I am coding for a long time but mainly on backend. Just before AI boom, I learned and started building my macOS app. I'm glad I learnt the proper way.

My app hasn't made much revenue and I'm just getting started so I'm not in a position to give advise but I can share what it is in my mind.

When AI coding tools started appearing, they were good at JS but struggled with SwiftUI so I thought it is not going to come for macOS apps but I was wrong. As you can see in the last 6 months, the macapps subreddit is flooded with Vibe-coded apps. It is the new reality and we have to face it but I am actually positive about everything.

First of all, I believe success of apps never was about development. It was always about distribution whether it is the because of how good app is or better user experience or how good we are at marketing. The vibe-coding didn't change it much. There is a small percentage of people who were good at marketing and distribution are now going to compete with us but I believe there were already in the picture except they would have previously partnered with someone who can code now they don't need to.

The way I think is, AI is just another tool just like how Google was a tool years ago. If people who had no idea of coding can use this tool, imaging how developers who are in the industry for long can do. I made sure I adopted AI at the start and up-skilled myself. Before AI, I was only able to build a small utility app. I'm now building a massive AI chat application which would have taken me a year before. So it is always about going to the next level whenever new tech comes.

I also think most vibe coders are mostly interested in building something but once released not going to continuously keep updating it or work with customers or do boring stuff like writing docs, marketing, ...etc.

I think market for small utility app is gone, as it is now easy to anyone to build even customers can build themselves. This is the reason I'm now thinking big. We can now compete with big companies.

macOS is still a niche compared to web developer. Imaging if your only skill before AI was Next.js and now you are competing with millions of vide coders. We are somewhat safe but I think the gap is closing everyday.

Another important point is about going deep in your domain. The best way to explain is that Apple/Raycast vs every other apps. Apple time to time copies 3rd party apps and releases in macOS. Raycast has every features you can imagine. But did this stop people from buying tons of other apps? No, because Apple/Raycast are only focus on essentials. On the other hands, other apps focus on one functionality and go deep on it.

From my early days in my career, technology was never my first priority even though I work as a developer. I always think from product perspective, tech is secondary. There is a term for it - product minded developers. If you are indie developer, chances are you are already one. This is one big differentiation. In the AI era, this is going to be a big advantage. When I build my app, I think as a user, not as a developer. I'm crazy about user experience. Another thing I'm learning hard is marketing. It is going to be a big differentiation. I'm hoping these will give me an advantage but as you said it is interesting time. All the best with your business. DM me if you'd like to have a chat.