From Passion to Product: Launching My First iPad App
I am excited to announce that I have published my first iPad app on the Apple Store - Chess Score Tracker.
I want to share how it all started and how you can use your hobby and spare time to grow and enhance your skills.
Many people around me know that I enjoy playing chess to relax and exercise my brain. I particularly love playing physical chess face-to-face with friends. It allows me to take my time to think, discuss various topics, and listen to music. My usual routine involves drinking coffee and playing chess after work or on weekends.
Over time, I found that tracking the scores and understanding the value of each piece on the board can be challenging, especially for beginners. I also noticed that those who can track points and the difference between them can use this knowledge to their advantage.
I have always been interested in programming and hold a degree in IT. My primary programming language is JavaScript, which I have used to develop websites, web apps, and various tools. Recently, I became interested in Apple products and wanted to learn more about them. This curiosity led me to Swift and particularly SwiftUI. I started learning through Sean Allen's beginner courses and followed his recommendation to start the 100 Days of SwiftUI with Paul Hudson. The journey has been incredibly interesting and encouraging.
Returning to my chess hobby, I wanted to improve my understanding of the points associated with chess pieces and how to leverage this knowledge for better gameplay. I realized there wasn't a standalone tool for this purpose, especially one that I could take anywhere with a physical chess board.
Determined to create a solution, I decided to develop my first app. Given my interest in Apple products, I chose Swift over JavaScript. Even in the midst of my courses, I began building the first MVP and tested it on my personal iPad while playing chess. Naturally, there were bugs and unexpected issues, as with any software development project. I approached the development process iteratively, as any agile developer would. What you see now is the result of several incremental iterations.
I am thrilled to share my first app with you, which I personally use for my chess hobby.