Adam Lyttle
Adam Lyttle
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My app development strategy is falling apart (or is it?)
In this video I share my struggle with a major shift in my app development strategy. After consistently releasing an app every month since 2020, I'm now three months deep into a bigger project that's challenging everything I thought I knew about indie app development. Watch how I'm navigating longer development cycles, questioning my motivation, and discovering unexpected ways to grow my app business.
Key moments in this video:
- Why I haven't released an app in 3 months
- The mental struggle of changing a successful formula
- How I'm balancing big projects with small wins
- My strategy for sustainable growth
- Real talk about success and motivation
Follow my journey here:
Website: adamlyttleapps.com
Twitter: x.com/adamlyttleapps
Github: github.com/adamlyttleapps
Instagram: adamlyttleapps
TikTok: tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps
Substack: adamlyttleapps.substack.com
Apps by Adam Lyttle is the personal journey of an indie app developer, sharing valuable lessons and experiences to help fellow developers succeed in the competitive app market
My channel is based on one simple premise: "A rising tide lifts all boats" - I share my experience, teach what I've learned and highlight the mistakes I've made along the way.
Featured in this video:
* Macbook Pro M3 with 34GB RAM & 1TB HDD
* Macbook Pro M1 with 8GB RAM & 256GB HDD
* Mouse: Logitech MX Master S3
* Keyboard: Logitech MX Keys
* Microphone: Shure 7
* iPhone 15 Pro
* iPhone 12 Mini
* LEGO DUPLO: My First Duck 30327
From Shipping Monthly to Building Bigger: An Indie Developer's Crisis
As an indie app developer who built their reputation on shipping a new app every month since 2020, I recently hit an unexpected crossroads in my SwiftUI development journey. For the first time in four years, I haven't released an app in three months. This isn't your typical developer's block - it's a story about evolution, questioning success, and finding a new path forward.
The Monthly App Development Formula
My business model was simple: build and ship a new iOS app every month. This rapid development cycle taught me everything I know about SwiftUI, App Store distribution, and building for users. The formula worked - until it didn't.
When Success Creates New Challenges
Currently, I'm deep into developing a video editing app aimed at reducing editing time by 80% using AI. But here's where it gets interesting: while building this larger project, I discovered that smaller components could be spun off into their own apps. This realization led to an unexpected pivot in my development strategy.
Breaking Down the Build
The current project split into several components:
Video editor (main project)
Screenshot to video converter
Captions for short-form content
Live captions for streaming
What started as a "couple of weeks" project has stretched into three months. As any developer knows, scope creep is real, but this was different. I found myself caught in the paradox of success - when your passive income removes the urgency to ship, how do you maintain that builder's momentum?
The Developer's Dilemma
The real challenge isn't technical - it's psychological. There's an intrinsic value in the monthly shipping cycle:
Regular feedback from users
Constant learning and iteration
The endorphin rush of shipping
Building a diverse app portfolio
But success creates an unexpected problem. When you no longer need to grind for financial reasons, you have to rediscover your "why."
Finding Balance in SwiftUI Development
My solution? A hybrid approach:
Continue work on the larger, more ambitious project
Spin off smaller features as standalone apps
Maintain the release cycle with these smaller apps
Reinvest revenue into acquiring promising apps
This strategy allows me to:
Maintain the excitement of regular releases
Build something bigger and more impactful
Reduce risk through diversification
Keep learning and growing as a developer
Looking Forward
The journey from quantity-focused development to quality-focused projects isn't linear. It's about finding the right balance between quick wins and long-term vision. As I prepare to launch my latest spin-off project (a live captioning app), I'm reminded that growth often means embracing uncomfortable changes in your development process.
For developers facing similar crossroads: sometimes what feels like a strategy falling apart might actually be evolution in disguise.
#AppDevelopment #Devlog #iOSDev
มุมมอง: 1 641

วีดีโอ

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ความคิดเห็น

  • @arkalykakash9475
    @arkalykakash9475 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    love your Australian accent mate. always thought you pronounced it as data and not data

  • @berkalkan3382
    @berkalkan3382 12 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    "Build Failed". Classic.

  • @fear2321
    @fear2321 12 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    best video ever watch on youtube about this topic, thanks. also would be a good for finding the first ideas for checking in the tools. checking the lists on the appstore ? ai suggestions ?

