Indie Interviews
Can you tell us more about yourself and what led you to become an indie maker
I started out freelancing as a designer, making icons, logos, and websites. That got me really interested in user experience, what makes a design good and how people use and enjoy the products they interact with. My shift to development came when Apple launched the iOS SDK. The idea of making something as interactive and personal as an app was exciting to me, so I taught myself how to do it. I picked up a couple of books and got down to learning, which led me to make my first app, LEDit. It was a cool experience because it turned my designs into something people could actually use on their phones.
Since then, I've been hooked on iOS app development, making apps that I hope add value to people's lives. 90% of my time is now spent working on my journaling app Everlog, which I'm very proud of.
How did you come up with the idea? How do you generate ideas for your apps or projects, and how do you identify the problems or needs your app can address?
I wanted my next project to be something I personally needed and that I believed Apple would also find feature-worthy. I noticed a gap in the journaling app market: none had the mix of features I was looking for. That's how Everlog came about. I made it to have the things I wanted in a journaling app, like a simple design and more personalization. This approach helped me create an app that I enjoy using every day and that also got noticed by Apple.
In short, I get my app ideas by looking for solutions to problems I face myself. After launching an app, I keep the conversation going with my users to understand their needs and improve the app based on their suggestions.
How is your day-to-day app development workflow look like?
My daily app development workflow is pretty straightforward. Every day, I start by opening Xcode to get straight into coding. This helps me get a lot done before I get caught up in emails or other less urgent stuff. I find that this helps me use my time well and keeps me making progress on my app projects.
How do you launch and market your app?
Marketing is an area I'm actively working to improve. Currently, my approach is pretty straightforward. I share my work on platforms like X and ProductHunt, which are great for reaching out to tech-savvy audiences who enjoy being early adopters. I find that these platforms help me connect with people who are interested in the kind of work I do, and this organic approach has helped me gather initial feedback that's crucial for early-stage development.
What are the future plans for your app?
After a few hectic months working on adding video support, integrating the new Journaling Suggestions API, and launching a native visionOS app, I kinda want to shift my focus towards marketing and improving my web presence for a few months. I’ve realized that marketing and a strong online presence are areas I’ve often neglected, but they are crucial for reaching a wider audience and ensuring the success of my app.
Do you have any interesting lessons learned or tips for other indie makers?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as an indie maker is the value of user feedback. It's easy to fall into the trap of building what you think people need without listening to what they actually want. I’ve found that engaging with your users early and often leads to a better product, as they will tell you what they need, what they don’t like, and how they use your app in their daily lives.
Looking back, are there any decisions or actions you regret not taking before or during the development and launch of your apps? Is there anything you would have done differently?
In hindsight, I regret not leveraging the initial success of my first successful app, LEDit, to create more apps. That early win made me a bit too comfortable, and in retrospect, I wish I had maintained a stronger drive for development during that time.
The excitement around LEDit's success could have been the catalyst for more projects, but I let that moment of comfort slow down my momentum. This taught me to view success as a cue to delve even deeper into innovation and to use the energy from one achievement to fuel the next ventures.
Are there any other products that you are particularly proud of? Could you share some details about them.
Another product I’m really proud of is my first app, LEDit. It might not seem like a big deal now, but creating it in 2009 was a huge step for me. The first iPhones didn’t do much, and I was just starting to learn programming. I put a lot of effort into making it work, and looking back, I’m proud of what I managed to do with what I had at the time. It shows me how much I’ve learned since then.
Are there any indie makers or creators whose work you admire and follow closely?
I really look up to a lot of indie makers, and it's hard to pick just a few favorites. I follow hundreds on Twitter and get inspired by their work all the time.
Could you recommend any specific tools or resources that you believe are helpful for other indie makers, especially those just starting out?
One tool that’s been a game changer for me is Xcodes. It’s been super helpful for managing different versions of Xcode. Before, keeping track of various Xcode versions was a hassle, but Xcodes simplifies all that. Also RevenueCat has made adding subscriptions and purchases straightforward, letting me focus more on building the apps themselves.
Thanks for reading til the end. Hope you enjoy the interview as much as we did.
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