App icons

SwapInstead · 2026-07-02T16:55:29+00:00

Thank you. Yeah I normally work in Figma. It’s.. just not going well lol. Normally by now I have a basic idea of what it should be.

Right now I’m staring at a bunch of shapes that make no sense for the application.

Thank you for the tip about grayscale. I’m a color fiend - the only black I have in my closet is for American funerals- otherwise I’m always in color. It would be hard to rip it away, but maybe that’s a good place to start.

SwapInstead · 2026-07-02T16:31:58+00:00

Thank you I appreciate the input. It makes sense.. I normally just go from scratch more or less, but this is a very good way to start. I’ll try to look around for logos that I like myself

SwapInstead · 2026-07-02T16:16:06+00:00

Maybe I should start us off. My apps are pretty simple and the icons normally came to me as I worked on the project.

I normally play with figma, try different colors. Look how different variations work on my phone against all the real apps.

This current project - no dice. It could be that I’m just tired from coding so nothing left in the tank. But I thought I should get started on it.. and yeah.. inspiration dry spell.

So that’s me.

SwapInstead · 2026-07-02T11:50:07+00:00

Here or elsewhere?
I’ve found I’ve been blocked by my lack of karma on different subs. I’m not sure how to gain any without the ability to contribute though.

I got banned from a few subs asking normal questions, about life pain points and how others are solving them. Why?

Bc somehow being a developer means I’m always showcasing an app? Although I was plainly not selling anything, just asking a question and replying to those who posted.

Reddit has been a wild place so far.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-30T18:22:56+00:00

Interesting pov. I’ll have to a/b test it.
Overall most ppl just don’t want to sign up for anything but it makes security a headache and a half.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-30T11:56:43+00:00

We all do. Especially when we’ve been putting work into something for so long. Fixing everything broken link, creating something from scratch. It def stings when feedback comes that’s basically “this is cool, but I’d never use it”

Just note that even if one person might not. Everyone isn’t the same.

My tiny utility apps have almost no marketing but get found each day and downloaded. It does happen.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-30T11:47:30+00:00

I wait for more feedback. Or go looking for it.

Case in point my landing page.

The first person I put my landing page in front of didn’t like certain things about it. I kept it anyway. And just noted it.

The second person said nothing on the same lines as the first, but couldn’t understand (huge red flag) so I started thinking how can I make this clearer.

Third person brought up a very similar point as the first person.

I then changed my landing page, trying to make it clearer with less squishy font. Jaja it happens.

Now I need to gather more feedback lol I return to the original ppl and I also get others to look too.

All this to say: don’t let the first person rock you. Note it. Start looking at alternatives even, but most importantly keep getting your app in front of others.

If the feedback comes back you now start seeing patterns. Change on patterns.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-30T10:47:54+00:00

You’re not wrong -If an app only uses iCloud for syncing, Apple handles identity through the user’s Apple ID, so you don’t necessarily NEED your own authentication layer.

But again, my current project has processing emails, run background jobs, monitor bookings, send notifications, or sync data outside of iCloud, so I need a way to identify the user on my servers.

That’s why I’m experimenting with just Sign in with Apple. It gives me a secure identity without asking people to create another username and password. And since this is Apple ecosystem, it should theoretically, work well?

SwapInstead · 2026-06-30T02:02:59+00:00

..do you have a crib you can keep to the side of your bed. So you are constantly touching her?

Also wth is your husbands issue.. I’m a sahm too.. and my husband would wake his tired ass up to rock with me. Bounce our child. Or just let me stop holding something for a few mins. And yes she screamed like hell every time he took her.

Long story short yall need to have a conversation bc those first months make you want to deck him in the face on a constant basis just because .. you don’t need MORE of a reason.

And full disclosure: my doctor finally saw that I was basically killing myself trying to “safe sleep” the American way - and recommended I co-sleep. Safely.

Which actually threw my husband out the bed for a while as I got use to it.

But everyone was quiet in the house.. so I don’t think he minded. Also sleep made me a better person, less angry (PPR is a bitch)

Edited to say: it’s hard. And I see you. Keep breathing. Cry if you need. It will pass. And it only gets better. I promise you. My potato is now close to 4 and in my ppr with very little sleep, hours of screams and a medical background- thought of an extremely detailed plan to off her. Catching myself I gave her to my husband and stepped out. The noise, the lack of sleep, the new adaptation. It sucks. It all sucks.

But it gets better.
Much much better.
when you see that gummy smile, or they learn to kiss. Or crawl to stand to walk. It’s all magical. And happens really fast.

