Re:MVP Tester for an iPhone App
by brudgers on Saturday February 18, 2017 @10:37AM
(#13675118)
Sometimes, the larger purpose of building a mobile app is to learn about building mobile apps.
Other times, the larger purpose is to build something that will do what the app does. In these cases my standard advice is to build a web app first unless there is something that is inherently based on real time location directly in the form of geolocation or indirectly as with something like a selfie app.
The reason I offer this unsolicited advise is that it allows the developer to own their users and to provide access to their app with nothing more than an ordinary HTML hyperlink. With a web app, anyone can be a beta tester without installing beta software on their phone or owning an iPhone or visiting iTunes. And the developer can talk to the beta testers directly rather than just looking at whatever analytics Apple allows.
In particular, there's nothing inherently location based in the app (beyond being in the UK) and a web app would be a great way to validate the idea. It is also easier to iterate quickly compared to the app store approval process.
Anyway, I don't own an iPhone and am not in the UK and have downloaded exactly one app that appeared as a Show HN over the years...the app store experiences are something people tolerate rather than seek out.
Other times, the larger purpose is to build something that will do what the app does. In these cases my standard advice is to build a web app first unless there is something that is inherently based on real time location directly in the form of geolocation or indirectly as with something like a selfie app.
The reason I offer this unsolicited advise is that it allows the developer to own their users and to provide access to their app with nothing more than an ordinary HTML hyperlink. With a web app, anyone can be a beta tester without installing beta software on their phone or owning an iPhone or visiting iTunes. And the developer can talk to the beta testers directly rather than just looking at whatever analytics Apple allows.
In particular, there's nothing inherently location based in the app (beyond being in the UK) and a web app would be a great way to validate the idea. It is also easier to iterate quickly compared to the app store approval process.
Anyway, I don't own an iPhone and am not in the UK and have downloaded exactly one app that appeared as a Show HN over the years...the app store experiences are something people tolerate rather than seek out.
Good luck.