Road to Beta: Building Glide2 From the Ground Up
A behind-the-scenes look at how we're building a privacy-first video platform and what to expect from our December 16th beta launch.
Building a social media platform from scratch is no small feat. Building one that prioritizes privacy while delivering a smooth, enjoyable user experience? That's the challenge we've embraced with Glide2.
Our Development Philosophy
From day one, we've committed to three core principles:
- Privacy First: Every feature is designed with data protection in mind
- Transparency: We share our journey, successes, and challenges openly
- Community-Driven: Your feedback shapes the platform
What We've Built So Far
The Foundation
Infrastructure
- European-based servers for GDPR compliance
- End-to-end encrypted data transmission
- Distributed architecture for reliability and speed
- Zero third-party analytics or tracking
Core Features
- ✅ Video upload and playback (up to 3 minutes)
- ✅ User profiles with customizable privacy settings
- ✅ Following/followers system
- ✅ Chronological feed (no algorithmic manipulation)
- ✅ Comments and reactions
- ✅ Content moderation tools
Privacy Features
We've built privacy tools that give you real control:
- Granular privacy settings: Control who can see, comment, and share your content
- Anonymous viewing mode: Browse without leaving traces
- Data dashboard: See exactly what data we have and manage it
- Content export: Download all your videos in original quality
- Account deletion: True deletion, not just deactivation
What Makes Our Tech Different
Traditional Social Platform:
User creates content → Platform analyzes → Sells data to advertisers → Shows manipulated feed
Glide2:
User creates content → Stored securely → Shared with followers → That's it
No middleman. No data brokers. No surveillance capitalism.
Beta Launch Timeline
December 16, 2025: Android Beta
Phase 1 (Weeks 1-2)
- Initial launch to waitlist members
- Core features: upload, watch, comment
- Community feedback collection
- Bug fixes and performance optimization
Phase 2 (Weeks 3-4)
- Extended features rollout
- Creator tools introduction
- Community guidelines refinement
- Performance improvements
January 2026: iOS Beta
Building a privacy-first iOS app requires extra care due to Apple's ecosystem. We're ensuring everything works perfectly before launch.
Q2 2026: Public Launch
After beta testing and refinements, we'll open Glide2 to everyone.
What We're Still Building
Transparency means admitting what's not ready yet:
Coming Soon:
- Direct messaging (with end-to-end encryption)
- Live streaming
- Advanced creator analytics (privacy-preserving)
- Content monetization (without data selling)
- Desktop web app
Future Roadmap:
- Federated/decentralized options
- Open-source components
- API for third-party apps
- International expansion
Technical Challenges We've Solved
Challenge 1: Video Performance Without Tracking
Most platforms use user tracking to optimize video delivery. We've built an efficient content delivery system that doesn't require surveillance.
Solution: Smart caching and regional distribution based on anonymous metrics only.
Challenge 2: Content Moderation at Scale
How do you moderate harmful content while respecting privacy?
Solution: AI-assisted flagging + human review + transparent appeals process. No automated bans, no opaque algorithms.
Challenge 3: Sustainable Business Model
Without selling user data, how do we make money?
Solution:
- Optional premium features (no paywalled core functionality)
- Creator support tools with fair revenue sharing
- Future: Ethical advertising with user consent
Beta Tester Expectations
What to Expect
✅ A functional, usable platform ✅ Core features working smoothly ✅ Responsive support team ✅ Your feedback actually matters
What NOT to Expect
❌ Perfection (it's beta for a reason!) ❌ All planned features (we're iterating) ❌ Millions of users (we're growing thoughtfully)
How You Can Help
Beta testers are crucial to Glide2's success. Here's how you can contribute:
- Use the platform naturally: Create, watch, interact as you would normally
- Report bugs: We've built an easy in-app feedback tool
- Share honest feedback: What works? What doesn't? What's missing?
- Invite thoughtful creators: We'll give you invite codes
- Spread the word: Help us build a privacy-conscious community
Developer Transparency
We believe in radical transparency. Here's what we're using to build Glide2:
Frontend: Next.js, React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS Backend: Node.js, PostgreSQL, Redis Video: Cloudinary with custom privacy configurations Hosting: European data centers (Germany, Netherlands)
Interested in our tech stack? We'll be open-sourcing components as we go.
Join the Journey
This isn't just a platform launch—it's a movement toward ethical social media.
Already signed up? Watch your email on December 16th.
Not on the list? Join the beta waitlist (we're accepting sign-ups until December 10th).
What's Next?
Follow our blog for:
- Weekly development updates during beta
- Privacy deep-dives
- Creator spotlights
- Technical breakdowns
We're building Glide2 in public. No secrets, no corporate BS, just honest progress toward better social media.
Questions or suggestions? Email us at beta@glide2.app
Want to contribute? We're exploring open-source contributions—stay tuned!