While Silicon Valley startups were raising millions for similar ideas, I was building MEV Shield during nights and weekends after my day job. No funding, no team, just a developer with a problem to solve. The journey included: 3 complete rewrites as I learned modern C++ best practices Countless failed compilations as I mastered template metaprogramming Realizing that most “real-time” systems are actually using HTTP polling with 500ms intervals Discovering that lock-free programming is as much art as science Building MEV Shield: 6 Months of Nights and Weekends was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this storyWhile Silicon Valley startups were raising millions for similar ideas, I was building MEV Shield during nights and weekends after my day job. No funding, no team, just a developer with a problem to solve. The journey included: 3 complete rewrites as I learned modern C++ best practices Countless failed compilations as I mastered template metaprogramming Realizing that most “real-time” systems are actually using HTTP polling with 500ms intervals Discovering that lock-free programming is as much art as science Building MEV Shield: 6 Months of Nights and Weekends was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story