We use Docusaurus to generate this site. While NextJS, Astro and other frameworks are great we quite like the simplicity of Docusaurus. The first version of the site involved buildig a static site from markdown files generated from python. This version we actually have a generator that reads a JSON file and generates the appropriate files.
While this is not groundbreaking in anyway. It does allow us to build new capabilities quickly.
With sattvasurya we are moving away from email/passwords to authing with only phone numbers. This may sound crazy especially since email is the primary mechanism for authentication for the last 30 years, but the future is becoming phone numbers for B2C communication.
While I wish Signal was the primary tool, WhatsApp is the messaging app for the world with nearly 3.9 billion users. We have to be where our customers are and the Indian community is on WhatsApp. WhatsApp is so important for Meta that the new CEO of WhatsApp is Indian.
There are many reasons for WhatsApp as a primary mechanism for outreach:
Our goal is to increase the velocity of commerce and WhatsApp is the means of achieving this whatever one feels about Meta as a company.
We now show the most recent listings on the website. Small improvement but should make it easier to see listings across all future categories.
We are introducing the first version of sattvasurya as a job board and a WhatsApp first mobile list board. Currently it is a bit barebones, but we must start somewhere. So here we are! Currently, to ensure quality all inquiries go through sattvasurya and we forward those requests to the individual posters. We will be adding additional capabilities and categories shortly.
sattvasurya is a static site. I am intentionally building it to be a static site as opposed to a dynamic website. There are multiple reasons for this. The first is cost. Static websites are just vastly more cost effective versus dynamic websites. Second is security. A static site with no public endpoints makes the site much more secure.
This does not mean we don't use a database. The database just generates a data.json dump that is deployed every 15 minutes. In a world obsessed with up to date information I think a delay is appropriate.
I always wanted to be an old school merchant! The idea of traveling the world and buying and selling goods has always been fun. Whether I would be good at it is another question. However, I realize that a lot of trading is just a phone call, text messages, and emails anyways. Technology is not the main limitation as technology is essentially free.
Today, I’m excited to launch SattvaSurya Traders — a trading business to buy and sell goods between the United States and India. This launch is symbolic, marking the beginning of an identity and mission.
I believe the U.S. and India need each other now more than ever. By bringing expertise from one side to benefit the other, we can unlock new opportunities for both markets. I think even with the current geopolitical tensions, the U.S. and India can work together to create a better future for both countries.
My long-term goal is to serve the Indian community in the U.S., creating value through deep cultural and commercial connection. I am just getting started and am in the process of launching the first set of trade opportunities: pharmaceuticals.