Yesterday's Top Launches: 5 Tools from January 2, 2026 | thistools

The first batch of product launches for 2026 landed yesterday, and it’s a mix that speaks to some interesting trends, especially for professionals looking to sharpen their skills. While not all five are strictly new developer tools, several offer unique ways for technical folks to demonstrate expertise, automate workflows, or simply find a more thoughtful way to manage their time. Let’s get into what each one brings to the table.

Next Turn

There's a certain charm to board games that have been played for centuries, and Next Turn is built on the idea that they shouldn't fade into obscurity. This platform aims to digitally preserve and revitalize ancient strategic games, making them available for real-time multiplayer matches or solo play against an AI opponent. The mobile-friendly design means you can squeeze in a quick round of a classic like Go or Mancala from anywhere.

It solves a niche but meaningful problem: accessibility. Many of these games are cultural treasures with deep strategic roots, but physical sets can be hard to find and opponents even harder. Next Turn creates a global community around them. For developers or anyone who enjoys deep, tactical thinking, it's a great way to unwind that feels more substantial than a typical mobile game. The freemium model suggests the core experience is free, likely with optional purchases for cosmetics or advanced features. It’s a thoughtful project for history buffs and strategists alike.

Make It Better

This one feels directly aimed at the coding community. Make It Better provides a platform where developers can prove their mettle by tackling real-world challenges submitted by actual companies. Instead of abstract coding tests, you're solving problems that businesses are facing right now. The completed projects then serve as a powerful, practical portfolio piece to showcase your skills to potential employers, including the industry leaders who posted the challenges.

The value proposition here is clear-cut. For developers, it’s a direct line to demonstrating competence in a way that a resume often can’t capture. For companies, it’s a novel recruiting and problem-solving tool that surfaces talent based on actual performance. The fact that it's completely free removes a significant barrier to entry. If you're a programmer looking to stand out, this seems like a far more engaging alternative to traditional certification programs or algorithm drills.

Qwen

The AI assistant space is incredibly crowded, but Qwen Chat enters the fray with an impressively broad set of multimodal capabilities. It’s not just a text-based chatbot; it integrates image and video understanding, can generate images, process documents, pull in web search results, utilize tools, and manage "artifacts." This wide-ranging functionality, available via web, mobile, desktop, and API, positions it as a potential all-in-one productivity copilot.

What problem does it solve? Perhaps the frustration of switching between a dozen different single-purpose AI tools. Having a single assistant that can, for example, analyze a chart in a PDF, search for related market data, and then generate a summary presentation slide is a powerful concept. However, the breadth is also its biggest question mark. In a world where specialists often outperform generalists, the key will be how well Qwen executes each individual function compared to best-in-class alternatives. For developers and power users willing to experiment, it’s certainly worth a look, especially with its free pricing model.

intnt

This is the most philosophical launch of the day. intnt presents a starkly simple visualization of a human lifespan: a grid of 1,080 boxes, each representing one month from birth to age 90. As you interact with it, you can see exactly how many months you've used and how many you might have left. It’s a digital memento mori, designed to provide perspective on the finite nature of time.

It doesn’t solve a technical problem, but rather a human one: the feeling that time is limitless, which can lead to procrastination or misplaced priorities. For developers and creators who often work on long-term projects, this kind of visualization can be a powerful motivator to focus on what truly matters. It’s a free web tool that asks a very direct question: seeing your life laid out so plainly, how will you choose to spend your remaining squares? It’s minimalist by design and likely won’t be for everyone, but its impact could be profound for those who engage with it.

Payroll by Card

On the surface, Payroll by Card seems tailored for business owners and finance managers, but its mechanism is tech-driven. It allows companies to fund their payroll expenses using credit cards. For many businesses, especially startups and SMBs, cash flow is a constant challenge. This service provides flexibility, enabling them to defer the actual cash outflow until the credit card bill is due, all while potentially earning rewards points or miles on one of their largest recurring expenses.

The benefit is straightforward financial engineering. It turns a major expense into an opportunity for float and rewards. The "how" is the interesting part for a technical audience—seamlessly integrating with existing payroll systems and navigating the complexities of credit card transactions for large, specific payments is no small feat. As a mobile-focused, free tool, it’s solving a very tangible pain point for a specific segment of the market, offering a clever way to optimize business finances.

Quick Links

For more details, you can explore each project directly: