Update codedex-update-q3-2025.mdx

Author: sonnynomnom

blogs/2025/codedex-update-q3-2025.mdx

@@ -1 +1,138 @@
+---
+title: "Codédex Update - Q3 2025"
+description: "Thanks to strong growth, we just had our lowest net burn in two years (since July 2023 🥲). We also signed a lease for a bigger office as we prep for the next few months. Making some moves."
+author: Sonny Li
+seoImageLink: https://i.imgur.com/7v1UU6V.png
+dateCreated: 2025-10-12
+published: true
+tags:
+  - Product
+  - Changelog
+---
 
+New achievement unlocked: 1m registered users. 
+
+It took us three years to get here but we here.
+
+In August, we shared our v1.0 update as well as the GitHub Copilot. So what else happened in Q3?
+
+We’ll keep this short since things have been going well.
+
+Thanks to strong growth, we just had our **lowest net burn** in two years (since July 2023 🥲). We also signed a lease for a bigger office as we prep for the next few months. 
+
+Making some moves.
+
+## Global Search
+
+![Monthly Challenge GIf](https://i.imgur.com/OX6MEDi.gif)
+
+Immediately after the v1.0 launch, we shipped out the global search.
+
+That’s right! We gave our [Monthly Challenge](https://www.codedex.io/community/monthly-challenge) page a makeover. Now it’s easier than ever to browse, filter, and get inspired by the current and past challenges.
+
+Here's what's new:
+
+- Courses
+- Project Tutorials
+- Users
+
+<div
+  style={{
+    display: "flex",
+    justifyContent: "center",
+    marginBottom: "1.2rem",
+    transform: "scale(.9)",
+  }}
+>
+  <a
+    href="https://www.codedex.io/community/monthly-challenge"
+    style={{ all: "unset" }}
+    target="_blank"
+    and
+    rel="noopener noreferrer"
+  >
+    <Button variant="yellow">See the glow up</Button>
+  </a>
+</div>
+
+## AI Revamp: Meet Lumi!
+
+## Settings Revamp
+
+## YouTube
+
+- 🚀 Posted 13 Things to Do If You Were Ghosted by FAANG video.
+🌺 Posted Creative Coding with p5.js video.
+
+
+## Blog
+
+## Team Onsite
+
+![Burning money gif](https://i.imgur.com/vI0koYT.jpeg)
+
+We pride ourselves on shipping fast – sometimes too fast. In the past 12 months, our userbase has grown 5x, so it was time to take a step back and take a hard look at where we are burning cash, especially on the IT & infrastructure side.
+
+Key optimizations:
+
+- Google Cloud: Improved Firebase usage by 56%. Saved ~$7,450/month.
+- OpenAI: Replaced LLM-based checks with regex. Saved ~$900/month.
+
+Total saved: \$8,350/month! Enough for a new hire or 2,087 Wendy's 4 for \$4. 🍔
+
+Shoutout to [Dharma](https://www.codedex.io/@dharma) for making these improvements!
+
+## Changelog - May 2025
+
+**Curriculum**
+
+- 🛢️ Published [SQL Chapter 4](https://www.codedex.io/sql): Multiple Tables.
+- 🦠 Published [Node.js Ch. 4](https://www.codedex.io/nodejs): HTTP Methods.
+- ☕️ Published [Java Ch. 8](https://www.codedex.io/java): Utility Classes.
+- 🧢 Published [Build an Avatar Generator with HTML/CSS/JS](https://www.codedex.io/projects/build-a-randomizer-generator-with-html-css-js) project tutorial.
+- 💻 Published [Set Up a GUI with Java](https://www.codedex.io/projects/set-up-a-gui-with-java) project tutorial.
+- 🏛️ Published [Create a Caesar Cipher with Java](https://www.codedex.io/projects/create-a-caesar-cipher-with-java) project tutorial.
+- 🐙 Audited Git & GitHub course.
+
+**Product**
+
+- 🏆 Shipped [Monthly Challenge](https://www.codedex.io/community/monthly-challenge) revamp. New UI!
+- 🛢️ Shipped new [SQL](https://www.codedex.io/sql) course header.
+- ✅ Shipped Code Evaluation for Python Ch. 3-8. Added regex tests (replaced LLM).
+- ▶️ Ran a product survey in Discord on [Back] [Next] button placements.
+- 📉 Optimized database reads to cut down on costs.
+- 🧪 Pressure tested a price increase: 
+  - Monthly: \$12.99 → \$14.99
+  - Annual: \$95.88 → \$119.88
+- 🧹 Shipped 36 papercuts & fixed 23 bug reports.
+
+**Community**
+
+- ⚡️ Hosted [May: “Lightning Talk” Monthly Challenge](https://www.codedex.io/community/monthly-challenge/aZwonmhOYu8BWfZLpGZK).
+- 📺 Posted X YouTube videos:
+  - 
+- 📰 Published X blog posts:
+  - Resume Tips & Tricks Guide blog.
+
+**Others**
+
+- 📦 Decided on moving to a bigger office. Woohoo!
+- 🇺🇸 Dharma’s U.S. visa was officially approved!
+
+## Final Thoughts
+
+Get ready for our v1.0 launch in late July!
+
+It’s been exactly three years since I left Codecademy after the Skillsoft acquisition. I didn’t know what would come next – only that I needed to build something new and lasting in this space, with a team that is just as wild and ambitious as me.
+
+Since starting Codédex, we've been so heads-down building that we haven't properly launched the product since our scrappy MVP debut on [Product Hunt](https://www.producthunt.com/products/codedex) in November 2022. I rewatched the video today – it's almost unrecognizable. We've grown up.
+
+But now, the question is no longer _“Will we make it?”_ but _“What kind of company do we want to become?”_ and _“How can we be so impactful, so transformative, that we shift the trajectory of this planet for the better?”_
+
+To get there, we're going back to the drawing board. 
+
+Here's our plan: 1) craft our mission statement and story, 2) reintroduce Codédex to the world, and 3) launch the manifesto this fall as our answer to the times.
+
+The future's v bright.
+
+Sonny