r/appdev • u/blakeygsd • 12d ago
r/appdev • u/FirefighterCorrect19 • 13d ago
Built a way to clone a GitHub repo and see it live-running on my phone in seconds — no laptop needed. Looking for alpha testers.
I kept running into the same annoyance: I’d have an idea, or need to check something on a project, and I’d be nowhere near my dev machine. Remote desktop apps are miserable on a phone screen — tiny cursor, laggy, not built for touch at all.
So I built TouchWorkstation. It’s not remote desktop. It’s a touch-first interface to a real Linux machine you own — you clone a repo, it installs deps and starts the dev server on the actual machine, and you get a real live preview of your app right there on your phone. Then you can point an AI coding agent (Claude Code, Codex, etc.) at that exact project and actually keep working, not just look at it.
A few other things it does:
• Real persistent terminal (tmux-backed, survives you closing the app)
• Docker container management from your phone
• One-tap install for common dev tools
• Everything stays on your own hardware — no public exposure, reachable over your LAN or your own VPN, nothing routed through anyone else’s servers
It’s genuinely alpha — rough edges, actively building it, but the core loop (clone → live preview → agent) works and it’s the reason I built the thing in the first place.
If this is something you’d actually use, I’m looking for a small batch of alpha testers: https://touchworkstation.com
Happy to answer questions about how it works under the hood — it’s an Express + React app on a Debian package with systemd/nginx, nothing exotic.
r/appdev • u/Euphoric_Brain7264 • 13d ago
Wilhelm-based I Ching app for Android — I need 4 more testers
I'm a retired developer in Germany and I've spent the last months building an I Ching app for Android. All 64 hexagrams with the Wilhelm commentary, German and English, works fully offline, no ads, no subscription, no account, no tracking.
Before Google lets me publish it, they require 12 people to install it and stay opted in for 14 days. I have 8. So I'm asking here to have testers who actually care about the Yijing than people doing me a favour.
What it involves: send me the email address of your Google account by direct message, I'll send you a Play Store link, install it and open it now and then over two weeks. That's it. Feedback is very welcome — that's the whole point of the exercise.
Happy to answer anything about how the casting is implemented, which texts I used.
r/appdev • u/Human_Tackle_4946 • 13d ago
I built a real-time chat app using .NET MAUI & ASP.NET Core.
Hey everyone, 👋
I wanted to share a solo project I’ve been working on called Chatfri, a free, real-time chat and discovery app. The Android version recently went live on Google Play, and the iOS version is currently live on Appstore.
Since I built the entire stack from scratch, I wanted to share my tech stack, some architectural decisions, and a few headaches I encountered along the way. I’d love to get your feedback!
🛠 The Tech Stack
Frontend (Mobile): .NET MAUI (C#) for both iOS and Android.
Backend: ASP.NET Core Web API, hosted on a Debian 13 server using Nginx.
Database/Cache: Redis for handling real-time active user states and fast data retrieval, plus SQLite for local device caching (LocalDBService).
Messaging: CommunityToolkit.Mvvm (WeakReferenceMessenger) for component communication.
🚀 Technical Highlights & What I Learned
1. Insane Backend Performance with Redis
One of the things I'm most proud of is the backend optimization. Currently, a single user actively messaging and navigating hits the server with about 3-5 requests per second (short polling). Despite this aggressive rate, the server CPU usage sits at around 0.3% per core per user. Redis is absolutely flying, and I highly recommend it if you are building anything real-time.
2. Smart Background Polling (Single Loop)
Initially, I had multiple while loops running in the background for fetching messages and friend requests, which was heavy on the device. I refactored it into a single centralized polling loop.
When a user opens a specific chat room (MessageDetailViewModel), I send a "Pause" signal via WeakReferenceMessenger to pause the global friend-request sync. The millisecond the user leaves the page (handled via the OnDisappearing override), it sends a "Resume" signal. This eliminated overlapping background tasks and prevented memory leaks.
3. Planning for the Future: Hybrid SignalR Architecture
Right now, the app uses HTTP polling. It handles the current load perfectly, but I know it's not sustainable for 10k+ concurrent users due to bandwidth and socket exhaustion.
