October 7th, 2024

Audioscrape: Building in Rust When Everyone Said I Shouldn't

Audioscrape is a Rust-based podcast platform focusing on cost-efficiency and performance, featuring transcription browsing and community interactions. It has 500 users and plans API development and paid features.

Audioscrape: Building in Rust When Everyone Said I Shouldn't

The article discusses the author's experience in bootstrapping Audioscrape, a podcast exploration platform developed entirely in Rust. The choice of Rust was driven by its cost-efficiency, performance in audio processing, and potential for long-term skill development. Audioscrape aggregates podcast RSS feeds, transcribes episodes, and offers an interactive interface for users to explore content. The technical stack includes Axum for backend processing, SQLite for database management, and OAuth2 for authentication, all running on a low-cost virtual machine. The application features transcription browsing, segment highlighting, community interactions, and advanced search capabilities. The author faced challenges, particularly with Rust's ownership model, but found the process rewarding. Future plans include developing an API for third-party integrations, utilizing WebAssembly for client-side processing, and enhancing search functionality. Currently, Audioscrape has 500 active users and operates at a low cost per user, with plans to introduce paid features to cover expenses. The author seeks feedback from the Hacker News community regarding experiences with bootstrapping in Rust and strategies for managing technical debt and marketing.

- Audioscrape is a podcast exploration platform built in Rust for cost-efficiency and performance.

- The application features transcription browsing, community interactions, and advanced search capabilities.

- The author faced challenges with Rust's ownership model but found the development process rewarding.

- Future plans include API development, WebAssembly integration, and enhanced search functionality.

- Audioscrape currently has 500 active users and aims to introduce paid features to cover operational costs.

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