Welcome to the new digital home of Saket Studio.
I'm Soren Saket, the creator behind this project. I'm not the best at naming things, however I found my last name fitting in this case. The name "Saket" means "silent" in Persian, and while I'm not always quiet, I believe in creating tools that get out of the way and let your creativity speak for itself. That's the core idea behind Saket Studio.
This post marks the official beginning of that journey.
Crafting a Home for the Project
Until now, a simple MailerLite landing page was all I had for collecting newsletter sign-ups. This new site is a huge step forward. I don't see myself as a web developer, as I've spent most of my time making games in C#, C++, and other languages. So I wanted something straightforward and easy to use. I ended up building the website once again with Next.js and hosting on Vercel.
I built most of this website over a weekend, fueled by vibes and assisted by GitHub Copilot while suffering a bout of back pain. I first explored several full-stack AI platforms like Replit, Bolt and Lovable, but they felt prohibitively expensive. Copilot, on the other hand, is very cheap and can handle most React-related tasks. The web ecosystem is vast and fragmented, but AI frankly made it very easy.
That said, I'm excited for a future where we can build for the web with strongly typed languages and render directly via WebGPU, leaving the quirks of the DOM behind.
The Vision for This Space
I'm happy with the website's current state. It's not aiming for design awards, but it's functional and consistent. Going forward, this site will evolve into the entryway for Saket Studio.
Here are the features I'm planning in the near and far future:
- A Dashboard featuring
- Version control
- License & Subscription Management
- Team/Organization management
- Documentation
- This Blog!
- Downloads and Changelog
- Specialized Asset Marketplace
Saket Studio itself will not be web-based, at least not anytime soon. It's a native application you'll download and run on your machine.
My Stance on AI in Creative Tools
To be clear: Saket Studio will always be a human-first creative tool. My goal is to give you, the user, complete creative control.
I'm not entirely against using AI models, especially for assistive purposes. However, I'm more cautious about generative tools. For any AI to be included, it must meet these criteria:
- It must empower, not out-prioritize, human-led tools.
- It must be built on clear and ethical data sourcing.
- It must enhance, not hinder, the creative process.
While the hype around generative AI is immense, I believe we first need to perfect our human-centric tools. That's my priority.
My Journey: From Passion to Project
I began developing Saket Studio in September 2024, working on it consistently until December when I had to focus on my graduation project for my AP Graduate in Computer Science degree. After graduating in January, I hit a wall.
I fell into a deep depression and anxiety, something I've battled for a long time. The pressure of entering the "adult world" and securing an income felt crushing, especially after the intensity of writing my thesis. I've been getting professional help since January and am slowly getting back on my feet.
To find a balance between mind and body, I've started sewing at a local workshop. Working with my hands and taking a break from the screen has been incredibly grounding.
This period of challenge and reflection led me to an exciting new chapter. With the help of the Danish government, I've arranged an internship with Sirenix, the creators of the acclaimed Odin Inspector for Unity.
I'm contributing to their innovative new project, PanGUI, where I'm focused on improving text rendering and handling. PanGUI is a C# UI library that uses the immediate mode paradigm. It's a simplified and powerful approach to building interfaces, especially in contrast to the complexities of web frameworks. It's the perfect fit for Saket Studio, and I plan to migrate my project to PanGUI to create a far better user experience.
Looking Forward
This internship is a critical step. If all goes well and I could possibly become a permanent member of the Sirenix team, I'll continue developing Saket Studio as a passion project in my spare time. If not, I'll need to find another source of income, which will inevitably slow down development.
You can follow the project's high-level goals on the roadmap. I envision this as a long-term endeavour, potentially taking a decade to fully realize.
I cannot promise that I'll succeed or follow through, however, I truly believe the world needs a tool like Saket Studio. If I don't build it, someone else will. I'll be sharing more about what Saket Studio is in future posts.
Final Thoughts
I'm incredibly excited about the future, despite the challenges of mental health, financial pressures and the sheer scope of the project. My commitment to the vision is still strong. This journey has taught me about resilience, the importance of mental well-being, and the value of a supportive community.
Finally, I want to thank my family, friends, and my partner for their unwavering support. None of this would be possible without them.
This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more updates as Saket Studio continues to evolve.