read, top authors, and comparisons with other readers. Users also expressed interest in a year-end summary and understanding trends in their reading habits. Visualization options for tracking genre preferences over time and understanding the correlation between genres and themesDesire for insights into reading habits compared to others and the triggers behind reading slumpsImportance of narrative-driven stats and the potential for sentiment analysis to understand readers' experiencesTop four stats mentioned: books read, pages read, authors, and genresPlans to create prototypes of these stats and potentially release them to supporters for feedbackChapters00:00 An Eventful Trip to South France03:10 Focused Reading with the Apple Vision Pro05:58 New Update for Hardcover and Customizable Avatars11:25 Desired Stats for Reading Habits31:04 Visualizing Genre Preferences Over Time33:16 Understanding the Correlation Between Genres and Themes34:45 Exploring Reading Habits and Triggers for Reading Slumps42:13 Stats Based on Feedback48:17 Reading Slumps and Genre Preferences52:43 Improving Genre System for Accurate Tracking56:47 Storing Daily Reading Stats01:00:20 Creating Prototypes of Top Four Stats

August 28, 2024Episode 5657 min

#56 - New Stats (part 4)

SummaryIn this conversation, Adam and Ste discuss their plans for upcoming Hardcover Lives and the importance of marketing emails. They also talk about their personal lives, including their experiences with baguettes and outdoor concerts. The main focus of the conversation is on the development of stats for Hardcover, with Adam and Ste discussing the survey they are creating to gather feedback from readers. They explore the types of stats readers are interested in and how they can make the stats more shareable. The conversation focuses on the design and implementation of stats for the Hardcover app. They discuss the types of information users would like to see, such as reading habits, genres, and themes. They also explore the idea of different user personas and how the stats can cater to their specific needs. The conversation delves into the challenges of creating open-ended survey questions and the time it takes for users to provide thoughtful responses. They discuss the importance of both quantitative and qualitative data in understanding reading habits. The conversation concludes with a discussion on sharing stats and the possibility of adding a header and footer with the user's username when generating shareable images.TakeawaysPlanning and marketing upcoming events, such as Hardcover Lives, can help generate excitement and engagement from readers.Creating a survey to gather feedback from readers is an effective way to understand their needs and preferences when it comes to stats.Stats should provide valuable insights and solve specific problems for readers, such as tracking reading progress and comparing it to goals.Making stats shareable can enhance the reader experience and encourage engagement with friends, family, and book clubs.Considering the frequency and platforms on which readers would like to share their stats can inform the design and structure of the stats. Stats should provide users with insights into their reading habits, genres, and themes.Consider different user personas and tailor the stats to their specific needs.Open-ended survey questions require more time for users to provide thoughtful responses.Both quantitative and qualitative data are important in understanding reading habits.Explore options for sharing stats, such as generating shareable images with a header and footer containing the user's username.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Planning Hardcover Lives07:45 Personal Experiences with Baguettes and Outdoor Concerts15:59 Developing Shareable Stats for Readers21:25 Gathering Feedback through a Reader Survey26:26 Creating Valuable and Insightful Stats27:25 Enhancing Reader Engagement through Shareable Stats28:03 Catering to User Personas29:20 The Challenge of Open-Ended Survey Questions30:12 Balancing Quantitative and Qualitative Data37:32 Enhancing the Sharing of Stats

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Listen to episodes

#65 - Book Vibes

#64 - Building Stats

#63 - 2024 Year in Books

#62 - Stats & Monthly Wrapped

#61 - Stats and End of Year Plans

#60 - Dashboard & Inertia.js

#59 - Building Session - Stats

#58 – New Stats (part 6)

#57 – New Stats (part 5)

#56 - New Stats (part 4)

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