Lesson’s Learned In iPhone App Development
| Posted in Personal, The Hatch, iPhone | Posted on 05-01-2010
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After the purchase of a new MacBook Pro about a year ago, I thought you know what? I’m going to try and develop an app. I hadn’t seen anything related to fly fishing and thought maybe I could create an app that provides a hatch chart for rivers across the US!
Going into this, I had NO experience with developing anything for the iPhone or Mac OS for that matter. Sure I’d written some scripts, and about 7 years ago I wrote an app to import users into Active Directory, but I was a clean slate and ready to learn. Initially, and some may remember, the app started out working like the Weather app, super simple, but it got the job done. I gleaned a lot off forums, friends, and screw-ups to get it working and it did! Apple even published the darn thing for me. After some requests and a complete redesign by Brisk Studios, a much improved version 2 was out with almost 30 states and 300+ rivers, entomology photos and a great new interface. Entomology photo’s were slow coming, but Lucas Carroll (http://www.flickr.com/photos/luke_c_photography/) was kind to provide some of his amazing photography and with the help of Jason Neuswanger (http://www.troutnut.com) a huge portion of the photography was hammered out.
With the new version I also tried to push the app to a lot of blogs and a few magazines looking for reviews and was very pleased with what came out (I have a pretty good list here). Most recently American Angler even wrote a quick blurb about it in their Jan/Feb 2010 issue!
In all, it’s been a fun and extremely time consuming process. There are currently over 46k rows of data in one of the SQLite tables that were hand entered. The process has been rewarding in the fact that it’s something that I’ve created, but equally as frustrating. One of the downsides to the app store is the commenting/review system, though it’s inherit in any retail scenario. Anyone who’s going to take the time to comment, will most likely be a complainer.
Most recently, “Andyfisher” left a comment stating:
The data on my favorite river is plainly incorrect and the number of rivers it covers is too limited! This app still needs a lot of work because it’s substandard. Don’t buy it before it’s radically updated!
Wow, Andyfisher, please let me know which river(s) needs more work and I’ll see what else I can find.
A man named Robert emailed me:
Your site is a joke, at least this time of year. The same 4 flies
cannot be appropriate for every river in the US
One of the hard things about creating an app like this is you have to generalize some information. I fully understand that a stonefly pattern that kills in Montana may not work as well on the Deschutes; but in no way is this app meant to replace a good old local fly shop. In fact, I would encourage users to visit fly shops for indepth knowledge of the local regions!
On that note, the latest version that I’ve submitted for approval is coming with photo’s of patterns by Montana Fly Company. They have a great list of fly shops that sell their product and maybe in a future version I’ll figure out a way to provide a list of shop for states.
This whole process has really made me sit back and take criticism lightly and understand that I can’t please everyone. Sure I’d love to have exact information for every river, stream, lake, and body of water in the US, but then I know I’d get bashed for giving away ‘secrets’.
I’ve got in touch with some great folks like Lucas Carroll as mentioned above, Cameron Mortenson and the folks behind http://www.fishykid.org/, David Gross at http://www.flyfishingsherpa.com, the great guys at Korkers, http://paflyfish.com/, http://eastcoastangler.blogspot.com/, and http://www.midcurrent.com. I’m sure I’ve missed someone, but thanks everyone for the support and helping spread the word.
Should I have the chance to do it over or anyone thinking of creating an app I’d do the following:
- Wait to release a more complete app rather than slowly adding rivers as time permits
- Realize that it can’t be created for free
- Realize it is rewarding, but don’t count on it to be a gold mine
Don’t sweat the haters. All the contacts and experince you gained is invaluable.
I think this is an amazing app, keep up the good work! And stick to what jake said, he is right on.
I’ll never personally own an apple product but I saw the blurb in american angler and thought I’d sent the link to a working buddy with a glass phone product.
None of the links from your site connected to the app nor could I find it from any of the apple web pages. I don’t know if they actually take a cut from the whole dollar that this app costs but if they do you’re getting screwed.
Why not self publish? Or does crapple have to put their fingerprint of approval (cha-ching) so they get their cut or else consumers void their warranty? I’d gladly send you a buck just for reading this rant this far. It really sucks that you’re actually getting print for your product and it doesn’t seem to be available from snapple.
Hope the fishing holds up better than their product service.
best regards
dan
Hey Dan,
There are some links on the site, as well at http://www.thehatchapp.com. In iTunes you simply search for The Hatch and it’ll show and http://www.itunes.com/apps/thehatch.
Great App. I would just like to see some streams added from western Pa. There is definitely a large number of people in the area that would use the app for sure. I would be willing to help fill in the info, or point you in the direction of a few fly shops in the area that could give some information if needed. Good luck with everything. looking forward to the updates!
I’m a programmer and an avid fly fisher. As a programmer, I learned long ago not to enter personal data. Yep, I would consider this personal data. What could be more personal than your favorite fishing spot? What you use when at that spot? Have you considered letting the purchasers enter their own data? Have you considered letting them decide if they want to share it with the rest of us via you acting as a repository and releasing a new database periodically? As a fly fisherman, there are many spots I have no problems sharing with others and would do so at the drop of a hat. So, instead of us relying and burdening you, turn it around. Let us make your app all it can be.
Thanks for listening.
Jim
Jim,
Thanks for the comments. While I slightly disagree in regards to this being personal information, since it’s largely all publicly available, I agree where your coming from.
I have been debating on providing a way to allow users to submit information or changes and would like to provide something along those lines. I’m still pretty new to all this so rolling out new features takes me a while
Thanks for taking the time to recommend some ideas!
[...] interesting is Cory’s story about how a guy with Mac, a love of Fly fishing, and absolutely no experience in iPhone app [...]
Thanks for the props Cory. Interesting post I’m glad you shared. Keep at it man!
Thanks. This is too good and informative post. I have also tried number of books to run and make some small iphone applications. But this is not an easy task . Love to visit some helpful websites for support from iphone app developers. Nice post.
I too am working on a small iphone app and have a few questions about how you went about developing. Please feel free to email me, I would really appreciate your insight. Thanks.
Will you be looking at adding any Canadian Rivers. I assume your hands are full already but the Bow would be an excellent addition as it is fished by many around the world. Lots of charts online but would be nice on your app. Love the rest keep up good work!
How about making the same app for droid?
It’s certainly something I’d like to do in the future!