It's been roughly 10 years since I first opened Xcode and considered making apps for iPhone. Back then I was in my final year of Sixth Form, studying for exams and preparing to begin the next phase of my life at university.
I didn't really know where to start - there was no "100 days of Objective-C" back then - but what I did find was a handful of helpful videos on YouTube.
My first apps were quiz apps, one for each of the exams I was studying for in those aforementioned exams. I've never been great at studying; my attention would always shift to other distractions. This was a way for me to study in a way that worked better for my brain.
I still didn't get fantastic grades. It didn't affect my place at university (I already had an unconditional offer, so the stakes weren't that high anyway), but what it did do, was kickstart a career that 10 years later would not only be my 9-5, but my hobby and passion.
My indie journey
Since I first signed up for an Apple Developer membership, I've shipped almost two-dozen apps to the App Store. My early years were very much quantity over quality, but these days I only have 5 that remain in the store. I shipped those quiz apps. I shipped a game after I finished secondary school that is still on the App Store. I shipped a travel planner that had to be renamed because somebody pointed out that the name of the app was German for a sexually transmitted disease.
I then realised that I needed to focus on quality over quantity, and that is why I now only have 3 apps that I actively work on: Classifier, Ceramispace, and Söka.
The next step
10 years on, I've reached a point where I'm ready to take things even more seriously. I've always shipped apps under my own name - Roderick Munro - which has been fine. But I've always envisioned doing this professionally and under a business name.
On January 1st I started "App Deco Studio Inc.", a business focused on app development for Apple platforms.
This isn't me announcing that I'm going full-time indie; I'll still have my 9-5 for the foreseeable future. But this is a step in that direction, an intention I've been fairly open about.
Over the last couple of weeks, I've been updating my apps and their respective websites to include the fact that the apps are now a part of App Deco Studio. You'll also notice that each app's web domain is now a subdomain of https://appdeco.ca - a strategic move that'll save me money in domain renewals in the long-term, while allowing me to create new subdomains for future projects. The developer listed for my apps on the App Store will shortly be under the "App Deco Studio Inc." name too.
Final thoughts
To make this next step up was a big moment for me personally, even if it may seem insignificant to others. Having a hard line drawn between my personal finances and that of my apps will help give me a better understanding of how sustainable my apps are and how I can maximise revenue generated.