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Changelog Interviews

Two decades as a solo indie Mac dev

Jun 10, 2022
Jesse Grosjean, a seasoned indie Mac developer since 2004, shares insights from his journey creating apps like WriteRoom and TaskPaper. He discusses the evolution of his products and the philosophy of usability driving his designs. Jesse reveals the intricacies of navigating the App Store and his evolving pricing strategies amidst market changes. He compares handwritten vs tool-generated Markdown for improved readability and reflects on the unique challenges faced by solo developers in maintaining a distinct identity in the crowded Mac app landscape.
01:33:12

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Jesse Grosjean's journey as a solo indie Mac developer highlights the importance of user experience and simplicity in app design.
  • His pivot to a subscription pricing model for Bike aims to provide continuous value and seamless updates while fostering user satisfaction.

Deep dives

Jesse's Indie Development Journey

Jesse Gross-Dien has been an indie Mac developer since 2004, founding Hogbay Software and creating popular applications like Right Room, Task Paper, and the latest, Bike. He shares insights on why he chose the Mac platform, emphasizing its creative potential and the importance of user experience. Operating as a solo developer allows him to maintain control over his work and vision but presents unique challenges, especially regarding marketing and reaching users. Despite the ups and downs of the indie development landscape, Jesse remains passionate about creating software that resonates with his audience.

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