The hottest App Development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Is SwiftUI finally as fast as UIKit in iOS 26?

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 3717 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. iOS 26 brings big SwiftUI improvements focused on List updates and scroll performance that Apple emphasized at WWDC.
  2. A brutal stress test was built—a chaotic scrolling feed with high‑res GIFs, complex layouts, autoplaying animations, variable cell sizes, and multi-gesture interactions—to force 120fps and compare SwiftUI vs UIKit.
  3. Early real-world results show noticeable drops in scroll hitches on the iOS 26 SDK, suggesting SwiftUI may be nearing UIKit parity for demanding feeds, though some edge-case features still require falling back to UIKit.

The Substack Email Settings Edition

Why is this interesting? • 8385 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Check your email settings in Substack if you're not receiving newsletters. Sometimes the settings can change without you realizing it.
  2. Substack's 'smart notifications' can lead to confusion and missed emails. It can send app notifications but not the actual emails from writers.
  3. If you experience issues with Substack emails, switching the notification settings to 'Only in email' can help you start receiving them again.

Spilling the Tea

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2060 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. The Tea app is meant for women to share experiences about the men they date, but it has huge security flaws that can expose users' personal information.
  2. While the app promotes reputation among men, it might encourage false information sharing, making dating riskier for both men and women.
  3. As the app grows, it could lead to chaos if users attempt to game the system, reducing trust and making dating much more complicated.

Secret SwiftUI: A practical use of _VariadicView

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 2842 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. The \\_VariadicView feature in SwiftUI helps create custom components like flexible tab bars and lists. It's useful for developers wanting more control over their UI elements.
  2. Finding real-world examples for \\_VariadicView can be tough, but it can significantly help in building complex UIs like chat applications.
  3. A specific application of \\_VariadicView is creating a reusable 'ChatList' component that manages scroll inversion, making it easier to handle messaging apps.

Embeddings are a good starting point for the AI curious app developer

Bryant’s Newsletter • 572 HN points • 17 Apr 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Vector embeddings are essential for search and recommendations, measuring similarity in various languages and providing efficiency in AI app development.
  2. Pgvector, a Postgres extension, is a powerful tool for storing and querying embeddings and combining standard SQL logic with embedding operations.
  3. Working with embeddings feels like regular code compared to more complex language models, offering a simpler and more deterministic approach to AI development.
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Why the new GOV.UK app is a big deal

Odds and Ends of History • 1206 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. The new GOV.UK app is important because it connects citizens directly to government services on their phones. Even though it's basic now, it shows a shift in how people interact with the government.
  2. The app is part of a bigger plan to improve how the government operates, aiming for a more modern and efficient digital service. This could make accessing government help a lot easier in the future.
  3. There’s a vision for a digital ID called the 'BritCard,' which would allow people to store important government credentials in one place. This could streamline many processes and improve overall customer experience.

What is a Crash?

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 3498 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. A crash happens when an app unexpectedly stops, but it can actually be a safety measure to prevent bigger problems. Think of it like a controlled explosion that protects your device.
  2. There are two main types of crashes: those caused by the Swift Runtime and those from the XNU Kernel. Each has its own reasons for triggering a crash to protect the system.
  3. Crashes don't just cause inconvenience; they are there to protect users from worse issues, like losing data or compromising security. They help keep everything safe even when things go wrong.

#91: Are you doing more or extra?

Many One Percents • 294 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
💼 Business App Development
  1. Focus on doing extra work that goes beyond your current tasks and requires new skills or research.
  2. Avoid getting stuck in doing more of the same work as it may not lead to significant breakthroughs.
  3. Adding value by going the extra mile, like training colleagues or improving team workflows, can have a big impact.

My Toddler Loves Planes, So I Built Her A Radar

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 1304 HN points • 27 Nov 23
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. The idea for the app came from the author's toddler's fascination with planes, leading to the creation of a radar app.
  2. The app was built to be engaging and fun for kids, with features like showing nearby flights and being oriented correctly.
  3. The author went through user testing with their toddler to ensure the app was enjoyable and successful before launching it on the App Store.

