Why you should build another to-do list app (with a little help from Claude)

Austin Blake defied conventional advice within the indie developer community by focusing on creating "Stuff," a task management app, despite the saturated market of to-do list applications. He utilized a modern AI-driven workflow, employing a system of AI agents to plan, critique, and code, which expedited the app's development for macOS. Blake faced challenges in adapting the app from iOS to macOS, including accommodating different user expectations and interface designs, such as selection states and undo functions. He experimented with the app's free trial period, reducing it from a month to seven days, which resulted in increased conversions by keeping the app fresh in users' minds. Additionally, Blake encountered unexpected delays during the App Store review process for the Mac version, leading him to advise future developers to allow extra time for approval. His journey included transitioning from a film major to a role at Apple and later joining RevenueCat as a Developer Advocate, with "Stuff" receiving recognition for its innovative use of on-device AI models.