[OSS GAP] Coach / Client Check-Ins #coaching #portal #checkins #creator-business
Pain: Coaches mostly need structured check-ins, progress notes, and simple client communication without adopting a generic CRM or course stack. “Hey everyone, I’ve been working on a small side project over the past weeks and wanted to share it here and get some feedback. The idea came from a simple frustration: I drink a lo” — reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/sideprojects/comments/1slr9wz/i_built_a_simple_coffee_tracking_app_because_i/)
Why now: Small teams in 2026 are cutting tool spend and refusing extra platform debt. Trainerize, Practice Better, Paperbell are strong products, but they are packaged for bigger companies than coach and other small teams. That makes a smaller, self-hosted wedge in coach / client check-ins unusually easy to explain.
Tiny wedge: Check-in forms for coach and other small teams without Trainerize-style pricing and platform weight.
Why this wins: Replaces recurring Trainerize spend with a boring self-hosted alternative for coach and other small teams.
Scope cut: Skip meal planner and video course platform in v1.
Stack: Node.js + Express + SQLite + Web Components.