If you have the balls to create and release something, you’re a legend. Don’t be a corporate NPC trying to look like the smartest person in the meeting and optimizing some stupid KPI for your next promotion packet. Life’s far too short. Save me the cliche rebuttals too, I’ve already heard them.
"It takes five years to become an overnight success" I heard a variation of this from a VC who invested in my startup in the 8Os. I had to use it on him when we went back to the well a few times for more funding.
Thanks for the frankly sharing of the journey, being in the same boat, after two years of not-worth-to-mention revenue from appstore, it seems start to get on track a bit now
I think I am not the lucky one to get overnight success and like in the post get the lucky time on iOS 15 release
Being writing a long article to record my indie app developper journey, Hope I can read in calm of it one decade later
You focused largely on the promotional aspect, though I think the product competition angle is more interesting.
The other day I saw someone famous(ish) announce a new desktop application, to meaningful reception.
Thirty minutes later I had the same application, in every meaningful way. Built, working, ready for distribution.
It was just a test and I’m not about to sell it, but I can’t see how this doesn’t come down hard on indie developers.
This example produced reasonably done swift using appropriate system libs… so while “slop” will be a thing people might ignore for now, I think the bar has to go way, way up for real developers.
As someone who took years investing in a system to easily spin up indie projects before vibe coding was coined. It’s been crushing to have built quality projects that are now swallowed up by a tidal wave of AI slop.
It may or may not be a great time to be a popular indie dev, but for the less known folks - it’s a lottery
the software engineering profession seems to be one of the few professions that doesn't reward 20+ year professionals. with doctors, lawyers etc - your value goes up past 40.
but in software engineering with ageism - your value "goes down". when it should be the reverse if you're an IC.
so yeah going your own way as quick as possible - is not insurance for your sanity but income too.
As an indie software maker, I agree. I've been thinking about this a lot too. I'm going to start by polishing my indieweb site first. A site needs to look decent to be trustworthy.
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[ 1.5 ms ] story [ 22.1 ms ] threadThat's a really good description, I should update my linkedin profile :)
Agreed friend
Also, "it takes five years to become an overnight success" is a fantastic line.
Great read
I think I am not the lucky one to get overnight success and like in the post get the lucky time on iOS 15 release
Being writing a long article to record my indie app developper journey, Hope I can read in calm of it one decade later
https://successfulsoftware.net/2025/12/22/is-the-golden-age-...
The other day I saw someone famous(ish) announce a new desktop application, to meaningful reception.
Thirty minutes later I had the same application, in every meaningful way. Built, working, ready for distribution.
It was just a test and I’m not about to sell it, but I can’t see how this doesn’t come down hard on indie developers.
This example produced reasonably done swift using appropriate system libs… so while “slop” will be a thing people might ignore for now, I think the bar has to go way, way up for real developers.
It may or may not be a great time to be a popular indie dev, but for the less known folks - it’s a lottery
but in software engineering with ageism - your value "goes down". when it should be the reverse if you're an IC.
so yeah going your own way as quick as possible - is not insurance for your sanity but income too.
is it easy no, but worth it.