The Tech Buffet #21: Deploy A Production-Ready Streamlit App with Cloud Run and Cloud Build

The Tech Buffet • 99 implied HN points • 22 Mar 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Cloud Run lets you deploy containerized applications without worrying about server management. You only pay when your code is actively running, making it a cost-effective option.
  2. Using Pulumi as an Infrastructure as Code tool simplifies the process of setting up and managing cloud resources. It allows you to deploy applications by writing code instead of manually configuring settings.
  3. Automating your deployment with Cloud Build ensures your app updates easily whenever you make code changes. This saves time and effort compared to manually deploying each time.

Introducing post stats in the Substack app

Substack • 658 implied HN points • 26 Jun 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Substack now has a feature that shows writers detailed statistics about their posts. This helps creators see how well their posts are doing and where new subscribers are coming from.
  2. There is a new Discussion tab that makes it easier for writers to engage with comments and interactions on their posts. This way, they can manage conversations in one place without searching through notifications.
  3. The Substack app is driving a lot of new subscriptions. The app helps users discover content and connects writers to their audience more effectively.

The Social App where you only Post Once a Year

Messy Progress • 35 implied HN points • 15 Nov 25
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Slowpost is a social app that lets you post just once a year, focusing on simplicity. It helps people stay connected through annual personal newsletters instead of constant updates.
  2. Traditional social media can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing, but sending a yearly letter can strengthen bonds with friends and family in a more meaningful way.
  3. The app helps you manage who receives your annual letters, making it easier to reconnect with people you care about without feeling intrusive.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #130

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 168 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Researchers found a new drug called CT-179 that may help stop childhood brain tumors by keeping cancer stem cells dormant. This could lead to better treatments that stop the cancer from coming back.
  2. OpenAI introduced Deep Research, a new AI that can do detailed research and create expert-level reports quickly. It's designed to help with complicated subjects, making research easier for everyone.
  3. NanoCas is a tiny CRISPR system that can edit genes in muscle and heart tissues, not just the liver. This breakthrough could help treat muscle diseases and improve gene therapies.

In good company

Tabletops • 78 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Apple Stores often choose locations near other popular brands like Victoria's Secret, Lululemon, and Sephora.
  2. Most Apple Stores are located on the main level of the malls they are in.
  3. Apple Store distribution seems to loosely correlate with mall operators like Simon and Brookfield.

Hello App Developer

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. OpenAI introduced GPT Builder, making it easier for anyone to create applications using conversational AI. This means more people can turn their ideas into apps without needing a lot of technical skills.
  2. Sam Altman emphasized that natural language will play a big role in how we use computers in the future. This shift could change the way we interact with technology every day.
  3. The announcement includes a 'Startup Mentor' app that provides advice to founders and developers. This app uses real-life knowledge and lectures from Altman to help guide new projects.

Rethinking Descriptive Camera in the age of AI

Thoughts • 19 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. The concept of using AI to describe images has evolved over the years, from human-powered descriptions to ML-based automated descriptions.
  2. The Implai app takes image descriptions a step further by adding enhancements or filters, providing a new way to share 'text photos'.
  3. Users can create 'text photos' with descriptions and apply 'tilters' to enhance the appearance before sharing and engaging with others in the app.

The Tech Buffet #5: Build and Deploy a Voice Assistant with LangChain

The Tech Buffet • 19 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. You can build a voice assistant using LangChain by combining speech-to-text, a language model, and text-to-speech. It's a fun project that teaches you about machine learning.
  2. The tutorial breaks down the process into separate parts, making it easier to follow along step by step. You'll learn not just how to code, but also about app development and deployment.
  3. To deploy your assistant, you can use BentoML for serving your models and BentoCloud for cloud deployment. This setup allows for a smooth transition from local development to a live application.

DraftStocks

Exzakt Enough • 39 implied HN points • 05 Mar 23
💼 Business App Development
  1. DraftStocks is a weekly stock-picking game where you can compete with friends to win $25.
  2. The app was built to create a platform for picking stocks and experimenting with different tools and technologies.
  3. Future developments for the app include live pricing, custom contests, and more ways for users to build portfolios.

Building Phomo, Part 1: The Calendar

Yung’s Substack • 2 HN points • 09 Mar 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. The first step of creating the Phomo app was building a calendar view that displayed images from a selected album on specific dates.
  2. Using React Native Calendars library initially seemed like a good solution, but faced challenges with performance and limitations like maximum range and fixed month height.
  3. The process involved loading images, transforming the data, and creating components for the grid layout in the calendar, demonstrating the complexity and effort in app development.