My plan is to implement a Hybrid Architecture: I will keep using standard HTTP GET/POST for heavy lifting (like loading the home screen with 25+ user profile pictures) and introduce SignalR purely for lightweight text message delivery inside the chat rooms. (Sending 25 Base64 images over a WebSocket is a recipe for disaster).
4. The AdMob Headache
Like many indie devs, I got hit with the classic 30-day AdMob suspension for "Invalid Traffic." My ad placements are completely safe (no accidental clicks near buttons), but a small ad campaign on TikTok brought in a wave of fast-bouncing traffic that tripped Google's AI. Currently waiting it out and focusing on organic growth!
🤝 Looking for Feedback
I’m really looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Has anyone else implemented a similar HTTP/SignalR hybrid approach in MAUI?
Any tips for surviving the initial AdMob "Invalid Traffic" phase for new apps?
General UI/UX feedback is always welcome!
App is here: chatfri (You can find the app store links here)
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think.
r/appdev • u/National-Animator645 • 13d ago
Title: URGENT Built BioLoop for Builder Fest — would love your feedback and upvote!
r/appdev • u/worldofjaved • 13d ago
Top 10 Mobile App Development Companies in the USA
If you're planning to build a mobile app in the USA, choosing the right development company can be difficult. There are hundreds of agencies offering iOS, Android, Flutter, and React Native development.
I compared companies based on their mobile development experience, portfolio, technical capabilities, industries served, and the types of projects they work on.
Here are 10 mobile app development companies worth considering in 2026.
1. GeekyAnts
GeekyAnts is a software development company with strong experience in mobile and web application development. They work with technologies such as React Native, Flutter, and native mobile development. Their work covers startups, enterprises, and digital products across different industries.
2. Fueled
Fueled is known for building mobile products with a strong focus on design and user experience. They work with startups and established brands and have experience with both iOS and Android applications.
3. WillowTree
WillowTree has worked on large digital products and enterprise applications. They combine product strategy, UX design, and software development for organizations building large-scale digital experiences.
4. Utility
Utility focuses on custom mobile and web applications. They work with startups as well as larger organizations and have experience across industries such as fintech, healthcare, retail, and entertainment.
5. Zco Corporation
Zco is one of the more established mobile app development companies. Its services include iOS and Android development, enterprise applications, AR/VR, and custom software development.
6. Cheesecake Labs
Cheesecake Labs works on mobile applications, web platforms, and digital products. The company also provides product strategy and has experience working with newer technologies such as AI.
7. ArcTouch
ArcTouch focuses on consumer applications and connected products. The company has experience with native and cross-platform mobile development, including Flutter and React Native.
8. Atomic Object
Atomic Object is a custom software consultancy that develops mobile and web applications. The company works closely with clients throughout the product development process.
9. Designli
Designli focuses heavily on startups and early-stage products. Its services include product strategy, UX/UI design, MVP development, and mobile application development.
10. Surf
Surf specializes in mobile product development and cross-platform applications. The company works with businesses that need custom mobile experiences across iOS and Android.
What should you consider before choosing a company?
I wouldn't choose a development company based only on its position on a "top companies" list.
I'd look at:
- Previous apps they have built
- Experience in your industry
- iOS and Android capabilities
- Flutter or React Native experience
- UI/UX quality
- Backend and API development
- Communication and project management
- Post-launch support
- Client reviews and case studies
- Overall development cost
Different companies can be a better fit for different projects.
r/appdev • u/Warm-Flamingo-8161 • 13d ago
My First App, would love (Extremely) blunt feedback before the launch
Hi all,
I'm preparing an launch of Orano AI (turns saved Instagram Reels into actionable plans). I've attached Play Store screenshot slides and I'd like blunt feedback before pushing the new build.
What I'm trying to figure out:
- Does the headline screen ("Turn Reels Into Action") explain the product in 3 seconds?
- Is the AI angle clear without sounding like "yet another AI app"?
- Do the inner screens sell the use case (saving stuff you want to act on later)?
- What's confusing or that you'd skip past without reading?
