I get so embarrassed when I see a "Show HN: My Weekend iOS App" because of how long it took me to build this simple word game, but it really is pretty full-featured app, and it has a multiplayer mode with a back-end tournament server, so it really was a lot of work. Still, I can't claim it only took me a weekend, it took me full-time six months to build! Anyhow, it's all done for now, I'd love your feedback. Here's a direct link to iTunes as well.

http://itunes.com/apps/quotiac

Never, ever be embarrassed with how long a work of creativity takes you. Most of these weekend projects you see on HN are simply minor derivatives of existing ideas or twists on web API usage. The implementors usually work with the involved technologies on a daily basis and have built up a decent body of knowledge before attempting a "weekend" project.

The old adage of the artist/locksmith/doctor/plumber/whatever that can create a new work or fix your problem in 15 minutes stands up. It didn't take them "just 15 minutes". It took them N years and 15 minutes.

Edit:

Let me add that you made a product. You didn't just throw a project out there for other hackers to gawk at. You made something to sell. Something that requires the polish and preparation that creating a consumer product demands. This is more work than can reasonably be done in a weekend, a week, or even a month.

Bravo.

There's always someone more capable or skilled than all of us. It's good to appreciate that, but know your own abilities and be confident in them. Your customers will have no idea whether an app took you a day to build or two years. They'll know if it works and if they like it. That's all that matters, IMHO.

Also, I admire humility, so thanks for posting this question.

I get so embarrassed when I see a "Show HN: My Weekend iOS App" because of how long it took me to build this simple word game, but it really is pretty full-featured app, and it has a multiplayer mode with a back-end tournament server, so it really was a lot of work. Still, I can't claim it only took me a weekend, it took me full-time six months to build! Anyhow, it's all done for now, I'd love your feedback.

My startups first iOS game, Quotiac, was making ~$7/day within two days of making it on to the App Store. It took me about three months of full time development (programming + asset creation) to get there. My monthly expenses at the time were nil, so every penny earned was considered profit.

http://itunes.com/apps/quotiac

It's only profit if your time spent on it was worthless.

Time spent building anything is worthless until that thing is profitable.

How did they close it? This is how all my iOS apps generate revenue. They're all free with In-App Purchases. It works great.

Also, why would anyone consider this a "loophole"?

Apple are taking their 30% cut, right? I'm not sure how Amazon's terms interact with in-app purchases, but presumably they've thought of this.

If the NYT sells an app with bundled one-year subscription, Apple gets 30%; if the NYT sells (well, sold) an app and a separate one-year subscription, Apple gets nothing. If the original app is sufficiently useless, this "in-app purchase" is clearly just a way of not paying Apple.

(Apple is not free of blame in that particular fiasco, and they take quite a large cut. But taking an equal cut in either case is not necessarily unreasonable.)

Either you misunderstood IDGA's letter or you misunderstood gacba's comment, or both. None of this has anything to do with the 30% cut they take, so I'm not sure why you're mentioning that.

The complaint is in regards to Amazon controlling the cost of the app rather than the developer controlling the cost of the app. That's all. Gacba was simply saying that if you don't want Amazon controlling the cost of your app, then make it free and sell in-app purchases. Since Amazon doesn't control how much you sell your in-app purchases for, they lose total control over the cost of your app and the developer gains the control back.

It's weird to me that every other commenter on this thread mentions some point about Paul Ceglia's fraud record, as if Zuckerberg is some angel with a clean background. IMHO, Ceglia's fraud record is a completely separate incident and shouldn't be mentioned at all, but if you are going to use it to defend your stance, you should also mention Zuckerberg and his world-famous history of lying, stealing, and screwing people out of what they were contractually promised.

When a tech bubble pops, how does it affect a funded startup compared to a bootstrapped startup? I'm relatively new to the startup world, but as I understand it, startups that need funding are generally the only one's negatively affected when the bubble pops since funding becomes more scarce. If so, wouldn't that benefit the bootstrappers?

You mean you've actually managed to escape working in retail at some point in your life? How did you pull that off?

eh, it's not that hard. For some of us, it's actually easier. I've never had a difficult time finding technical positions, but retail jobs? As a young person, I tried and was rejected. Front-line tech support is appropriate in the same career stage as a retail job. The minimum skills required are not that different[1], however, as far as I can tell, if you are willing to learn, tech support offers a better upward path than retail, so it does make long-term sense to choose level 1 tech support over retail.

[1] The minimum level for both jobs, as far as I can tell, consists primarily of explaining simple things and dealing with angry people. If you want to climb the ladder in tech support, obviously, you need to go somewhat beyond that, but you won't get fired if you can do those two things.

You were trying to make a clever point about the realities of the workplace and I think it's valid. No matter what you are doing with your life your job is to sell yourself... And I get that... and I think most people here get that. But it's not especially relevant to the topic at hand and just makes you seem like a smartass.

I write software for a living. My job definitely hinges on selling myself... But it's fair to say it's nothing like a traditional retail workplace...

Thanks, kfullert! Question, when you played through the tutorial, were you able to go straight through or did you find yourself clicking the "back" button at all?

This is a public pledge on his part that he'll give away the majority of his wealth over time, not right this moment. At the moment, I'm not sure the guy owns much of anything besides Facebook stock. Last I read, he rents a little house and drives a paid-off Nissan coupe.

Simple living high thinking. I bet many people in his position would have already mortgaged a mansion and ultra-luxury car.

I agree. In fact, I know many broke people who have already mortgaged a mansion and ultra-luxury car.

Someone once said, "No man is rich enough to buy back his past." If you ask me, this just might do it for Zuck. Congrats Man! I hope you find yourself surprised by how many other young entrepreneurs follow suit. But seriously, do yourself a favor, quit renting your little college house and buy yourself a little home while interest rates are still low.