Why this app exists

QRControl is a small side project to explore what it feels like to build a simple application on AT Protocol while keeping the underlying technology as invisible as possible to the people using it.

The use case came from my son. He needed a free QR code service that wouldn't expire his codes and would let him change their destination later.

Digital sovereignty and privacy by design are important to me, so this was my chance to walk the talk.

I'm trying to use European providers wherever I can. That includes hosting, DNS, CDN and analytics. I'm also curious how far I can get without collecting personal data at all. Ideally, none.

This project is also a way to learn about the less exciting side of running an online service: GDPR, European rules and, in my case, Belgian law.

For the first time in many years, I'm managing a team of programmers again. Except this time they're all AI agents :) They help me write code, review things and work through technical problems.

There is no Use Case without a Business Case. I'm not sure yet whether QRControl could ever pay for itself. But running a service costs money, and I'd like to see if there's a way to make it work without ads, tracking or locking people in.

“We can just build things”

I recently bought How the Web Was Born by James Gillies and Robert Cailliau. Its final lines feel appropriate here ;)

Tim Berners-Lee:

“The Web is just a platform for other things to come.”

Vint Cerf:

“Where this will all end up is anyone’s guess. The only way to find out is to get going!”

So, let's see where it goes.