Apptisan #015 — Flyleaf
Flyleaf is a “read-later” app that displays saved articles from the web in a meticulously designed reading view, without popups, ads or other distractions.
Name: Flyleaf
Developer / Team: Max Melzer
Platforms: iOS, iPadOS, macOS
Read this newsletter issue in Chinese (中文) .
Please describe your product.
Flyleaf is an app for reading articles from the web in a dedicated reading environment without distracting ads or popups. It also introduces book-like pagination to any article you add, so you can flip through pages instead of continuously scrolling.
Was there a pivotal moment that inspired your product’s creation?
I am a longtime user of read-it-later apps. Instapaper was the first iOS app I ever purchased. Instapaper is pretty much the only app that still offers book-like pagination today, but the feature is not available on all platforms and often buggy.
When Instapaper came to the Mac in 2020 with a disappointingly low-quality port, I finally figured that if I wanted a read-later app with top-notch pagination, I would have to scratch that itch myself.
What makes your product unique compared to others in the market?
The most important factor for me personally is the book-like pagination, which no other app offers at the level of quality as Flyleaf does, especially on macOS. I am strongly convinced that this is a superior way of reading long-form content as compared to continuous scrolling.
Another thing that makes Flyleaf compelling is that no signup or account is required to use the app. I don’t need your email address and I don’t want it. Syncing is done entirely via your existing iCloud account, which makes Flyleaf very simple and privacy-friendly.
Finally, I am dedicated to providing a first-class experience for Flyleaf on macOS, not just on iOS. I think for most other apps in the category, macOS support is more of an afterthought.
How have you marketed your product, and what key lessons have you learned?
While sharing my progress while developing Flyleaf on social media, I discovered a very open and encouraging community of app developers on Mastodon. These people not only contributed invaluable feedback to Flyleaf, they also served as the initial user base.
Apart from that, I struggle with marketing. Most outlets and journalists I contacted never responded to me. Other social platforms like Reddit mostly block posts that are considered self-promotion (which I completely understand). The problem with a bootstrapped app project is that you start out without a marketing budget and thus are reliant on word-of-mouth or press coverage to get off the ground.
I am glad I was confident enough to choose a subscription model for monetization. Because of the recurring nature of subscriptions, it looks like it may be possible to have a sustainable app even with a small but loyal customer base.
What has been some memorable feedback since your product’s release?
Having a public TestFlight full of technical people and even other app developers was invaluable during development. But the most insightful thing was to look over people’s shoulder while they tried the app for the very first time. You see them struggle figuring out things you would have never thought of as being a problem.
Are there any products out there that you feel deserve more recognition?
I absolutely love RSS and what it stands for. I’m not sure you can still call it “overlooked”, but it’s one of the most important ways I discover and learn about things on the web.
In your everyday life, are there any products that significantly contribute to your happiness?
The most important tech product of my everyday life is definitely my M1 MacBook Air. One might consider this computer a bit outdated, but it’s still a capable workhorse for all my development needs.
But when talking about happiness, the first things that come to mind are my musical instruments: Around the house I have a piano, a guitar, a violin and a nice harmonica. These “products” are exceptionally beautifully made and give me joy as well as a constant challenge to improve my skills.
How do you organize your day? Do you have any time management tips to share?
Unfortunately, I’m probably not the right guy to ask for management tips. My life is “organized” by the schedules and whims of my young children (as well as my daytime employer), so it’s often chaotic and a little stressful. I am lucky that software development is relaxing to me, so I can wind down in the evenings by working on Flyleaf.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you envision for the future.
I originally studied theology at university in Germany. But I shifted to software development when I figured out that this is a more reliable way to feed a family. By day, I currently work as a Java developer for a small product company in Germany. My first small iOS side project was Devotionalium, an app for reading holy scriptures of different world religions. Flyleaf is my first iOS app that will hopefully have broader appeal (and success). If you want to keep up with what I’m doing, the best way is to follow me on Mastodon or the RSS feed of my website.
About Apptisan
Apptisan is a portmanteau of “application” and “artisan”, signifying “a weekly exploration into the world of apps and the passionate artisans who create them.” Each issue is a conversation with global creators, aiming to uncover and present intriguing products to a wider audience.
For those who prefer Chinese, you can subscribe via Quail. Creators interested in featuring their products are encouraged to submit them through our form, and we’ll be in touch promptly.
Supporter Status
If you enjoy Apptisan, consider showing your support in these ways: