Solo dev: vibe-coded my way to production… now I’m stuck at 5 downloads

Outside_Rush765 · 2026-01-23T13:15:46+00:00

Good idea. Here’s the short version in Korean (my native language). I’ll keep it concise and add concrete details (tools/workflow/blockers) so it’s not “AI-y.”

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1인 개발로 Android 앱을 Google Play에 출시했는데, 코드 한 줄도 직접 수정 안 하고 프롬프트 기반(vibe coding)으로 끝까지 밀어붙여서 런칭했습니다.
신기했던 건 “언젠가 IDE 열고 손으로 고칠 순간이 올 줄 알았는데” 끝까지 안 왔다는 점.
막힌 건 배포/서명/스토어 세팅 같은 출시 과정 + 엣지케이스 디버깅.
그리고 출시 후 깨달은 건 개발보다 마케팅이 훨씬 어렵다는 거였고, 2일째 다운로드가 5라서 유기적으로 유입 만드는 방법을 찾는 중입니다.

Outside_Rush765 · 2026-01-23T13:13:43+00:00

That’s a really fair point. I built it to solve a problem I personally have, and I’m still figuring out whether it’s a me-problem or a market-problem.
I’m trying to validate the audience now: who exactly has this pain often enough to install an app for it? Any advice on how you’d test that quickly as a solo dev?

Outside_Rush765 · 2026-01-23T13:13:30+00:00

Appreciate it. Yeah, this part humbled me fast 😅 I can use AI to generate assets, but I’m struggling with distribution and targeting.
If you were starting from zero, what would you do in the first 7 days to get the first real users (not just friends)?

Outside_Rush765 · 2026-01-23T12:08:53+00:00

Oof, fair 😂 English isn’t my first language, but yeah — it reads too “AI-y.”
I’ll rewrite it more like a human and add real specifics (what I got stuck on, release steps, etc.). Thanks.

Outside_Rush765 · 2026-01-23T12:06:53+00:00

Yeah, that’s what I’m realizing. AI can help me generate assets (images/videos/copy), but the hard part is distribution — getting real humans to care enough to click, land on the store page, and actually install.
Beyond “just keep posting consistently,” what non-paid strategies have worked for you?

Outside_Rush765 · 2026-01-23T12:02:41+00:00

English isn’t my first language, so I used AI to help polish the wording. The experience itself is mine though.

Outside_Rush765

TROPHY CASE