u/Correct-Tomorrow5573

I wanted to share the journey from the perspective of someone who is not an expert programmer. I’m not a software engineer. I didn’t start this with deep coding knowledge. I’m just someone who stays up to date with technology and wanted to see how far I could get with AI.
The app started as a very rough concept. The first versions were basic, messy, and honestly completely different from where it is now. I slowly worked through the design, layout, database structure, bugs, crashes, app store setup, testing, and all the small things I didn’t even know I needed to learn.

One big delay I didn’t expect was with Apple. I wanted to release the app under my LLC, Iron Faith, instead of my personal name. I didn’t realize the Apple business migration process could take around a month and a half to almost two months. During that time, I was limited on what I could do with new iPhone builds, so I mostly had to wait and keep working where I could.

While waiting, I had one Android tester, my friend, using the app. Even with only one tester, I got helpful feedback on what was breaking, what felt off, and what needed fixing. I also started using Sentry logs to catch issues I would not have noticed on my own.
Once the Apple migration was approved, I got back to fixing bugs, cleaning things up, and optimizing the app with AI helping me through the process.
Now I’m at the point where I’m ready for more real users, more feedback, and better metrics. I want to see what works, what breaks, what feels slow, what needs better security, and what actually matters to people using it.

I don’t know if this app will ever make money. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. But honestly, I’m just happy we live in a time where tools like this exist. Someone like me, with no real programming background, can actually build something real if they are willing to keep learning and pushing through the confusing parts.😅 still am lost but here we are.

My biggest takeaway is that AI can help a lot, but it doesn’t remove the work, versus how the internet paints it to be one prompt and done 😭🤧

The deeper you get, the more you realize there is to learn. Security, databases, design, deployment, testing, user feedback, app store rules — it all starts stacking up.
But progress does happen if you keep going.

I’m attaching screenshots from the early concept, the rough first versions, and where the app is now. Hopefully this encourages someone else starting from zero to keep building and not feel rushed.