My setup for creating a $100,000+ app portfolio

In this video, I give you a behind-the-scenes tour of my indie app development workspace. As a solopreneur generating six-figure passive income from my apps, I share how I create successful applications in a shared family space.

Apps by Adam Lyttle is the personal journey of an indie app developer, sharing valuable lessons and experiences to help fellow developers succeed in the competitive app market

Follow my journey here:

Website: https://adamlyttleapps.com
Twitter: https://x.com/adamlyttleapps
Github: https://github.com/adamlyttleapps
Instagram:   / adamlyttleapps  
TikTok:   / adamlyttleapps  
Substack: https://adamlyttleapps.substack.com

Featured in this video:

Macbook Pro M3 with 34GB RAM & 1TB HDD
Macbook Pro M1 with 8GB RAM & 256GB HDD
Mouse: Logitech MX Master S3
Keyboard: Logitech MX Keys
Microphone: Shure 7
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 12 Mini
LEGO DUPLO: My First Duck 30327

From Shared Space to Six Figures: My Indie App Development Journey

As a solopreneur in the world of indie hacking and app development, I've learned that success doesn't always require a fancy setup or a dedicated office. Today, I want to share my journey of building a six-figure passive income through app development, all from a shared family space. This is my story of perseverance, creativity, and the power of building in public.

Humble Beginnings

When I first started my indie hacking journey, my "office" was wherever I could find space in our bustling household. With five children and a partner who loves to sew, claiming territory for app development was a challenge. But as I've discovered, you don't need much to start creating successful apps.

My initial setup was far from glamorous:

A broken MacBook purchased for a couple hundred dollars on Marketplace
An external monitor (which I still use today!)
The $99 Apple Developer Program fee

That's it. That's all I needed to start creating apps that would eventually generate a passive income. It wasn't fast, it wasn't pretty, but it worked.

The Power of Building in Public

As I began to see small successes, I realized the importance of sharing my journey. Building in public not only held me accountable but also connected me with a community of fellow indie hackers and potential users. Through social media and my blog, I started documenting my progress, challenges, and wins.
This transparency helped me in ways I never expected:

1. Feedback from the community improved my apps
2. Other developers shared solutions to problems I was facing
3. I built an audience interested in my products before they were even launched

Evolving Setup, Growing Success

As my apps started generating more revenue, I slowly reinvested in my setup. Today, my workspace includes:

An Apple M3 Pro with 36GB RAM and 1TB SSD
A Logitech MX Master 3S mouse
A Logitech MX Keys keyboard

But here's the kicker – I'm still working from the same shared family space. My "office" is a corner of a room where my kids do homework, my partner sews, and occasionally, we rock our baby to sleep. And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way.

Lessons for Aspiring Indie Hackers

If you're just starting your solopreneur journey in app development, here are some key takeaways from my experience:

1. Start with what you have: Don't wait for the perfect setup. The best time to start is now, with whatever resources you have available.

2. Build in public: Share your journey, your struggles, and your victories. The indie hacking community is incredibly supportive and full of knowledge.

3. Reinvest wisely: As you start seeing success, reinvest in tools that will genuinely improve your productivity and output.

4. Embrace flexibility: One of the greatest perks of being an indie developer is the ability to set your own schedule. Use this to balance work and life in a way that suits you and your family.

5. Keep learning: The tech world moves fast. Stay curious and always be ready to learn new skills and technologies.

The Road Ahead

As I write this, I'm coming off my best month ever in terms of app revenue. It's a milestone that seemed impossible when I was coding on that broken MacBook years ago. But it's proof that with persistence, creativity, and a willingness to build in public, indie hacking can lead to incredible opportunities.

Whether you're just starting out or you're well on your way in your indie app development journey, remember that success doesn't require a fancy office or top-of-the-line equipment. It requires passion, perseverance, and the courage to share your journey with others.

So, what's your next step in your indie hacking journey? Share it with the world – you never know who might be inspired by your story or have the perfect advice to propel you forward.