I Built 3 Apps That Didn't Take Off. Here's What I'm Doing Differently With My 4th.
I've been working as a software engineer for years, mostly building stuff for other people. At some point, I thought, why not build something for myself? So I did. Three apps, actually. None of them really took off. And now I'm building my fourth. Apparently, I haven't learned enough yet. The first three Steppet was an iOS step tracker where you raise virtual pets by walking. The more you walk,…
The author, a software engineer with years of experience, recently built three apps that didn't gain traction. These apps included a step tracker with virtual pets, a receipt scanner, and an outfit suggestion app. The author spent most of their time building these apps without focusing much on getting users. The process of creating these apps was accelerated by using AI to help with coding, debugging, and UI improvements.
However, this speed also led to starting new projects too easily, as the author could quickly build prototypes. Despite the efficiency AI provides, the author emphasizes that getting people to use the apps is a separate challenge. In their fourth project, ZaneShot, a screenshot and screen recording tool for macOS, the author aims to change their approach by actively promoting their product, sharing updates, and testing marketing strategies.
They acknowledge that while AI has made it easier to build software, it also means competition is higher. The author realizes that to stand out, they need to learn how to effectively reach their target audience and get them to use their products.
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