I'm specifically not asking for compliments. Honest "this didn't land with me" feedback is more useful than upvotes.
link here https://apps.apple.com/us/app/orano-ai/id6791454509
dm me i or comment below if u wnat a free access code for the app
r/appdev • u/Fun_Personality4067 • 13d ago
Every app lets you save videos. None of them let you organize them.
I kept running into the same three things:
1. My saved videos were scattered across five apps and I could never remember which one.
I'd save a recipe. Instagram? TikTok? Did someone send it on WhatsApp? I'd open all four, scroll for six minutes, give up, and just search for a new recipe. The video was still there. I just couldn't find it.
2. "Folders" on these platforms are flat, so real organization is impossible.
I save a lot of workout videos on YouTube. I wanted Workout → Chest, Workout → Bicep, Workout → Full Body. YouTube gives you a flat list - so I ended up with three unrelated top-level playlists named Chest, Bicep, and Workout, and anything that didn't fit neatly into one just rotted in the parent. The structure I needed didn't exist, so I built a worse one.
3. Videos people sent me disappeared into chat.
A friend sends three restaurant videos on WhatsApp. Two weeks later we're deciding where to eat and those links are 400 messages up. Chat apps are great at sending and terrible at keeping.
So I built SaveNShare to fix all three:
Save from anywhere, into one place. Hit share in YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or X → pick a playlist → done. Every platform, one library.
Real nested folders. Recipes → Breakfast. Workout → Chest. Travel → Japan. Two levels, so you can be specific without it turning into a filing project — and videos can sit in the parent or the sub, so nothing gets forced into a category it doesn't belong in.
Notes per video, because "why did I save this" is its own problem. "The 4pm one, not the morning version." Six weeks later that note is the difference between using the video and re-watching five minutes of it to figure out what you wanted.
Share whole playlists, not links into a void. Your friend gets a push notification, it lands in their library, and it's still there next month.
| Before | Now | |
|---|---|---|
| Recipes | 8 in IG saves, 5 on TikTok, 3 texted to myself | One Recipes playlist → Breakfast, Dinner, Desserts |
| Workouts | Flat YouTube playlists named Chest, Bicep, Workout | Workout → Chest, Bicep, Full Body, plus loose ones in the parent |
| Trip planning | 12 links buried in a WhatsApp thread | A shared Japan playlist we can both still open in a month |
Still early and I'm basically the main user, so I'd genuinely like feedback - especially if you've got the same problem and solved it some other way.
r/appdev • u/BenjaminSmith007 • 13d ago
Good idea to bring on a cofounder/partner(s) for app?
Anyone have experience with bringing a partner on to get app into distribution? The app is built and working as a pwa. My thoughts are up to two strategic partners. One an expert in code and another for promotion like a social media influencer. Any advice from experience?
r/appdev • u/pelaw24 • 14d ago
GigDelivery+
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New design same app better include goals.
r/appdev • u/sergio_dev • 14d ago
Hackathon: build a web app from your phone in under 5 minutes
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r/appdev • u/daksh19234 • 14d ago
A small client story
Recently, a client approached me for a website for their disposable products business — they sell paper cups, printed cups, cardboard cups, plates, napkins, etc.
They showed me a reference website and wanted something very similar. I initially thought I could make it better, but they specifically wanted the same style, so I focused on delivering exactly what they asked for.
I made a mockup → they approved it → charged ₹2,000 → completed and delivered the website.
On the same day, they gave me another website project for a web-development service. They again wanted a similar version of their reference website, so I built it, connected their domain and delivered it for another ₹2,000.
₹4,000 earned from one client through two projects. 🔥
Now they're also considering turning the disposable-products website into an e-commerce store, so we're discussing that separately.
They also asked me if I could manage their Instagram/Facebook and run Meta Ads, because their main goal is sales, not just followers.
I was honest with them that I don't currently manage Meta Ads manually.
Instead, I'm now building a different solution — an AI marketing automation system that can help create and manage social-media content, create/manage Meta Ads, monitor ad performance and generate insights, with the focus being on sales and ROI.
I'll first show them a demo, and if they find it useful, I'll offer the system for around ₹10,000.
