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Comment by PierreA | Hacker News Reader

Let me know if you have questions (I'm the lucky indie dev who wrote the post)

Aren't you afraid that by posting this you are going to attract a lot of unwelcome competition?

I bet they already have plenty of it.

actually I've done this report in 2011 and 2012, and at this time this was really a good question because there was not so much competion. Nowadays as maxerison unerlined, there is a lot of competition (and I'm happy to still have a good visibility). I was even wondering if it was interesting to publish my report this year (I mean not only for my ego) but several devs told me that it was inspirational and give them energy to read such posts...

PierreA, it was indeed inspirational. Partly because you're immensely talented. It's easy to make utilities with programming chops. But you made something so much more, you made an artistic, learning, _EXPERIENCE_. Kudos Pierre, your apps are super high quality and the colors are just blooming, very fun stuff, even for an adult like me to just mess around and watch the pretty colors fly around, or the ball physics. Cheers mate.

Thanks - it's just because I'm still a kid somehow, so I like it to be fun for kids like me ;-) For the UX, I worked in this field so I've got some experience/feeling/theoric knowledge in this field. Pedagogy knowledge comes from having homeschooled kids - you need to learn (and also you experience) how kids learn the best way.

I'm glad you chose to publish the report, as even skimming it (will read thoroughly later) I found it really useful. It is great to see some real-world figures about what app makers are able to earn.

Oh wow, now that I actually hit the article, I remember at least one of the previous articles! Congrats, glad to see this is still going strong!

If you'll only spend your time working on a product for some niche that no one has found, you'll end up with nothing. Competition is inevitable, so it's best to face it and never fear it.

Yes its a fundamental precept of any new business idea that existing competition validates the idea, it doesn't shoot it down.

Well I work in a niche with lots of competition, some of it strong, some not so strong. I'm not convinced that I'd want more of it though.

It wouldn't matter. He's got the ball rolling & momentum + brand recognition. It would take as long if not longer for a newbie to try & copy his methods. Even if they do, it doesn't mean you'll succeed or even persist through adversity.

Would you recommend a technical person to create the apps (design & coding) themselves or outsource it? You're giving up a little bit of control but you may be able to get more done faster Thoughts??

it really depends on your skills. Coding is one thing. Designing is another and graphics and third one. If you are weak in one, you should get help... I'm good in coding and designing but I'm not so good in graphics and for some graphical tasks I outsource, and always ask for feedback about the graphics I do. Of course I forget a very important one skill : marketing !

Very true. I'm decent at coding but not so good with designing & graphics (so I have no problem outsourcing that). I've also spent a LOT of time over the past few years building up my marketing skills. So I hope to divide & conquer. Thanks for the feedback!

Two of your apps mention Montessori by name, which makes me wonder how often you are criticized for using her name in vain?

My wife is a Montessori teacher and would flip her shit if a parent ever substituted the real montessori numbers/letters (usually sand paper letters) for an app. Montessori would've surely been incredibly against an app for children young enough to learn anything from sand paper letters.

It is a big discussion in the Montessori community. Some montessorian love my apps, some wants kids to play only with wood objects... Nobody knows what would think Maria Montessori but since she was an innovator, I think she would be open-minded and uses all the tools that can help kids to learn. If you check my last app about tracing letters, the sense of touch coming from the sand paper has been replaced with sound (another sense). Anyway, I say it again: the iPad is just another tool, it does not replace all the existing materials.

No questions - but a thank you, as I'm one of the people who has given you money.

Your apps, if nothing else, are an excellent way to distract our kid if we go out for dinner :)

What's the breakdown in iOS versions you have to support? I imagine educational buyers probably aren't picking up the latest and greatest hardware.

I support all ios device (but you need at least ios5.1).

I just want to give you a nod of appreciation. It takes a lot to put yourself out there like this consistently. Thanks.

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