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Show HN: I built a reminder app designed to feel uncomfortable on purpose
Hi HN,
I’ve tried dozens of reminder and habit apps over the years.
They’re all polite. Gentle. Easy to ignore.
So I built something intentionally different.
Mom Clock is a reminder app that behaves more like a strict parent than a productivity coach:
– no snoozing
– no “later”
– optional app blocking using Screen Time APIs
The idea came from my own behavior: I don’t need motivation — I need enforcement.
This is not for everyone. Some people hate it. Some people love it.
I’m genuinely curious where HN stands on this tradeoff:
comfort vs. effectiveness.
Happy to answer questions about:
– behavior design
– iOS Screen Time APIs
– what Apple allows / doesn’t allow
– or why I think “nice UX” can sometimes be counterproductive
- dearroy 9mo agoOne thing I didn’t expect: some users told me the app makes them anxious, others say it’s the first time they actually finish tasks. That polarization itself has been interesting to observe.