Keep Going
There’s a neglected human side to indie app development that deserves to be told. So I wrote it. This is a book about feelings as much as numbers. My apps have been awarded by Google Design and the Google Play Store. They’ve been downloaded more than 500,000 times (and I still don’t understand ASO). Getting to where I am today has been the most stress-coated fun. The last six months have been an introspective rollercoaster. The writing of the book was for me. But the book itself is not. It’s for Developers. Creators. Dreamers. This is their story as much as mine. Keep reading.
The book is a chronological and unashamedly honest insight on how both apps performed in their first 12+ months of independent operation. It was meant to take a month to write. Six months, many late nights and early mornings later, the third and final edit was complete.
Like any good story, there are memorable ups, miserable downs, unexpected twists and plenty of takeaways. And there’s numbers for thought too. When I started on this journey, I had no baseline reference point, whether it related to downloads, sales or any other relevant metric, to measure both apps’ performance. Now you do. Hopefully you can benefit from the transparency I was originally after.
return timeline = {
🧑🏽💻 print(“Hello World”)
🧑🏽💻 month[1] = “In the Beginning”
🧑🏽💻 month[2] = “I Have a Bad Feeling About This”
🧑🏽💻 month[3] = “Beckman & Holzmeister”
🧑🏽💻 month[4] = “From: Google”
🏆 month[5] = “Keep Going”
🧑🏽💻 month[6] = null
🥇 month[7] = “Developer Takeover of Mountain View Software Store”
🧑🏽💻 month[8] = “20:20”
🧑🏽💻 month[9] = null
😔 month[10] = “The End”
🧑🏽💻 month[11] = “To: Tim Apple”
🧑🏽💻 month[12] = “Race to the Prize”
year += 1
month.reset()
🧑🏽💻 month[1] = “Things Are Gonna Get Crazy”
🧑🏽💻 month[2] = “And When the Dark Sky Was Opened”
💸 month[3] = “Indie Ever After”
}
# # #
Preview
You can download a free preview of the book:
# # #
FAQ
What are the apps?
It was on Google Play’s Best of 2019 list for “Everyday Essentials” and Fast Company’s “25 best new apps for 2019”. Here is what they (and others) had to say:
“Appy Weather makes it easy stay on top of the elements with delightful design” – Google Play
“It’s the dead-simple weather app you’ve always wanted” – Fast Company
“It’s the perfect at-a-glance overview of the weather for the day” – Gizmodo
Appy Weather is a subscription app that begins the book with a single tier and ends on three.
It was on Google Play’s Best of 2019 list for ”Hidden Gems” and winner of a 2019 Google Material Design Award. Here is what Google Design had to say:
“ruff’s straightforward brand identity empowers the app’s note-taking users to quickly capture their thoughts in any style. Prioritizing function and clarity, ruff’s consistent use of typography, shape, and color create an inviting themed experience.” – Google Design
ruff is a freemium app that begins the book paid up-front.
Note: Both apps are currently only available on the Google Play Store. Their iOS versions are currently in development (and is a sub-plot within the book’s narrative).
Is the content platform-agnostic?
Yep! The story is universal. The elements covered are non-technical. The learnings can be applied to not only 1) app development on any platform, but also arguably 2) creative work in general.
Does the book actually tell me how to build award-winning apps?
Sort of. It reveals the thought and effort that went into building two completely different apps (both in terms of utility and monetisation) that were recognised for their craft. To be clear, this is not a step-by-step manual on achieving success, but the steps I took that led to multiple accolades. Learn from my wins (several milestones) and losses (many mistakes). The free preview (above) should provide more clarity if needed.
I want to buy, but I can’t afford it. Can you please help?
No worries. If you can’t afford the book for any reason (student, unemployed, low-income country etc.), please reach out and I'll do my best to make it work for you!
Where are you on the web?
I’m on Twitter @mtrostyle. I also write a weekly newsletter in the book‘s spirit – a director’s commentary on indie app development. If you want to reach me directly, email bardi.golriz@gmail.com – I’d rather hear from you than make Inbox Zero. Finally, if you want to be a supporter, there’s my Patreon.