How I Code Profitable Apps SOLO (beginner / step by step / best tools)

SUMMARY

Andrew Codesmith, a freelance software engineer, shares his solo journey building the Polymath app in Bali, covering ideation, feature planning, tech stack choices like React Native and Supabase, and beginner tools from scratch.

STATEMENTS

Building a profitable app solo starts with identifying personal problems or improving existing successful apps rather than seeking genius ideas.
After a year of ideation, Andrew settled on the Polymath app to help users pursue multiple hobbies and learn new skills instead of doom scrolling.
In Bali, Andrew's daily routine involves gym sessions, client work, content creation, and app building in co-working cafes, making the process intense yet motivating.
He chose React Native with Expo for the frontend due to familiarity and quick setup, demonstrating a basic app launch using just a phone and computer.
For the backend, Supabase was selected for its simplicity with non-complex data, built-in authentication, and PostgreSQL database that Andrew knows well.
Styling uses styled components over Native Wind, emphasizing JavaScript's vast library ecosystem for features like Google Maps integration.
AI coding tools like Cursor and Claude Code accelerate development but require careful planning to avoid wasteful code generation.
The app focuses on three to four screens for core functionality: organizing passions, deeper learning roadmaps, and quick subject introductions.
Naming the app "Polymath" came after extensive brainstorming, inspired by Andrew's own diverse hobbies shared on social media.
A waitlist site was built using Framer and Formspark to gauge interest, despite over-investing time in design details like the logo.

IDEAS

Overthinking app ideas leads to paralysis; starting with any concept builds momentum and skills, even if the initial idea fails.
Peter Levels' approach of noting daily annoyances for one to two weeks uncovers practical app ideas without needing revolutionary innovation.
Existing revenue-generating apps on platforms like Starter Story inspire twists, proving imitation with personalization can lead to profitability.
Bali's inspiring environment, filled with digital nomads and crypto enthusiasts, boosts motivation for solo app development amid scenic distractions.
Using Expo's QR code scan on a phone instantly launches a customizable mobile app, democratizing development for beginners without complex setups.
Supabase's built-in auth features like login and password reset save time for solo developers handling simple data structures.
JavaScript's ecosystem offers endless libraries, making feature additions like maps straightforward compared to learning new languages.
AI tools in "plan mode" create detailed to-do lists through conversation, preventing rapid, costly deviations in code generation.
Building a reusable vanilla boilerplate with auth takes initial effort but pays off for future projects, avoiding unreliable paid templates.
The Polymath concept shifts phone usage from passive scrolling to active learning across hobbies like chess, astronomy, and self-improvement.
Documenting the first npm install marks a milestone, capturing the excitement of turning abstract ideas into tangible code.
Note-taking apps like Notability serve as a "second brain" for organizing features, APIs, and viral content ideas in dedicated folders.

INSIGHTS

Solo app development thrives on leveraging familiar technologies and environments, turning personal passions into structured learning tools that combat digital distractions.
Ideation from everyday frustrations, rather than perfection, fosters rapid prototyping and skill-building, essential for indie hackers in competitive tech landscapes.
AI-assisted coding accelerates solo workflows but demands disciplined planning to harness efficiency without generating wasteful, directionless outputs.
A balanced routine integrating work, exercise, and creative breaks in inspiring locales like Bali sustains motivation during intense building phases.
Reusable foundational elements, like custom boilerplates, empower repeated experimentation, reducing dependency on external resources and enhancing long-term productivity.
Marketing polymathic pursuits through personal content builds authentic audience connections, easing app promotion by aligning with one's lived expertise.

QUOTES

"Spend one to two weeks in your day-to-day life just writing down whatever problems you face."
"You're in Bali when you're watching the ocean and your view is blocked by four screens and one of them's a crypto dashboard."
"Coding with AI is like a train. It can take you in the wrong direction really quickly."
"A polymath is a person with deep extensive knowledge and expertise across many different fields."
"This would have taken me months years ago. But it's also destabilizing, I'd say, just seeing this AI generate all this code, which took me years to learn."

HABITS

Wake up early, hit the gym for physical energy, then tackle client work and content creation before dedicating focused time to app building.
Work in free co-working cafes after buying food, immersing in a vibrant community to maintain motivation during intense solo sessions.
Use 20-minute gaps in the day to code with AI tools, ensuring consistent progress even amid a busy freelance schedule.
Document milestones like the first npm install to capture excitement and track the journey from idea to prototype.
Jot down ideas, features, and annoyances in a dedicated note-taking app with folders and templates for organized brainstorming.

FACTS

Peter Levels, known as the top indie hacker, advocates solving personal problems as the foundation for successful app ideas.
React Native with Expo allows instant app testing via QR code scanning on a phone, bypassing traditional emulators.
Supabase uses PostgreSQL databases and includes out-of-the-box user authentication features like password reset.
Bali attracts digital nomads, creating an environment where ocean views are often obscured by multiple laptop screens, including crypto dashboards.
JavaScript powers both web and mobile development, with vast libraries enabling quick integrations like Google Maps in apps.