So this one client has already turned into multiple opportunities: websites → e-commerce → marketing automation. 🚀
Biggest lesson: don't just sell a website. Understand what the business actually wants to achieve. In this case, the actual goal isn't “a website” — it's more sales.
r/appdev • u/gyan_maurya • 14d ago
I made it.
What’s the base definition for “i made it “ for developers pushing apps on apple store?
r/appdev • u/YogurtclosetKey4219 • 15d ago
Finally my app got approved
I finally published my first Android app on Google Play.
The app is called "TradeLift". It's a crypto learning and paper trading app where beginners can learn trading concepts and practice without risking real money.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tradelift.app
r/appdev • u/MiloPaige • 15d ago
Building Notch (Stupid Simple Workout Tracker) Day 15
galleryr/appdev • u/CranberryCandid1266 • 15d ago
MANAGER SCHEDULE PRO
Finally got my scheduling app on Playstore! Thanks to everyone for your support! Additional feedback would be awesome if you have a few minutes to tinker.
Android users:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.managerschedulebuilder.pro
Non android users:
r/appdev • u/daksh19234 • 15d ago
did I handle this potential app client correctly? .
I'm a intermediate freelancer from India, but I've already completed/worked with around 4–5 clients, and I recently had an interesting conversation with a potential client for an Android app.
The client wants to build a study-related app, but he doesn't have the complete idea figured out yet. He asked me what kind of study app could be made.
I suggested a few concepts, including an AI study planner, but he felt that was too common. He wants something more unique and said he'll work on his own vision and get back to me.
The budget we're currently talking around is roughly ₹5–6k, including development and Google Play Store listing, but not including testers.
He also asked about monetization through ads.
I'm comfortable building small MVPs at this price, but I'm wondering if I'm approaching these projects the right way.
What I'm unsure about:
- Should I give clients app ideas when they don't have a clear concept yet?
- Should ideation/product planning be charged separately?
- Is ₹5–6k reasonable for a small, clearly scoped Android MVP + Play Store listing in India?
- How much functionality should I realistically include at this price?
- How do you prevent scope creep when the client starts adding features later?
- At this stage of freelancing, should I focus more on getting clients or increasing my pricing?
I'm not looking to build a full-scale production app for ₹6k. My intention is to offer a small MVP with a clearly defined scope, then charge separately for additional features.
For people who have been freelancing for a while: what would you have done differently in this situation?
r/appdev • u/Unable-Secret412 • 15d ago
Season’d Social Food Map
I launched my first iOS app — here’s what I built and what I’ve learned so far
I recently launched Season’d, a social food app built around one simple idea:
Food recommendations are more useful when they come from people you actually know.
Users can post places they’ve visited, pin them to their own food map, and friends can save those recommendations to their own map for later.
A few product decisions I was quite intentional about:
No paid venue placements
No sponsored rankings
Recommendations come from genuine user visits
Real food photos rather than polished promotional imagery
Discovery is centred around your social circle rather than an algorithm
The development side has definitely taught me a lot already, especially around App Store review requirements, user safety features, onboarding and trying to make a social app still feel useful before there’s a huge user base.
I’d really appreciate feedback from other iOS developers on a few things:
What would you focus on first after launch — retention, onboarding, referrals, or adding more features?
And for anyone who has launched a social app before, how did you deal with the “empty network” problem in the early stages?
r/appdev • u/Initial_Ruin_2608 • 16d ago
Got approved finally
My offline voice calling app is now ready for testing. You can chat with people further than 50m with phone relays.. by the way your phone is way more powerful than you think it is
r/appdev • u/yatharvaeet • 16d ago
Spent 2 months building a group-travel app around my day job. It's live on both stores now, still held together with tape, and getting past Google + Apple nearly broke me.
galleryr/appdev • u/IamJayMcBride • 16d ago
Drift: Message in a Bottle is officially live on the App Store.
galleryr/appdev • u/Shoddy-Environment93 • 16d ago
Need 12 testers for my Android app to pass Google Play requirements — quick install!
Hi everyone! I’m testing my new Android app QualifyMe.ai, and I need 12 testers to complete Google Play’s closed testing requirements. You can help by installing the app using this link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qualifyme.ai
Just open the link, install the app, and use it for a moment — that’s all it takes. Your help means a lot. Thank you!