vYablochko — iOS Development Experiments
Independent iOS development attempt to find a niche in the App Store. AR (augmented reality) experiments and a search for product‑market fit in a saturated ecosystem.
Table of Contents
Project Context
In 2018 I tried being an indie iOS developer under the brand “vYablochko” (a play on Apple and the Russian “bullseye”). The App Store was mature; ARKit hype made AR an attractive angle.
Idea and Strategy
Avoid games (high competition, need for design/art); focus on utility apps; explore AR for differentiation.
Reality in 2018: most obvious utilities existed, new niches required unique expertise or budget, and AR had more demos than real use cases.
AR Experiments
ARKit capabilities: plane detection, 3D placement, measuring, face tracking. Trials: AR measuring tools, furniture visualization, educational apps.
AR in 2018 was exciting tech with few real problems to solve. “AR for AR’s sake” wasn’t sticky.
Tech Stack
Swift + iOS SDK (MVC/MVVM), UIKit; Xcode and Interface Builder; ARKit + SceneKit, Core ML + Vision.
App Store Ecosystem
Apple Developer Program, review guidelines, assets for listings, and sometimes unpredictable review cycles.
Challenges
- PMF: saturated market, incumbents in utilities, free alternatives
- AR without clear value: demos didn’t convert to daily use
- Discovery: paid acquisition needed; organic alone wasn’t enough
Takeaways
- Distribution matters as much as code.
- AR shines when it solves a tangible problem; otherwise novelty fades fast.
- Indie success requires a unique wedge or strong marketing — ideally both.