In the video, the creator discusses their experience of spending 1,560 hours developing a failed app called Boxio, which aimed to help users manage projects but ultimately suffered from confusion and low engagement. They share valuable lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of user-centric design, early feedback, and the challenges of developing desktop applications compared to web apps.
In the video, the creator shares their experience of spending 1,560 hours coding an app called Boxio, which ultimately failed despite the significant investment of time and effort. The app was designed to help users manage their projects by allowing them to create boxes that contained tabs for browser apps and files related to specific projects. However, the app turned out to be confusing and complicated, leading to a lack of user engagement. The creator emphasizes that, although the project did not succeed, they learned valuable lessons that could benefit other aspiring software developers and entrepreneurs.
The video begins with an overview of the app’s architecture, detailing the various components involved in its development. The app was built as a desktop application using Electron.js, which allowed for cross-platform compatibility, and included a Chrome extension to manage browser tabs. The creator explains the technical challenges faced during development, including the complexity of connecting different parts of the application and the importance of using TypeScript for better debugging. They also highlight the need for clear organization within the codebase to facilitate collaboration among team members.
As the creator delves deeper into the technical aspects, they showcase the structure of the codebase, which includes separate folders for the desktop application, server, and Chrome extension. They stress the importance of modularizing code and maintaining a logical organization to make it easier for multiple developers to work together. The creator reflects on the challenges of managing a large codebase and the necessity of adhering to best practices for code organization, especially when working in a team environment.
The creator shares several key lessons learned from the failed project. One of the most significant takeaways is that users care more about the functionality and usability of an app than the intricacies of the code behind it. They advise aspiring developers to launch their products early to gather user feedback and avoid spending excessive time on complex features that may not resonate with users. Additionally, they caution against creating desktop applications due to the technical difficulties involved and recommend focusing on web apps instead.
Finally, the creator emphasizes the importance of user-centric thinking throughout the development process. They encourage developers to concentrate on solving core problems effectively before adding additional features. The video concludes with the creator expressing their determination to learn from this experience and move forward with new projects, sharing their journey and insights with viewers in future updates.