Keep it alive without babysitting it
The maintenance nobody sells: backups, updates, uptime, and cost control for an app that one person has to keep running.
Get started: Start the day-2 playbook · Get the monthly checklist
In plain English
A working app quietly needs care: tested backups, safe updates, an eye on cost and uptime. This hub gives you a light routine so small problems never grow into expensive rewrites.
Back up before you touch anything — Make a backup you can actually restore before updates or changes. If a step risks data loss, stop and get help.
Who this is for
- Solo owners keeping a live app healthy
- People who inherited an app and want a simple upkeep routine
- Anyone nervous about updates breaking what already works
When to use this hub
- Right after launch, to set up backups and a routine
- Before and after any update
- When your hosting or tool bill starts to climb
The maintenance nobody sells
Tool vendors sell you the build. Almost no one sells you the boring, essential upkeep. Yet a tested backup and a ten-minute monthly routine prevent most disasters.
This hub keeps maintenance light and non-scary, with clear steps and a warning whenever something could cause downtime or data loss.
Guides in this hub
- Maintain a One-Person App: The Day-2 Playbook — the routine
- Back Up Your No-Code App Before You Change Anything
- Maintenance Mistakes That Force a Rewrite
- Managed Hosting vs Built-In Hosting
- What It Really Costs to Keep Your App Running
- Dependencies and Updates Without Breaking Things
Where to go next
Get the monthly checklist
A short, repeatable routine to keep your app healthy.
Estimate the true cost
Add up hosting, tools, and your time.
Own your stack
Backups are the first step toward truly owning your app.
Set up a backup today
A tested backup is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy.
Back up your app · Read the reading map
Maintain FAQ
What is the minimum maintenance for a small app?
A tested backup, safe updates, and a short monthly check of costs, errors, and anything expiring. The monthly checklist walks you through it.
Do updates really break things?
They can, which is why you back up first and update in small steps. "Dependencies and Updates" shows how to update without breaking what works.
How do I know a backup actually works?
By testing a restore, not just making the backup. An untested backup is a guess. The backup guide covers testing the restore.
Why is my app getting more expensive?
Usage, add-ons, and tool tiers add up. The true-cost worksheet helps you total the full picture, including your time.
Managed hosting or the tool's built-in hosting?
It depends on how much control and portability you want versus convenience. The comparison lays out the trade-offs for a solo owner.
Kodbe is an independent publication about maintaining and owning software you built with AI or no-code tools. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Kodbe Inc (the Albany, GA educational nonprofit), Kodobe, Kodable, or Kodu.