Why Devs Struggle With Devlogs (and How to Set Goals)

The Devlog Dilemma: Why Solo Devs Go Silent (and How to Break the Cycle)

Every solo indie developer starts with the best intentions for their devlog. They envision a vibrant chronicle of their journey, a way to connect with future players and track game development progress. Yet, for many, the devlog quickly becomes a forgotten task, a source of guilt rather than inspiration. The initial enthusiasm fades, replaced by sporadic updates or complete radio silence.

The core problem is rarely a lack of passion for the game itself. Instead, it stems from a lack of clear goals for the devlog. Without a defined purpose, the act of creating content feels overwhelming. Should they share every bug fix? A polished video update? What’s engaging enough? This ambiguity leads to inconsistent posting, low community engagement, and ultimately, burnout. A game development log should be a tool, not a burden.

The Changelog Mindset: Your Devlog’s New Best Friend

Imagine your devlog not as a performance, but as a commit history. Each entry is a “commit” – a small, measurable update reflecting a specific change or addition to your game or development process. This “changelog” mindset provides a practical framework for setting achievable devlog goals and tracking progress effectively. It’s about documenting the journey, not just the destination.

This approach transforms the daunting task of “creating a devlog” into manageable, bite-sized actions. You’re no longer just "making a devlog"; you’re logging a feature implementation, documenting a design decision, or sharing a user test result. This focus helps solo devs maintain consistency and provides a clear record of their efforts, acting as a valuable game dev journal.

Practical Steps to a Focused Devlog

To adopt this changelog mindset, start by defining small, measurable goals for each devlog entry. Link these goals directly to your actual development progress.

For example, instead of a vague goal like “post a devlog update,” aim for:

• Refactor: Implemented new inventory system. (Detailed explanation of the new system and its benefits.)
• Feature: Added character customization options. (Screenshots or a short video showcasing the options.)
• Bug Fix: Resolved UI scaling issues on ultrawide monitors. (Before/after comparisons if relevant.)
• Design Decision: Explored new combat mechanics. (Discussion of pros and cons, early prototypes.)
• Community: Responded to top 5 player questions from Discord. (Insights gained, planned actions.)

These specific “commits” make devlogging a natural extension of your daily work. They provide clear, actionable tasks for each entry, helping you track game development progress more effectively.

A Day in the Life: From Overwhelmed to On Track

Let’s follow Alex, a solo indie dev working on a pixel art RPG. Previously, Alex’s devlog was a chaotic mess. Weeks would pass with no updates, then a frantic effort to condense everything into one massive post, which inevitably felt overwhelming.

Old Alex’s Day: Alex finishes a complex questline. “Great,” they think, “time to write a devlog.” They stare at a blank screen, wondering where to begin. Should they show the quest? The new enemy? The dialogue system? The sheer volume of progress feels impossible to condense into one engaging post. Hours pass, frustration mounts, and eventually, the devlog remains unwritten.

New Alex’s Day: Alex finishes the same complex questline. They immediately open their game dev journal.

Commit 1: Implemented Questline 'The Whispering Woods’.

• Description: Designed and integrated the full questline, including 10 new NPCs, 3 unique enemies, and 5 side objectives.
• Details: Focused on non-linear progression and player choice.
• Visuals: Captured a short GIF of a key quest moment.

Later in the day, Alex refactors some old code.

Commit 2: Refactored Player Movement Controller.

• Description: Rewrote the entire player movement script for improved responsiveness and bug reduction.
• Details: Switched from a rigid body approach to a character controller.
• Impact: Smoother player experience, easier to add future movement abilities.

By the end of the week, Alex has a series of short, focused devlog entries, each a testament to specific progress. No more overwhelming, sporadic updates. This structured approach, treating the devlog like a series of atomic changes, makes it easy to track game development progress and share it consistently.

The Rewards of a Focused Devlog

Adopting this changelog approach offers numerous benefits for solo indie developers:

• Increased Motivation: Seeing a consistent stream of “commits” provides a clear visual representation of your progress, boosting morale.
• Clearer Communication: Your community gets regular, digestible updates, understanding the specific work you’re putting in.
• Better Community Engagement: Specific updates invite specific questions and feedback, fostering more meaningful interactions.
• Improved Personal Reflection: Your game development log becomes an invaluable resource for looking back at your decisions and learning from your journey. You’re building a historical record of your development.

This structured method makes devlogging a productive habit, not a burden. It helps you stay consistent and focused, transforming your public-facing updates into a powerful tool for accountability and connection.

As you continue to refine this process of documenting your progress and setting clear goals for your devlogs, you’ll find that organizing your thoughts and tracking your journey becomes even more critical. To make goal setting and tracking even easier, especially with this commit history approach, we highly recommend trying our free game dev journal. It is designed to help you log your progress, plan your next steps, and keep your development journey organized.

Success Through Focus

The journey of a solo indie developer is challenging. A well-maintained, goal-oriented devlog can be your most powerful ally. By adopting a “changelog” mindset, breaking down your updates into small, measurable “commits,” and using a dedicated game dev journal to track your game development progress, you transform a daunting task into a consistent, motivating, and highly effective communication tool. Embrace the power of focused documentation and pave your path to indie success.