Why You Should Join Lovable

Why You Should Join • 2 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Lovable aims to simplify software creation by allowing users to generate full applications just by describing what they want in plain language. This makes it easier for non-technical users to build software.
  2. Their platform provides built-in features for everything from planning to deployment, ensuring that apps are production-ready and visually appealing without extensive coding skills.
  3. Lovable stands out in a crowded market by focusing on user experience, automation, and collaboration, making it suitable for entrepreneurs and teams looking to create and launch products quickly.

How to (consistently) get 4.8* App Ratings [Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 1 HN point • 30 Mar 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Consistently achieve high app ratings like 4.8". It's not easy, but it's simple. Understand two key concepts: asking for reviews and identifying 'wow' moments.
  2. Requesting app reviews is crucial. Users rarely leave reviews on their own, so ask for feedback using StoreKit APIs in iOS and strategically place these requests at key points in your app's critical path.
  3. Focus on delivering 'wow' moments in your app, ask for reviews at that peak point. Balancing user satisfaction with review requests on the critical path is essential for maintaining a high app rating.

Pulling on Threads

Tippets by Taps • 12 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter shook up the social media landscape with Meta's introduction of Threads as a direct competitor.
  2. Threads, with its early traction and positive vibe, shows potential to challenge Twitter's dominance.
  3. Despite initial incomplete features, Threads seems to offer a clean and engaging user experience, posing a threat to Twitter in the social media space.

Product Management 2: Deepak Abbot, ex SVP at Paytm on Building an App for India & Growth Hacking [BONUS VIDEO CONTENT]

Turnaround • 19 implied HN points • 30 Dec 19
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. India's app market is fast-growing and competitive, but retention rates can be challenging with high uninstall percentages within the first day.
  2. Creating a successful app for the Indian market involves understanding user behaviors, focusing on product design to capture attention, and strategically planning the app's lifecycle stages.
  3. Deepak Abbot, former SVP at Paytm, shares valuable insights on benchmarking data, growth hacking, and app development specifically tailored for the Indian market in a bonus video presentation.

Building on quicksand

Generating Conversation • 3 HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Stay updated with AI news, but avoid diving too deep into becoming an expert. Focus on relevance to your product.
  2. Design applications for flexibility to adapt to evolving technology. Consider configurable components for easier updates.
  3. Identify what aspects of your project are core and non-negotiable, versus what can be changed. Be clear on priorities to navigate the pace of innovation.

Retrofitting is part of accessibility

Andrew's Substack • 2 HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. It's best to build products with accessibility from the beginning to save costs and get better results.
  2. Making an app accessible later can be challenging and lead to a backlog of accessibility bugs.
  3. In the real world, retrofitting for accessibility may be necessary, and it's valuable to focus on educating teams, ensuring new developments are accessible, and tackling a subset of accessibility issues at a time.

The Power of Gamification: Building an App for Writers

Transitions • 0 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. The app aims to help writers improve their skills through personalized, practical courses with tailored feedback.
  2. Inspired by Duolingo's gamified learning approach for language learning, the app plans to make writing practice engaging and enjoyable.
  3. Initial focus is on a web application, with future plans to develop Android and iOS versions.

How to convert a Website to an Android App

The journey of a solopreneur (by David Journeypreneur) • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. Converting a website to an Android app enhances user experience, expands reach, and boosts engagement and loyalty.
  2. Consider custom app development or no-code app builders like WebToApp.app for conversion.
  3. WebToApp.app offers a user-friendly interface, no coding knowledge requirement, quick conversion, design templates, and affordable pricing.

Yet Another Dot-A.I Bubble Elevator Pitch

Ulizzle On Software • 0 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology App Development
  1. The elevator pitch discusses a humorous concept of a dog meetup app with AI capabilities, blending humor and technology in a unique way.
  2. The project is envisioned as a microservice system using technologies like Phoenix/Elixir for scalability and React for the frontend, appealing to investors with nostalgia.
  3. Despite the humor, there's a mention of a missing AI feature, adding a playful element of requesting a million dollars to see it in action.