  • @BarberCraftStudio
    @BarberCraftStudio วันที่ผ่านมา

    do you have a video on your journey? like how you went from zero MRR to what you are making now

  • @KaspaMaximus
    @KaspaMaximus วันที่ผ่านมา

    Congratulations buddy!

  • @manwej
    @manwej วันที่ผ่านมา

    hey adam, i came across your channel recently. really great content. as a fellow web dev with little ai experience, I was wondering what api you use for your image recognition apps. I know google cloud offers something that you can train but what would you recommend? All the best from the other side of the globe (germany)

    • @adamlyttleapps
      @adamlyttleapps วันที่ผ่านมา

      I used the OpenAI api. It’s straightforward submitting an image with a prompt. github.com/adamlyttleapps/OpenAI-Wrapper-SwiftUI

  • @liveandletsride
    @liveandletsride 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I really like your vids mate....

  • @HamishLeahyDev
    @HamishLeahyDev 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This uy is so dense

  • @Mark97_5
    @Mark97_5 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Hello please where can i find your apps ?

    • @adamlyttleapps
      @adamlyttleapps 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      You can check out my consumer iPhone apps here: adamlyttleapps.com

  • @LegaliseTweed
    @LegaliseTweed 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Instant subscribe 👍

  • @ntandotshongweni5240
    @ntandotshongweni5240 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Congrats on the launch!

  • @DerPanamaKanal
    @DerPanamaKanal 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thanks for publishing your thoughts. I always run into the opposite problem. My apps are usually much too complex. Its really great to see how you approach app development.

  • @Samuel-oe8el
    @Samuel-oe8el 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I just released an app ive been working on for ~4-5 months. doesnt have the polish I wanted but man it was a relief to release it at least. now I do small improvements

    • @mkgamesartvisuals
      @mkgamesartvisuals 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Congrats on the release! Can you share the name of it? Would be interested to check it out. PS: Nice thing about releasing is that you're eventually entering the feedback loop. You get reviews and people who'll contact you about their wishes or potential bugs and you can iterate from their

    • @Samuel-oe8el
      @Samuel-oe8el 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@mkgamesartvisuals Thanks! im shy haha, I might build it in public though soon. I agree, I have 1 user so far. Its more prosumer than B2C so not app with large audience but has large existing market. Happy to check out yours if you want!

  • @malcomgreen4747
    @malcomgreen4747 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My app took me 4 years, and im still not in profit. i make around $2500 a month, but i spend the same on ads this month ill profit $300, and im planning to find it. Away to 10x that with ads does not work because bidding high will make me lose, my app will succeed, but ots taking so long im focusing on quality app instead of quantity of releasing apps

  • @stenote420
    @stenote420 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Love your approach man. You might be pleasantly surprised when you release it, that the success of a product is sometimes a function of the sweat equity you put into it. Looking forward to seeing how it progresses!

  • @ISOLATED_MAN_
    @ISOLATED_MAN_ 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    man I love your content..it is inspiring for me to see ur work...

  • @manwej
    @manwej 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    but monetizing comes with a lot of effort? if it is a one time thing: having 9 apps each making 20-100 bucks per month is also not bad. Or what are your thoughts on that?

  • @manwej
    @manwej 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    why people pay 8 bucks per week for an app that does some detection is beyond me. Don't you think the price is a bit steep?

    • @adamlyttleapps
      @adamlyttleapps 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Stats show it’s a single use app. People don’t seem to renew past the week usually

    • @manwej
      @manwej 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@adamlyttleapps ah nice, i haven't thought about that

  • @keetor13
    @keetor13 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

    "The best thing I can do today... is create. The best thing I can do right now... is create." - added to my cool quotes list. Thanks

  • @jeremydudet
    @jeremydudet 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thanks, Adam. This is great

  • @buneyecat
    @buneyecat 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

    NOT A HDD

    • @adamlyttleapps
      @adamlyttleapps 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Oh! You’re right 🤦‍♂️

  • @robtech2090
    @robtech2090 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Very insightful and super realistic. Thank you.

  • @nicktids
    @nicktids 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Obs and twitch isn't that generally for games. I know coding getting bigger but you need to look at windows as well as streaming I think gaming

  •  11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Same here, thanks for sharing your story. Great content on the channel! Getting there with my 52startups. Chris

  • @martinwrightuk
    @martinwrightuk 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Pace yourself is great advice. Don't hear that enough.

