# Adrian Holovaty
Building since 2005. Not reviewed by Adrian.
Page: https://mrrmaker.com/@adrianholovaty
Co-created Django, sold EveryBlock (2009), now runs Soundslice
In their words: "Web developer, cocreator of @django. Mostly Python/JavaScript. These days I make Soundslice." (github.com)

## Numbers
- Products: 7
- Building since: 2005

## Products
- Soundslice (2012 →): running
- Django (2005 →): running
- EveryBlock (2008 – 2009): sold, sold to msnbc.com
- chicagocrime.org (2005 – 2008): shut down
- Gypsy jazz chord voicings: dates not stated in any source

## Timeline
- Aug 2025: On Talk Python To Me, episode 518: Celebrating Django's 20th Birthday With Its Creators [stated]
- Jul 2025: On AI Inside, "ChatGPT's Imaginary Product Trick" [stated]
- Jul 2025: Soundslice: Added an ASCII tab importer after ChatGPT told users Soundslice had one [stated]
- Sep 2016: On SmashingConf Freiburg: Lessons Learned Building An Interactive Sheet Music Engine [stated]
- Jan 2016: On Love Your Work, episode 6 [stated]
- Mar 2014: Soundslice: Launched the sheet music player [stated]
- Nov 2012: Launched Soundslice [stated]
- Aug 2009: Sold EveryBlock to msnbc.com [verified]
- 2009: Soundslice: Started building Soundslice, at night and on weekends [stated]
- Jan 2008: Launched EveryBlock [stated]
- May 2007: Awarded a Knight News Challenge grant to start EveryBlock [stated]
- Jul 2005: Launched Django [stated]
- May 2005: Launched chicagocrime.org [stated]
- 2005: chicagocrime.org: Featured in the New York Times Magazine's 2005 Year in Ideas [stated]
- 2005: chicagocrime.org: Won the 2005 Batten Award for Innovations in Journalism [stated]

## How sure
8 verified by someone other than Adrian, 45 stated by Adrian in public, 2 outdated. Read on 11 Oct 2026.

## Sources
- Adrian Holovaty, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com
- github.com: https://api.github.com/users/adrianholovaty
- Onto the next chapter, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/goodbye-everyblock/
- Adrian and Jacob retiring as Django BDFLs, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/bdfls-retiring/
- EveryBlock acquisition and me, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/everyblock-acquisition/
- RIP EveryBlock, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/rip-everyblock/
- Knight Foundation grant, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/knight-foundation-grant/
- Announcing chicagocrime.org, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/chicagocrime.org-launch/
- In memory of chicagocrime.org, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/chicagocrime.org-tribute/
- Notes on Soundslice, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/soundslice/
- Announcing the Soundslice sheet music player, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/soundslice-sheet-music/
- Django Book has shipped -- and, thoughts on the next book, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/django-book-done/
- Introducing the YouTube Insult Generator, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/youtube-insults/
- Adding a feature because ChatGPT incorrectly thinks it exists, holovaty.com: https://holovaty.com/writing/chatgpt-fake-feature/
- About Soundslice, soundslice.com: https://www.soundslice.com/about/
- Soundslice plans and pricing, soundslice.com: https://www.soundslice.com/plans/
- Gypsy jazz chord voicings | Soundslice, soundslice.com: https://www.soundslice.com/store/gypsy-jazz-chord-voicings/
- MSNBC Picks Up Hyperlocal News Aggregator EveryBlock, techcrunch.com: https://techcrunch.com/2009/08/17/msnbc-picks-up-hyperlocal-news-aggregator-everyblock
- Everyblock.com shut down, wbez.org: https://www.wbez.org/culture/2013/02/07/hyperlocal-news-website-everyblock-com-shut-down
- ChatGPT hallucinated about music app Soundslice so often, the founder made the lie come true, techcrunch.com: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/chatgpt-hallucinated-about-music-app-soundslice-so-often-the-founder-made-the-lie-come-true
- Episode #518 - Celebrating Django's 20th Birthday With Its Creators, talkpython.fm: https://talkpython.fm/episodes/show/518/celebrating-djangos-20th-birthday-with-its-creators
- ChatGPT's Imaginary Product Trick, aiinside.show: https://aiinside.show/episode/chatgpts-imaginary-product-trick
- Love Your Work, Episode 6, kadavy.net: https://kadavy.net/blog/posts/love-your-work-episode-6-dont-let-your-baby-get-slaughtered-adrian-holovaty-of-soundslice-django-and-everyblock/
- Adrian Holovaty | Smashing Conference, smashingconf.com: https://archive.smashingconf.com/freiburg-2016/speakers/adrian-holovaty
- Happy 20th birthday Django!, djangoproject.com: https://www.djangoproject.com/weblog/2025/jul/13/happy-20th-birthday-django/
- The web framework for perfectionists with deadlines | Django, djangoproject.com: https://www.djangoproject.com
- Site checks on 2026-10-11, MRRMaker: https://mrrmaker.com/how-it-works#checks

Labels: "verified" means confirmed by someone other than the founder; "stated" means the founder said it in public. Method: https://mrrmaker.com/how-it-works