Apptisan #016 — Bellybook
Bellybook, the AI dietary recorder, is a food memory recording and analysis software based on a large language model.
Name: Bellybook
Developer / Team: Zhao Chunxiang
Platforms: iOS, Android
Read this newsletter issue in Chinese (中文) .
Please describe your product.
Bellybook, the AI dietary recorder, is a food memory recording and analysis software based on a large language model. It employs a strategy of zero prompt words and zero AI model perception, seamlessly integrating AI functions into the product. This allows anyone to casually take photos and effortlessly generate exquisite dietary record cards.
Dietary Recording and Analysis: Users can directly record their daily diet through text or images. The AI assists in generating information on calorie content, metabolic pathways, and historical context of the food, as well as analyzing daily dietary habits.
Cuisine Check-in: Users can upload pictures, and the AI will automatically recognize the specific dish and cuisine. Unlocked dishes contribute to generating a lifetime menu.
Collection and Exhibition: Users can upload pictures, and the AI will assist in removing backgrounds and displaying the items on the page. This feature can be used to collect various utensils (such as coffee cups and dinner plates), and some users also use it to collect and display their daily OOTDs (Outfits of the Day).
Was there a pivotal moment that inspired your product’s creation?
One simple afternoon. I felt I was fully prepared (just finished learning backend development and full of inexplicable confidence), and it was time to do something. During that time, I was cooking for myself, so I thought, why not record what I cooked every day? Nah, manual input is too tedious, let’s use AI assistance. I made a demo that afternoon. Tried it out myself, and kept thinking “this is awesome” until I fell asleep that night.
What makes your product unique compared to others in the market?
The UI and UX are the peak of what I have achieved. It might not be a worldwide benchmark, but it represents the culmination of all my experience and knowledge from developing numerous apps and integrating various technical frameworks. In short, it’s my personal magnum opus, a creation I’ve always treated as a work of art.
How have you marketed your product, and what key lessons have you learned?
Initially, I asked friends to use it, but there wasn’t much positive feedback. Eventually, I decided to post on all platforms simultaneously, regardless of the outcome. Users on Xiaohongshu were the most helpful to me, so I developed a series of features tailored to Xiaohongshu users. It has a particular appeal to women.
I believe that when managing an account, it is crucial to arrange personal time well and maintain a balance with development time. Independent developers should treat market engagement as an integral part of their development work. Code can be handled roughly; at worst, you can roll back and start over. However, if you are careless with customers, once they leave, they won’t come back. This is a significant challenge for someone like me, who is straightforward. The only solution is to be sincerely genuine, responding earnestly to comments, providing elegant solutions in the next version, and then revisiting users, creating a positive feedback loop.
What has been some memorable feedback since your product’s release?
Some users have used Bellybook to collect and neatly arrange cup sleeves, which is incredibly cute and brimming with sentimental value. Additionally, there are users who use Bellybook to photograph and catalog their OOTDs (Outfits of the Day).
Are there any products out there that you feel deserve more recognition?
I rarely focus on works by independent developers or niche products. When I used to write novels, there was a kind of repressed arrogance among “literati,” which is frankly a bad habit. It’s the mindset of “literati disparaging each other,” and I carried this attitude into my software development mindset. In other words, I don’t believe any software can be better than what I create. This is charging forward with blinders on, using mental victory tactics. This blind arrogance has sustained me through countless lonely nights of coding. Of course, it’s because I often looked at those outstanding products and felt lost and despondent, which served as a psychological defense mechanism. OMG, Screen Studio, a great product, mymind, a great product, Linear, a great product... Talk any more about it and I’ll cry.
Do writing novels and writing apps give you the same feeling?
Writing novels has no rules; rules are the poison of novels. In contrast, writing code demands rules; they are the lifeblood of code. However, on a higher level, both endeavors involve “creating something and delivering it to users’ fingertips.” This phrase captures my deepest obsession. Hence, I have always been fascinated by creating ceramics and woodworking. Since childhood, I have received positive feedback for this “fingertip delivery,” even from writing love letters. The ability to move another human’s heart through some crafting and creation is incredibly wonderful. The essence of this lies in sincerity, boundless enthusiasm, and absolute passion.
I have spent countless days and nights meticulously perfecting the shadows, rounded corners, fonts, and buttons of the app. But whenever I imagine another person tapping these small creations, or looking at them repeatedly, I feel a sacred connection that transcends time and space. In this regard, novels have a disadvantage—it’s tough for them to achieve widespread dissemination in this era, especially since I make physical books. On the other hand, software can be swiftly delivered to thousands of people over the internet, which only enhances my sense of sacredness.
As a screenwriter, which movies have left a very deep impression on you?
Seeing this question made me realize that it’s been a long time since I last watched a movie. My memories of films have been buried under layers of code, frameworks, and SDK documentation. As I peel back these layers, the first thing that comes to mind are all of Stanley Kubrick’s films, followed by Roman Polanski’s Bitter Moon, and then Cinema Paradiso. Kubrick is a genius who can masterfully handle any genre. Bitter Moon deeply influenced my views on marriage and romance. Cinema Paradiso left a profound warmth in my heart.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you envision for the future.
I was born in 1994 and dropped out of college. I have published two novels and often felt that I was a distinguished writer of my generation. Later, I transitioned to the film industry and began writing scripts. Writing scripts, however, dampened my passion for literature and films. In summary, I realized that to pursue art, one must have a voice, and the embodiment of that voice is money. To create art, one must be the sole decision-maker. So, how to make money? I turned to the internet, starting with product development and then teaching myself coding—front-end, back-end, and mobile development.
In my early years, I secured funding and burned through one million in six months. During my darkest times, I had to dive into philosophy to find a way to survive, otherwise, it would have been unbearable. Eventually, I produced a Taoist philosophy video that garnered twelve million views online. I organized philosophy classes, sold iOS development courses, made some money, and then immersed myself in app development. Bellybook represents a small pinnacle in my long journey of development. It’s easy for people to assume that a product is the entirety of a developer’s work. In reality, there are many failures and regrets behind Bellybook. It is merely a small bow tie on my outfit, but this outfit is already tattered and worn out. Nonetheless, I will always continue on this path.
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.
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