January 2026 Summaries

Mike Cann shares his enthusiasm for using Replit and Convex to develop and publish mobile apps to the App Store, highlighting the ease and speed of the process. Replit has evolved with rapid improvements, including autonomous agents and self-contained hosting, which now allow developers to publish mobile apps directly. Cann demonstrates this by creating a habit-tracking app using Convex as the backend, appreciating the simplicity of setting up real-time data updates that eliminate the need for manual backend configuration. Despite a few minor technical hiccups, such as needing to restart the development process or manage Apple distribution certificates, the overall experience is positive. Replit's transparency in cost and its ability to sync data in real-time across web and mobile platforms are particularly praised. Cann suggests that a native integration of Convex within Replit could enhance the development experience further, eliminating the need to manually bypass the built-in Postgres database.

Hamza Saleem shares his experience of building a 70-module backend using Convex, which supports a web dashboard, mobile app, background sync service, and REST API under a single deployment. Initially starting with a simple Next.js app and about ten tables, the system evolved into a sophisticated multi-tenant CRM, Client Commander, handling complex requirements like permissions, real-time sync, and API access without the need for extensive new backend code. Convex's capabilities, such as self-updating permissions, shared APIs for web and mobile, and seamless search indexing without additional infrastructure, allowed for efficient and scalable development. The platform's ability to maintain workflows through deployments and provide a straightforward approach to incorporating search and other features helped in achieving a robust, unified backend. Saleem emphasizes that this success was not due to intricate custom solutions but rather the inherent design and features of the Convex framework that facilitated continuous building and scaling without hindrance.