Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#1

Post by johnmax » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 1:53 PM UTC

I want to create a productivity app, which runs in the background, and reminds me to work on my most important tasks, when it thinks that I am not. The goal is to create a Minimal Viable Product which I, and others, find useful. Which of the two platforms has more potential customers? In other words: What is the market share of Mac vs Windows 10 among people who happily try out new productivity apps? My coding skills: I am an experienced backend developer, but have not done a Mac or Windows 10 app yet. I like both OS.

1000 thanks for any thoughts or hints.

Re: Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#2

Post by softwaredoug » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 2:20 PM UTC

I would say whichever platform YOU use day to day. You won’t know if it’s useful unless you are constantly using and refining it.

Id also be careful conflating “I want to build a product” with “I want to build a tool for me”. Start with just a tool for you, decide later after it’s useful to a user population of 1 if it’s valuable to invest in finding a market for.

Re: Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#3

Post by bronak1 » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 2:21 PM UTC

you can do both with https://electronjs.org/

Re: Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#4

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 2:22 PM UTC

softwaredoug wrote: post #2

I would say whichever platform YOU use day to day. You won’t know if it’s useful unless you are constantly using and refining it. Id also be careful conflating “I want to build a product” with “I want to build a tool for me”. Start with just a tool for you, decide later after it’s useful to a user population of 1 if it’s valuable to invest in finding a market for.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#5

Post by robjan » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 2:22 PM UTC

The market is quite saturated but people in the Apple ecosystem tend to be more likely to pay for apps.

Re: Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#6

Post by deca6cda37d0 » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 2:22 PM UTC

bronak1 wrote: post #3

you can do both with https://electronjs.org/

and here comes the discussion about why electron is bad :P

Re: Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#7

Post by fredley » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 2:23 PM UTC

I wouldn't rely on anecdata from HN posters, who may or may not be representative of your potential market. Try and gather some data and see what it says, e.g. spend $5 on some facebook ads for your not-yet-existant product, and see the breakdown of OS's that hit your landing page.

Re: Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#8

Post by douglaswlance » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 2:25 PM UTC

Web first. It's cheaper, more people can use it, and you can find product-market fit more efficiently.

Re: Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#9

Post by leowoo91 » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 2:25 PM UTC

You have to study your decision depending on your audience/budget/vision/tools, there is really no specific answer to that. Also remember, even cross-platform development has its own disadvantages, and worst decision is at least a "mile" ahead, rather than spending too much time on best solution.

Re: Ask HN: Develop productivity app first for Mac or Windows 10?

#10

Post by enjikaka » Tue, Mar 19, 2019, 2:26 PM UTC

Make a PWA and you cover Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android in one go.