I’ve enjoyed building and launching a couple of apps this year despite them being, unequivocally, complete flops. I’ve had a third app in mind for a while and I got around to hacking on it last week. It’s a consumer app and it isn’t novel so floppability feels very high, but I remain undeterred. I’m already using it daily but it’s rather rough around the edges. I plan to launch it later in the summer because a holiday beckons.  

Fortunately my primary goal with this trilogy wasn’t commercial success (which I do believe is an important satisfaction quotient) but creative success. Can I build software that I want to use, with code I’d be proud to show? Can I make it operate at low cost with few production issues? Can I make a UI that looks good and feels intuitive without looking like everything else? Can I create a fun brand that people remember, that feels purposeful? And do all this in a few short weeks?

Turns out I can and it’s been really satisfying for scratching that creative itch. I haven’t built anything particularly popular, but I’ve proved to myself that you don’t need to work on lofty, universe denting goals to create and feel a sense of accomplishment. The creative act can be enough in itself.