REFERENCES

Book by Peter Levels on indie hacking and problem-solving for app ideas.
YouTube channel Starter Story for revenue insights on successful apps.
Tools: Expo.dev for React Native setup, Supabase for backend, Cursor and Claude Code for AI coding, Notability for note-taking, Canva for branding, Manis for AI research, Reddit for community questions, Framer and Formspark for waitlist site.
Courses: Zero to Mastery for web development and data structures & algorithms.

HOW TO APPLY

Spend one to two weeks noting daily annoyances or problems in life or work, then brainstorm simple tools or twists on existing apps to address them.
Research revenue data from channels like Starter Story to identify popular apps, then add your unique spin to improve upon them.
Set up a development environment by installing Expo via their docs command in your code editor, answer setup prompts, and scan the QR code with Expo Go on your phone to launch a basic app.
Choose familiar tech stacks like React Native for frontend and Supabase for backend, integrating auth features early to handle user logins without complexity.
Use AI tools in plan mode to collaboratively outline features and create a to-do list, then build a simple boilerplate with authentication for reuse in future projects.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Solo app building succeeds through problem-solving ideation, familiar tools, and disciplined AI use to create learning-focused products like Polymath.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Start with imperfect ideas to build momentum and skills, treating failures as learning opportunities for future ventures.
Integrate daily routines with exercise and community spaces to sustain motivation in demanding solo development.
Prioritize planning with AI before coding to avoid costly errors and ensure features align with core user needs.
Leverage JavaScript ecosystems for rapid feature additions, focusing on functionality over polished UX initially.
Create a waitlist early using simple tools like Framer to validate interest and refine the app concept based on feedback.

MEMO

In the humid buzz of Bangkok's airport, Andrew Codesmith embarks on a flight to Bali, notebook in hand, ready to transform a year of simmering ideas into a tangible app. As a freelance software engineer and digital nomad, Codesmith has spent six years coding apps, but this project feels personal: the Polymath app, designed for those craving diverse pursuits over endless scrolling. "I love this idea of being a polymath," he says, envisioning a tool that organizes hobbies from chess to astronomy, replacing doom-scrolling with deliberate self-improvement. Drawing from indie hacker Peter Levels' wisdom, Codesmith advises capturing everyday frustrations—those small annoyances at work or home—as seeds for innovation, rather than chasing elusive "genius" concepts.

Arriving in Bali, Codesmith dives into a rhythm that blends discipline and inspiration. Mornings begin with gym sessions to fuel focus, followed by client work and content creation, before evenings in bustling co-working cafes where ocean views compete with laptop screens. "You're in Bali when your view is blocked by four screens, one a crypto dashboard," he quips, capturing the island's nomad energy. Yet the intensity weighs heavy; balancing a full-time gig with app building demands relentless motivation. He overthought the ideation phase, abandoning a co-living platform after months, but learned that action trumps perfection—starting imperfectly hones skills and might yield a sustainable business.

Technically, Codesmith opts for tools he knows best: React Native with Expo for the frontend, allowing a quick start via a simple QR code scan on his phone. "All you need is your phone and computer," he demonstrates, launching a customizable prototype in minutes. For the backend, Supabase handles authentication and a straightforward PostgreSQL database, ideal for non-complex data like user profiles and learning roadmaps. Styling with components keeps it simple, tapping JavaScript's vast library for features like maps. AI assistants—Cursor, Claude Code, Warp—supercharge the process, but he warns of their pitfalls: "Coding with AI is like a train; it can derail quickly." Plan mode first crafts to-do lists, syncing backend seamlessly and compressing what once took years into weeks.

The app's core shines in its promise: short intros to new subjects alongside deep roadmaps for passions, fostering polymathic growth. Naming it proved a rabbit hole—hobbyism, anti-brain rot—until "Polymath" clicked, echoing Codesmith's own reel-sharing of eclectic interests that resonate online. He builds a waitlist with Framer, fretting over logos yet validating demand early. Tools like Notability organize ideas as a "second brain," Canva crafts branding, and Manis aids research. Reflecting on AI's destabilizing speed, Codesmith sees a future where such barriers fade, empowering solo creators to learn and connect meaningfully.

As Bali's waves crash, Codesmith pedals through rice fields, app evolving amid the chaos. For beginners, his mantra is clear: just start, document the wins like that first npm install, and iterate. Mistakes—like overthinking or chasing boilerplates—teach resilience. In a world of fleeting apps, Polymath aims to endure, turning phones into portals for curiosity. Codesmith invites feedback, promising more on this odyssey, a testament to solo grit in tech's wild frontier.