Diary of an indie app developer

In this video I take on the challenge to build 10 SwiftUI apps in just one month. Using ChatGPT for coding assistance and Midjourney for icons. I explore the capabilities (and limitations) of AI tools in app development. Along the way I reflect on my transition from JavaScript to SwiftUI and discuss the financial outcomes of my projects and offer insights into app store optimization 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. Follow my journey here: Website: https://adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: https://x.com/adamlyttleapps Github: https://github.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: https://instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com

Adam shares his darkest secrets as an ethical hacker and delves into crucial lessons every indie app developer needs to know to protect their mobile apps from hackers. Discover the hidden vulnerabilities, learn how to safeguard your app, and understand the hacker mindset to stay one step ahead What You’ll Learn: The rise of hacking attempts on indie apps and how to identify vulnerabilities. How ethical hacking can help you secure your app and prevent breaches. The importance of platforms like HackerOne and BugCrowd in improving app security. Practical tips to protect your app, such as using firewalls like Cloudflare and avoiding common security pitfalls. Real-life examples of how hacking can expose weaknesses and the steps to mitigate these risks. Apps by Adam Lyttle is the personal journey of an indie app developer navigating the challenges of the mobile app industry. Follow the journey: Website: https://adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: https://x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: https://instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com

Adam reveals a little-known App Store Optimization secret that no one else is talking about. With just one simple tweak that takes only 30 seconds, you can see tens of thousands of downloads and a massive increase in revenue. Join me as I dive into the key strategies that have helped me build over 50 apps and generate $100,000+ in revenue this year alone. Discover the power of app store discoverability and how to leverage search recommendations to skyrocket your app’s visibility. I also share my personal journey, lessons learned, and practical tips for getting your app found by the right users. If you’re an indie app developer looking to boost your app’s success, this video is a must-watch. Learn the secrets of app store optimization and start seeing explosive growth in your downloads today! Apps by Adam Lyttle chronicles the personal journey of an indie app developer, offering valuable tips and real-world experiences. Follow the journey: Website: https://adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: https://x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram:https://instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com For App Store Optimisation, rankings and keyword research try Astro: https://tryastro.app/

Adam discovers a mobile app generating $300k/month and gets inspired to update his paywall… and sees a 230% increase in trial subscriptions! In this episode, Adam shares his insights and the specific changes he implemented. From analyzing successful apps to tweaking his own paywall, he breaks down the steps that led to this successful result. Learn how a refined onboarding process and strategic free trials can make a significant impact on your mobile app performance. Apps by Adam Lyttle chronicles the personal journey of an indie app developer, offering valuable tips and real-world experiences. Follow the journey: Website: ⁠https://adamlyttleapps.com⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/adamlyttleapps⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/adamlyttleapps⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps⁠ Substack: ⁠https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com⁠

Adam discovers he's been asleep on his AI wrapper apps this whole time and puts together a plan. The Apple WWDC 2024 just finished and many developers are starting to realize their apps are… well… doomed. In this video, Adam reacts to the shocking news from Apple's WWDC 2024 that iOS 18 will have full integration with ChatGPT, effectively rendering many AI wrapper apps obsolete. As an indie app developer, Adam shares his personal experience of creating three AI scanner apps— a fish identifier, an insect identifier, and a vegan ingredient scanner— all of which now face a bleak future. He discusses the implications for developers, the challenges of monetizing in a rapidly evolving tech landscape, and his strategy moving forward to adapt to these changes. Apps by Adam Lyttle is the personal journey of an indie app developer navigating the highs and lows of the app development world. Follow the journey: Website: https://adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: https://x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: https://instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com

Today I dive deep into my recent encounter with another copycat app developer, affectionately dubbed “Copycat Carl.” I share my thoughts on how these copycats operate, the impact they have on my revenue, and the emotional rollercoaster I go through every time I see one of my apps cloned. I also discuss the balance between finding inspiration and outright copying, reflecting on my own experiences both as a victim of copying and as someone who has made mistakes in this area. Through this journey, I’ve learned valuable lessons about maintaining integrity, innovating, and building a brand that stands out. Apps by Adam Lyttle is the personal journey of an indie app developer Follow my journey: Website: https://adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: https://x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: https://instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com

Adam reflects on what he has learned while making YouTube videos for a month. What it takes to make a good video, to be consistent and shares helpful tips for indie app developers looking to setup their own YouTube channel… Apps by Adam Lyttle is the personal journey of an indie app developer Follow the journey: Website: https://adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: https://x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: https://instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com

Adam shares his personal experiences and strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome while building indie apps. He discusses the struggle with work-life balance, the impact of self-doubt, and the importance of authenticity, community, and connection in navigating the pressures of content creation and audience expectations. Follow the journey: Website: https://adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: https://x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: https://instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com

