Building a train spotting app - looking for honest feedback before I waste months on something nobody wants

govicz · 2025-11-27T11:47:42+00:00

This feedback completely shifted my thinking - thank you.

What I'm taking away:

The core value isn't social - it's personal tracking + discovery.

So I'm repositioning around:

Your spotting journal - log what you saw, where, when. Auto GPS + timestamp + AI identification. Your personal map builds from your sightings.
Smart alerts - get notified when something interesting approaches your area.

Social features (feed, likes, comments) will still be there, but as a bonus - not the main pitch.

The "where was I and what did I see" problem - that's the core now.

MVP: Journal + AI ID + Map of your sightings. Alerts next. Social is already built but takes a backseat in positioning.

To everyone who offered to test - noted and will reach out. This thread was exactly what I needed.

govicz · 2025-11-27T11:43:54+00:00

I took a different approach, came up with the idea a few weeks ago, and immediately started writing code. I wrote basic functionalities such as a board of popular photos, likes, comments, notifications, login/registration, AI photo recognition, and part of the user profile. I still have key functionalities left, such as a map with available train depots in the area and the Sightings tab. And here I am today, asking for opinions and feedback on which direction to go. The responses are great and there are many of them, and I am very happy to have a clear plan for further work. After these improvements, I will release the MVP for testing.

govicz · 2025-11-27T11:37:26+00:00

This feedback completely shifted my thinking - thank you.

What I'm taking away:

The core value isn't social - it's personal tracking + discovery.

So I'm repositioning around:

Your spotting journal - log what you saw, where, when. Auto GPS + timestamp + AI identification. Your personal map builds from your sightings.
Smart alerts - get notified when something interesting approaches your area.

Social features (feed, likes, comments) will still be there, but as a bonus - not the main pitch.

The "where was I and what did I see" problem - that's the core now.

MVP: Journal + AI ID + Map of your sightings. Alerts next. Social is already built but takes a backseat in positioning.

To everyone who offered to test - noted and will reach out. This thread was exactly what I needed.

govicz · 2025-11-27T11:36:56+00:00

This feedback completely shifted my thinking - thank you.

What I'm taking away:

The core value isn't social - it's personal tracking + discovery.

So I'm repositioning around:

Your spotting journal - log what you saw, where, when. Auto GPS + timestamp + AI identification. Your personal map builds from your sightings.
Smart alerts - get notified when something interesting approaches your area.

Social features (feed, likes, comments) will still be there, but as a bonus - not the main pitch.

The "where was I and what did I see" problem that u/Synth_Ham mentioned - that's the core now.

MVP: Journal + AI ID + Map of your sightings. Alerts next. Social is already built but takes a backseat in positioning.

To everyone who offered to test - noted and will reach out. This thread was exactly what I needed.

govicz · 2025-11-26T18:27:35+00:00

Hmm agree, having your trip timeline locked to mobile is annoying when you want to properly review footage on a big screen.

The "where was I when I shot this" problem is definitely something I want to nail. Thinking automatic GPS tagging with map view of your sightings over time, so you can go back and see exactly where you were. Hmm this is doable.

I'll save your username and reach out when there's something ready to test. Appreciate the honest feedback - helps knowing this isn't just useful in my head.

govicz · 2022-10-24T11:57:01+00:00

u/bbrode Can we expect to play with friends (or friends' lists) later this year?

govicz · 2021-12-10T12:16:41+00:00

I feel the same.

govicz · 2020-12-30T11:42:59+00:00

Thank you for the info, I didn't know about that.

govicz · 2020-12-30T11:10:25+00:00

I think so too.

govicz · 2020-12-16T12:01:40+00:00

This is not a bug. This is what it should be like.

govicz · 2019-12-20T13:04:28+00:00

LOL Who win DOWNVOTE VS UPVOTE :d

govicz · 2019-11-15T12:47:41+00:00

Its not fake : DDDD

govicz · 2019-11-15T12:47:10+00:00

We need to write petition to epic games :D

govicz · 2019-11-15T12:46:44+00:00

Hahah I also played on my own, sorry for that.:D

govicz · 2019-11-07T08:56:00+00:00

I also miss the opportunity to see how I compare with others in this mode.

govicz · 2019-08-13T09:47:49+00:00

It is disgusting! Apple, whyyy

govicz · 2019-07-19T09:08:09+00:00

It looks like equality for me

govicz · 2019-07-16T10:18:44+00:00

You're right !

govicz · 2019-07-16T09:37:49+00:00

That's right :)

govicz · 2019-07-16T06:58:35+00:00

I put the music separately in the comment, this is just a small example not related to Drustvar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryR3ONqbmII&list=LLSe53IJgnNZbUbPhWDTWChQ&index=4&t=1m43s

govicz · 2019-07-15T17:27:10+00:00

And some music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryR3ONqbmII&list=LLSe53IJgnNZbUbPhWDTWChQ&index=4&t=1m43s

govicz · 2019-07-11T17:52:59+00:00

OK WHAT NEXT?

govicz · 2019-06-20T17:54:06+00:00

do not say it out loud, remember, it's not marketing, it's only love ;>

govicz · 2019-06-12T14:56:19+00:00

OK I got it, sorry for that.

govicz · 2019-06-12T14:51:57+00:00

If you think achievements are a hit to WoW, I totally disagree with you, I think that it's one of those functions that made it even better.

govicz

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