  • @scotti3gt
    @scotti3gt 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I have the opposite problem - I love restarting projects fresh. Too much of a perfection seeker 🤣 Hope the fam is well!

  • @IKcodeIgorWnek
    @IKcodeIgorWnek 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Sounds great man! 🚀

  • @gadgetboyplaysmc
    @gadgetboyplaysmc 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I used to just read your tweets on X. first time I've seen you on TH-cam because of the algorithm. Feels weird.

  • @liveandletsride
    @liveandletsride 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I wonder if its a good idea to build in public on linkedin for b2b apps?

    • @adamlyttleapps
      @adamlyttleapps 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

      That would be a good strategy for B2B 🤔

  • @liveandletsride
    @liveandletsride 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I've tried to create a few apps without any luck finishing them. They were a bit to large and my coding abilities were not that good. But now after a few years im about to finish my first one, ill have taken me 3 months. Not as bad as 6 but i think its the minimum i could spend on a B2B app targeting engineers like myself... anyway, nice seeing a Aussie indie hacker

    • @adamlyttleapps
      @adamlyttleapps 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

      B2B targeting engineer audience would have higher expectations, I would imagine

  • @younesbenlcaid9853
    @younesbenlcaid9853 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Niiice, I love the video

  • @geenews6207
    @geenews6207 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Astro is a sigh of relief when compared to other costly ASO tools

  • @ZedCodedSomething
    @ZedCodedSomething 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    A few more days. You got this. 💪🏼

  • @QkyGamesStudio
    @QkyGamesStudio 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Hey Adam, thanks for all this valuable content. I recently started developing iOS apps and I've also tried Astro. How long does it take to get a good position in the App Store?

  • @hosealonti6528
    @hosealonti6528 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    1st comment and like squad

  • @alanjamesstott
    @alanjamesstott 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Phew. Glad it didn't damage the keyboard? I have the same logitech one and love it. FYI 25 years in industry as an engineer and founder here, gone through many startups, just found your channel and really enjoying the content! Motivational ⭐👍

  • @cenkyenikoylu2670
    @cenkyenikoylu2670 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Hi Adam, You're doing a good job, my friend. Did you convert the MX Keys to wireless charging? The green LED was on. It caught my attention. The USB board is not plugged in either.

    • @cenkyenikoylu2670
      @cenkyenikoylu2670 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      oww okay, I see cable 1:16:47 hours. and sad about the cable failure, buddy.

  • @mrverderveremem
    @mrverderveremem 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    what brand is it? we should stay away from

    • @adamlyttleapps
      @adamlyttleapps 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It was the charging cable (not the keyboard) Replaced my cable with one of those magnet attached cables from amazon

  • @mrverderveremem
    @mrverderveremem 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    ali g disliked it😢

  • @tananga_dev
    @tananga_dev 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Had you tried Flutter? Switching from iOS to MacOS should be very easy

  •  17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Make someone keep your GoDaddy password away maybe? ;)

  • @Sbannmarie
    @Sbannmarie 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Is this the happy poop 💩 app? I just starting using it. LOVE IT!

  • @efrenhaw
    @efrenhaw 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    When you said buying a domain... thats me. Launch my first app a month ago, getting to 200 downloads, and gonna focus a bit on marketing as I start thinking of the second project! great video! A new follower here

  • @iOScribbler
    @iOScribbler 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    That is awesome. I am also working as an iOS dev at a corporate remote for 5 years It is good pay for the family not stressful but always wanted to have my own apps. Do you exclusively build for iOS or do you use Flutter for supporting multiple environments? Do you think is there still room for another app out there or is the market saturated?

  • @betaminecraftmale
    @betaminecraftmale 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Your videos have similar quality to those with hundreds of thousands of views. Lucky to find your channel

  • @heyderekj
    @heyderekj 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Love that we are seeing the product working in the background on this video. Clever and good.

  • @timur.voicepen
    @timur.voicepen 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    How about live stream captions? Im not an expert in SEO but it looks like what user would search. Love the idea!

  • @adamrichic8753
    @adamrichic8753 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    everything will be better

  • @heffertron
    @heffertron 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Live auto captions 👍

  • @riklowe
    @riklowe 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Live auto captions ✔️