Adam Lyttle shares his secrets for indie app growth hacks without spending a dime! After developing an app every month for the past four years, Adam has discovered the most effective free marketing strategies that took his app from 1,000 downloads a month to an incredible 30,000 downloads a month. In this video, you’ll learn: - Growth hacks that don't cost any money - Free ways to grow your indie app downloads - Creative content ideas to engage your audience on TikTok - Utilizing Product Hunt and Reddit to gain visibility and traction - The power of building in public - How to master App Store Optimization (ASO) - How shareable moments create viral growth - Leveraging Quora to drive traffic and downloads - Getting featured on the App Store Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, these insider tips will help you boost your app’s success and reach a wider audience. Don’t miss out on this valuable advice from an experienced indie developer! Make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode! My apps featured in this episode: Card Value Scanner for Pokemon https://apps.apple.com/app/id6468806603 Subscriber Count for YouTube + https://apps.apple.com/app/id1568926960 Intermittent Fasting+ Tracker https://apps.apple.com/app/id1580862554 Pushups Counter https://apps.apple.com/app/id1528884993 Follow my journey: Website: https://adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: https://x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: https://instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com Key moments: 00:00 — Intro 01:13 — Creating Creative Content 02:56 — Utilizing Reddit 05:34 — Product Hunt 07:23 — App Store Optimisation 09:08 — Building in Public 10:22 — Shareable Moments 14:05 — Gaming Quota For Links 16:27 — Getting Featured on the App Store 17:24 — Outro

Adam shares his top 5 tips for building indie apps with 5 kids and a busy household. To help you build better apps and keep you focused in the process. Lets go 💪 Diary of an Indie App developer follows the personal journey of Adam Lyttle as he grows his indie consumer apps Follow my journey: Website: adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: adamlyttleapps.substack.com Key parts: 0:00 — Intro 0:47 — Step Away 1:55 — Good Enough is Good Enough 5:00 — Laser Focus 6:06 — Maximize Ouput 9:44 — Back Yourself :)

Adam discusses the issues with his poop tracking app and the time his medical app was rejected for causing physical harm Apps by Adam Lyttle is the personal journey of an independent app builder Follow the journey: Website: adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: adamlyttleapps.substack.com Notable parts: 0:00 — Intro 1:08 — Finding motivation 6:14 — Building medical apps 6:42 — App: Poop Tracker Deluxe 10:00 — Rejected for objectionable content 12:30 — Solution for objectionable content 13:32 — App: OB Wheel for Pregnancy 15:18 — My business model 15:55 — Monetizing my app 16:31 — OpenAI chatbot integration 17:18 — Rejected for causing Physical Harm 18:14 — Safety checks and balances 19:25 — App validation process 19:57 — Outro

Adam revisits that time he accidentally bought a copycat app and learns a valuable lesson in the process Apps by Adam Lyttle is the personal journey of an independent app builder Follow the journey: Website: adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: tiktok.com/@adamlyttleapps Substack: adamlyttleapps.substack.com Notable parts: 0:00 — Intro 2:07 – How I acquired the app 3:44 — Identifying the app I want to buy 5:14 — Due diligence process 8:14 — Taking ownership of the app 8:44 — Discovering issues with the app 10:00 – Rebuilding the app 11:11 — Assessing the business model 12:10 — Discovered it was a copycat app 13:29 — App Store Optimisation (ASO) 15:38 — Deciding on the business model 16:44 — Personal reflection 17:21 — Revisiting the app after 6 months 18:22 — Secrets to coming up with app ideas 21:40 — Plans for the future 25:08 — Current download stats

Adam struggles with maintaining a coding schedule with a newborn in the house and discovers potential trademark issues with the new app Apps by Adam Lyttle is the personal journey of an independent app builder building in public Follow my journey: Website: adamlyttleapps.com Twitter: x.com/adamlyttleapps Instagram: instagram.com/adamlyttleapps TikTok: tiktok.com/adamlyttleapps Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro 2:30 — App launch stratergy 8:00 — Scaling from $0 - $100 10:01 — On indie hacking 10:30 — Connection and loneliness 19:22 — Getting distracted while building 21:14 — Naming a product 22:02 — On building in public again 23:12 — Trademark issues 27:30 — Release cycles 28:03 — ChatGPT building bad code 29:11 — Recording cut out :(

I promise this episode won't be put on private like all the other "first" episodes on this channel. I'm Adam Lyttle – an independent app developer running a 6 figure app creation business My app journey started in 2020 when I started releasing a free app every month. With no intention of making a business out of it. Fast forward to 2024 and I now live off the proceeds