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I know its a bit trendy, but I am making a living off of iPhone apps. I don't have any smash hits but have been maintaining a fairly consistent income since I
by pz 17y ago
I know its a bit trendy, but I am making a living off of iPhone apps. I don't have any smash hits but have been maintaining a fairly consistent income since I published my first app last December. Right now I am trying to ramp up the number of apps I have and my goal is to match my previous salary at a "hot, young internet startup" in the valley (which is in the throws of death, i think)
This was my first experience selling software, I was always a research oriented, backend sort of guy... usually a few abstractions away from the actual product. So I had to think about a lot of new things, but it was really fun. I wasn't used to thinking about where buttons should go or how the UI flow for creating a new game. And I certainly wasn't used to responding to user feedback. The first version of my first game was pretty buggy and people complained and there was my name next to it in the app store. Not something I was used to. But now I most of the emails I get tell me how much they like the program and as much as I like to say I hate people, it feels pretty good.
So maybe that's inspiring.
Or maybe the fact that its noon and I'm typing this from bed with my dogs asleep next to me will inspire you. Although, the freedom to work on my own terms is a blessing and a curse. This has been covered before on HN, but I would say if you have the self discipline, then its more of a blessing.
I have mixed feelings about writing apps because it can be a crapshoot. I don't think you can go into it expecting to write a huge hit, but I also think its one of the best places for an independent software developer. Apple takes care of a lot of the non-development details for you and you can get your app in front of a lot of eyes very quickly.
PS: I will probably go back to work at another startup someday. As much as fun as I'm having, I do miss working with a good team of folks on something that requires EVERYONE's effort. But for now, I am very happy doing what I'm doing.
- ambulatorybird 17y agoSo people complained that you were doing business under your own name? Did you set up a 'doing business as' since then?
- johns 17y agoMy interpretation of what he said is that they were complaining about his programs and the reviews were next to his name.
- ambulatorybird 17y agoThanks, that makes sense.
- pz 17y agoYes, that's what I meant.
- doubleyooexwhy 17y agoI'd love to write an iPhone app, but I don't have a Mac. I really wish Apple would open up development for *nix/Windows users.
- bemmu 17y agoIf you're going to undergo the effort of writing an app, it seems that the cost of getting a Mac Mini is peanuts compared to that.
- jamesbritt 17y agoI bought a Mini for ~ USD $700 (and got a free-but-for-tax printer!) to test my own desktop application (JotBot, a time-tracking tool). What else do I need to do iPhone dev? Won't I need some sort of actual device aside from an emulator?
- jamroom 17y agoPick up an iPod Touch - it runs pretty much all of the apps that the iPhone does, but you're not stuck with the monthly charge from AT&T. I'm using a Mini for iphone/ipod dev work, and the ipod touch works great.
- pz 17y agoI agree. I don't even have an iphone, i just picked up an iPod touch (although it makes me want an iphone even more). Before that I would swipe my roommates iPhone to test things out but that got old fast :) If you want to develop an idea around the GPS or the camera, you might need an actual iPhone. Mac mini's are great, or pick up an old model macbook. I would also highly recommend the book "Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X".
- jamesbritt 17y agoThanks!
- 17y ago
- pz 17y agoI'll also add that at least one of my other ex-coworkers from said "hot, young internet startup" is also making a living off of iPhone apps. I think he's actually close to matching his previous salary. There's been a lot of press about these blockbuster iphone apps that rescue poor developers from poverty and change their lives. That's all well and good, but I think there is a more realistic middle ground that people should be aware of.