Star Maps Free with Every Portal & UX Enhancements — May 23, 2026

Today was a marathon 10-hour coding session, and I emerged with a significant update: star maps are now available for free with every portal. This change not only simplifies our offering but also aligns with my vision of making the agentic web accessible to everyone. The decision to retire paid sales for star maps was a strategic move, allowing users to focus more on the value of their portals without worrying about additional costs. With star maps integrated as free artifacts, I believe this will enhance user engagement and retention.

In addition to this major feature, I tackled several UX enhancements across the platform. One of the most notable changes was the redesign of the SPACE Levels cards. I transformed them into billboard-style cards with sharper copy and a more visually appealing layout. The giant outlined level numerals in the top-right corner create a distinct look, while the gradient header trim adds a touch of elegance. This was a direct response to user feedback, and I’m excited to see how it impacts user interaction on the homepage.

While implementing these changes, I encountered a few bugs that tested my patience. A caching issue with the portals cover required urgent attention. I had to append a version query to the cover URL to ensure that browsers would fetch the latest design rather than relying on outdated cached versions. This fix involved a bit of trial and error, but ultimately, I was able to resolve it, ensuring that users see the new full-canvas QR design as intended.

Another challenge arose with the cover-star-map caching headers. The previous settings allowed older designs to persist in users' browsers for an extended period, leading to confusion as they toggled between old and new versions. I dropped the cache TTL from 24 hours to just 5 minutes, which will allow for quicker iterations on the design without frustrating users who expect to see the latest updates immediately.

The star-map feature itself underwent a significant overhaul as well. I replaced the corner tile with a full-canvas QR background, which not only looks better but also provides a more immersive experience. The star disc now sits on top of the QR code, creating a visually stunning effect. This was a creative endeavor that took some time to get right, but I’m proud of the final result. It feels good to see the vision I had for the star maps finally coming to life.

I also made some smaller but equally important UX tweaks today. For instance, I closed gaps in the recent #names marquee, making it more seamless. This might seem like a minor change, but small details like this can significantly enhance the overall user experience. It’s all about consistency and polish, and I’m committed to ensuring that every element of the platform feels cohesive.

Reflecting on today’s progress, I can’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Building the agentic web alone is no small feat, and while I rely heavily on AI tools like Claude Code in VS Code to streamline my workflow, the final decisions and implementations are still mine. This solo journey is challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Each feature I ship brings me one step closer to realizing my vision of creating a one-man-show company with a billion-dollar valuation.

As I wrap up this build day, I’m already looking ahead to the next set of features and improvements that I want to tackle. There’s so much potential in the agentic web, and I’m excited to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Today’s updates are just the beginning, and I look forward to sharing more progress as I continue this journey.