Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#51

Post by tchock23 » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 1:06 AM UTC

guynamedloren wrote: post #2

HN - I’d love to hear your feedback and thoughts on this app. Would you use it? What do you think of the user interface? What could be improved? How does it compare to similar apps? I’m ready for your (hopefully constructive) criticisms! For the record – all of the design, programming, and imagining was done by me =] == Experience & Motivation Pocket was developed to scratch a personal itch - a very itchy itch. I am…

It's amazing how much your story almost exactly mirrors mine. I was always fairly technical, but had no idea how to code and really wanted to learn. I read various tutorials dating back to the early days of Rails. Nothing really caught on until I finally had such an urge to create my own app that I locked myself away for a few weekends in a row and just figured it out. Your "1 month ago" sounds like where I am right now. It's incredibly satisfying to build something from scratch that you've always wanted.

Best of luck with the app... I love the design and simplicity once you log in. My only comments are that the logo needs to be more noticeable (as others have indicated). Also, I didn't totally get the "tag notes like this bookmark" in the main nav upon just glancing at it, but once I clicked on one I got it (which might be by design).

Congrats!

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#52

Post by tchock23 » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 1:09 AM UTC

aarongough wrote: post #29

bherms wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with LRM about the logo... little too dark. Didn't even realize it was there. For your issues: 1) Try using Authlogic ( https://github.com/binarylogic/authlogic ) to handle users/passwords... It's a great solution and is super easy to implement. Once you have Authlogic, use this ( http://www.binarylogic.com/2008/11/16/tutorial-reset-passwor... ) to figure out password resets. 2) Dunno about this... Twilio + s…

I would recommend Devise over Authlogic as it doesn't pollute your application with as much generated code...

I agree with the Devise recommendation, although I feel like Authlogic gives you more control. I get really frustrated with the inability to customize Devise as much as I would like (though not frustrated enough to go back to Authlogic).

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#53

Post by vanni » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 2:29 AM UTC

Privacy policy? About info? People must trust you to sign up. Link to them in the footer.

Not signed up yet, but it looks professional! :)

(On Ubuntu with Chrome 10.0.634.0 the homepage rendering is OK)

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#54

Post by guynamedloren » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 3:10 AM UTC

jackolas wrote: post #50

Make an API and or import/export options?

I wouldn't even know where to begin with an API. I'm brand new to developing, so that could be a ways away.. unless it's pretty straightforward?

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#55

Post by jackolas » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 3:11 AM UTC

guynamedloren wrote: post #54

jackolas wrote: post #50

Make an API and or import/export options?

I wouldn't even know where to begin with an API. I'm brand new to developing, so that could be a ways away.. unless it's pretty straightforward?

Depends how you wrote the application and such I've never written an API but I've consumed enough of them to know that you should try and comply with OAuth as its implemented in libraries.

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#56

Post by guynamedloren » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 3:12 AM UTC

Eugene3v wrote: post #16

pacifika wrote: post #13

Passwordless signup or guest mode would be good - I want to try your app however I do not want to commit yet by creating a nother password. Perhaps link it to ip + username and once logged in have the option to enable any other ip using a password?

another way you can go about it is just store things locally on a client machine.. although you may need to explain that unless they sign up their notes will not be saved globally.

That's a great idea and would segway nicely into porting this as a google chrome app. Any tips for storing notes locally? Haven't looked into it just yet.

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#57

Post by guynamedloren » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 3:16 AM UTC

magicseth wrote: post #6

How about replacing that image of the sign up form on your first page with... The actual sign up form? It should be simple enough and also reduce friction.

Brillaint! I guess I can't think of everything. On my todo list now :)

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#58

Post by guynamedloren » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 3:21 AM UTC

espadagroup wrote: post #9

I've been looking for something like this for a long while. Kind of a Evernote-Lite. The closest thing I've found before is Shifd.com. Just a simple cross platform notepad. Yours comes close and I love the hashtags. The only thing stopping me from using it heavily is no desktop application for Mac/Windows. I use a Mac at work and Windows at home. I'd love to just have a simple notepad that can go there and receive te…

I appreciate the support!

Just looked at Shifd - I'm surprised I didn't come across that one in my search for the perfect tool. It's got a pretty nice interface and features.

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#59

Post by guynamedloren » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 3:25 AM UTC

dpcan wrote: post #15

zeteo wrote: post #8

As a marketing heads-up, the site name, letspocket.com , may raise negative connotations. See for instance definitions 21-23 here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pocket

What are you referring to? I don't see how the word pocket has any "negative" connotations. It's a little confusing in how it relates to note-taking, but that isn't really negative to me.

The concept is that Pocket (the app) is a could-based version of an actual pocket. Just like you would keep everything in your physical pocket, you can keep thoughts and ideas in your digital Pocket. I veered away from a name involving "note" because I didn't want to limit the app to only notes - eventually users will be able to save photos, videos, bookmarks, etc. I've got some grand ideas in mind =]

Re: Show HN: Pocket - my first app ever

#60

Post by guynamedloren » Tue, Jan 18, 2011, 3:27 AM UTC

vanni wrote: post #53

Privacy policy? About info? People must trust you to sign up. Link to them in the footer. Not signed up yet, but it looks professional! :) (On Ubuntu with Chrome 10.0.634.0 the homepage rendering is OK)

I've been so involved with the technology and design side of things that I totally skimped on that stuff. To be honest, I really didn't expect the app to be received as well as it has been, so I guess I should probably start filling in the gaps.