behind the scenes

Screenshot showing Yoink and its update-timestamp on the Mac App Store

7 months. I look in disbelief at the Mac App Store’s timestamp of Yoink’s last update, and I’m deeply embarrassed.
As a user, I’d think the app is abandoned. As its developer, I know that’s not true, because soon after I’d released v3.5.8 of Yoink for Mac, I began working on the next one:

Yoink for Mac's GIT commit messages, showing the date of the v3.5.8 commit and the date of when work on the next update began (3 days later)

The user, however, doesn’t know.

The situation isn’t any better for Yoink for iPad and iPhone, either, where the App Store states 5 months since the last update (v2.1.6).
Here, too, I began working on its subsequent update the day after submitting it to the App Store:

Screenshot of GIT commit messages of Yoink for iPad and iPhone, showing the date of v2.1.6, and when work on the next update began, a day later

I cringe even mentioning ScreenFloat (10 months), flickery (11 months), Glimpses (11 months), or Transloader (5! years!).

The problem, I think, is that I do not plan ahead much. I give my attention to the app that – in my view – currently needs it most (which has been mostly Yoink for Mac, and Yoink for iPad and iPhone lately), and whenever I feel the update is done (an arbitrary line I draw spontaneously most of the time), I release it and move on to the next app (or the same one again, if need be).

I want – and need – to do much better here.

So here’s how I’d like to improve:

  • Release what’s ready once a month
    If there have been changes made to apps and those changes are ready for prime-time, release the updates
  • Unless absolutely necessary, after an update, move on to the next app, not keep working on the one I just released an update for
    Aside from the positive effect of giving other apps the attention they need and deserve, it also reduces the possibility of me getting burnt-out working on the same app all the time
  • Be more vocal about what’s going on
    I should be more transparent about what I’ve been and am working on – it’s fun to share!

Here’s hoping. Thank you all for bearing with me 🙂

– Matthias
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