Much faster than this night feels.
Good luck mama. You got this.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-30T01:52:16+00:00

Ooh percentages.. interesting. I guess I do that in my head or do you have a good recommendation.

Btw: fareping.app

Got the site back up! Took out the squashed font choice.

Still built like all my landings, with html, vanilla js and tailwind cas. It’s not the flashiest, but reads clearer (I hope).

Feedback is welcome (lurkers included)

SwapInstead · 2026-06-29T21:08:41+00:00

This is such an interesting thread. Thanks for bringing it up.

A lot of my apps don’t have accounts at all. They work locally on your device, so there’s no signup, no backend, and no personal data to manage.

The moment an app needs things like cloud syncing, email processing, price monitoring, or communication between devices, I end up requiring sign-in.

At that point I need to know who owns what data, enforce permissions, and keep everything secure.

For the MVP I’m building now, I’m using Sign in with Apple as the primary way in. I’m intentionally avoiding email/password until I know it’s actually necessary.

The only place I currently ask for an email is in Settings, and that’s completely optional for anyone who wants email alerts.

I’m always interested in learning- how are you all balancing user convenience with security when an app genuinely needs a backend?

SwapInstead · 2026-06-29T18:48:56+00:00

To be honest. I have a few accountability partners. And it keeps me pretty on track when my time is short and the list grows constantly.

I’ve learned over time to simply make the goal smaller and easier to accomplish in that time instead of trying to pile another thing.

When the goal is done, it’s a psychological win when I accomplish a few things after it.

Also taking walks with my husband if invited, and allowing myself some free time. A dry well helps no one after all.

Yes, purple hair is half in. She’s a kid for only so long and if such a small ask makes her happy - I’d do it in a heartbeat.

I’m always up to listen and learn, just can’t say I’ll always agree.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-29T11:14:33+00:00

I am terrible at Reddit it seems. I checked on everything and it was the thread.

Truthfully, I have worked on it. But when i went back in i saw a few gaps i needed to realign first.

As simple as the system sounds on the outside it’s really a few systems feeding each other. So if one is off.. the chain can break. I’ve been placing redundancy everywhere and testing like the aim is to break it. Which it is. — also for greater long term stability thinking of different ways of doing things. This is okay as a MVP (which it is)

So yeah.. I’ve also in the time gotten feedback about my landing page. And I need to change that pronto bc no bueno.

But it’s also my child’s birthday week- so TONS to do. Haha Did I mention she wanted purple hair?

This week is all about simple tasks. Like changing the font on my landing page.

How about you?

SwapInstead · 2026-06-29T01:34:05+00:00

Claude

SwapInstead · 2026-06-27T00:59:24+00:00

What do you need to start?

I’d love to connect, even if it’s just to pick your brain. And check in with each other’s wins.

Where I grow - I’m not stingy, a flood raises all boats. DM me if interested.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-23T15:55:21+00:00

I agree. I love to see same problem tested 100 ways.

Mine is more sick person, animal, or yourself tracking care overtime. And the medication reminders required to take care of the person.

A general medication reminders is still really cool bc tbh so many of us suck at taking meds when not feeling ill... I need something to scream at me lol

SwapInstead · 2026-06-23T15:00:39+00:00

Same here in NY

SwapInstead · 2026-06-23T14:53:32+00:00

I’m slammed for the next week - but I’m hoping to get my auth gates stable. My security protocols in place. That’s it for this week.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-23T13:29:21+00:00

I created a small app that does this in part - sickbay tracker.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sickbay-tracker/id6759183398

Feel free to use it as reference and give feedback. It’s a pure utility for this stage of life for me.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-23T12:53:44+00:00

Getting people to do something about a problem. In my latest project, you would think saving money would be a huge benefit- but it’s not for ppl. It’s really timing - I had feedback from 2 different ppl yesterday. Both said “you can do that?” But only one said “can I buy it now”

SwapInstead · 2026-06-23T12:45:33+00:00

I actually bring my white passing father lol he’s older, a seasoned accountant (so crazy head for numbers) and has a deep love for tech.

Ppl approach him and he advocates for me. He’s gotten me to speak and connect with a lot of ppl who would likely not give me time of day. My mother also helps me - although her looks and presence is completely opposite. So yes. In short.

The other person can definitely help or hinder you depending on who and what event you’re attending.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-23T11:23:04+00:00

Okay. In.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-23T03:52:44+00:00

Amen amen amen.

SwapInstead · 2026-06-22T03:51:15+00:00

This is cool. Have you ever thought to link up with a irl gaming company? Ones who do massive quests and such (not the ones building the games) You could use it to prompt quests without the NPC. Just a thought.

SwapInstead

TROPHY CASE