dev brief for the bower publishing platform build.
the bower is a new kind of publishing protocol—designed for people who want to write, build, and think in public without being flattened into “content.”
Most platforms treat publishing as an endpoint. the bower treats it as a living system: recursive, collaborative, and always in motion.
If you miss the old internet, you're gonna love this.
We are building two core components:
- core platform (writing + idea development)
- published works (reader platform)
The current prototype exists in Notion.
We’re now looking to move into a lightweight web-native MVP.
the core.
A private or semi-public system where contributors publish work-in-progress using a 3-stage framework:
- Echo – Raw ideas, thoughts, fragments
- Body – Structured development, framework building
- System – Completed (or publish-ready) work
features
User Accounts & Profiles
- Create/edit entries by type
- Basic permissions: private/public/shared
Content Types
- Echo / Body / System entries with editable metadata
- Markdown/Rich text support
Tagging & Linking
- Entries are connected via tags (concepts)
- Manual + suggested links across entries
- Merge duplicate or related entries
Comments & Collaboration
- Entry-level comments
- Inline suggestions (optional)
Navigation & Discovery
- Browse by type, tag, writer, or linked clusters
- Optional: visual graph of link networks (phase two)
Editorial Layer
- Contributors can mark a System as ready for publication
- Editors review and approve
published works
A public-facing platform for curated, published Systems from the core Bower. Readers can explore ideas via structured discovery tools and contribute financially via a visit-based payment model.
Discovery Modes (reader-selected):
- Chosen for Me – Editor-curated
- Loose / Random – Ambient, serendipitous
- Follow Trails – Tag- and link-based exploration
Reader Features:
- Save Systems and Writers
- Track Reading History + Follow Trails
- Create optional public reading profile
Payment Model:
- Visit Fee System
- Readers pre-load balance (e.g. $25)
- Fee deducted per read of tiered work
- Authors set price tier per System (free, $1, $3, etc.)
- Funds distributed monthly to authors
- Free + Tiered Access
- Writers choose access per work
- Free works can still receive post-read support
Reader Dashboard:
- Saved content, read log, followed authors
- Payment history + contribution totals
- Visual map of reading trail (future phase)
tech stack
(We are entirely open to your expertise and suggestions here)
- Frontend: Next.js / SvelteKit / React
- Backend: Node.js + PostgreSQL or Supabase
- CMS: Headless (Sanity or custom flat-file)
- Auth: Supabase or Clerk.dev
- Payments: Stripe
- Hosting: Vercel / Netlify
- Graph Engine (later): Neo4j or D3.js
Writers and thinkers need better tools for idea development
Readers want high-quality, curated, exploratory content
Social media and newsletters are not enough
the bower values thoughtfulness, connection, and depth
We are looking for developers interested in publishing tools, slow web ideas, and non-linear content systems.
If you're excited about building a digital ecosystem that feels like working inside thought itself, reach out.
Contact:
The Brief: https://the-bower.ghost.io/the-bower-defeating-all-social-media-with-a-new-publishing-model/