Apptisan #029 — Talking with Hive’s Creator: Eagle for iOS/iPadOS? A Creative Professional’s Ultimate Inspiration Collection App
For our 29th edition, we welcome Bunny, an emerging independent developer with a background in industrial design.
Name: Hive
Developer / Team: Bunny Lau
Platforms: iOS, iPadOS
Read this newsletter issue in Chinese (中文) .
Please describe your product.
Meet Hive: Your go-to app for capturing those creative sparks!
What’s in it for you?
Snap & save: Grab pics and vids in a tap
Social media magic: Easily save content from your fave platforms
Stay organized: Sort your stuff with tags and categories
Always in sync: Access your ideas anywhere with iCloud
Plays nice with Eagle: Can read most Eagle files
Whether you’re a design whiz, content guru, or just love collecting cool stuff, Hive’s got your back. Never let a great idea slip away again!
Was there a pivotal moment that inspired your product’s creation?
I am a loyal user of Eagle, having used it since my college days. Every year, I eagerly anticipate Eagle’s release of a mobile version, but this wish has remained unfulfilled year after year.
Finally, one day, I decided to take matters into my own hands and solve this problem. Coincidentally, with the emergence of AI Coding, even a programming novice like me was filled with confidence.
I spent a very short time building a Demo and discovered that the project seemed feasible. Therefore, I decided to start learning and begin developing this project.
What makes your product unique compared to others in the market?
As Eagle’s mobile counterpart, Hive has a clear vision for its product design. The real challenge, though, is striking the right balance between mobile-essential features and those best left to the desktop version.
In my view, quick collection is the star of the show, and it shines in two ways:
First, it’s all about snagging content from social media in a flash. Hive’s got this covered with its link parsing and download features, cutting down on manual saves big time.
Second, we’ve streamlined the user experience to make saving a breeze. Think:
Share extensions that fire up Hive instantly;
Drag-and-drop support for iPad users;
Seamless clipboard and keyboard paste integration;
It’s all about making content import as smooth as butter.
But we’re not stopping at just collecting stuff. The real game-changer is how users can browse and reuse their treasures on the go. Hive isn’t just a digital scrapbook – it’s a powerhouse for quick searches and finds.
We’ve poured tons of effort into the display, making it a joy to flip through your materials. At the same time, users can drag these materials into canvases or documents for secondary use.
How have you marketed your product, and what key lessons have you learned?
Our only marketing effort post-launch was a video on Xiaohongshu by the blogger Aiyasi, which garnered impressive views and engagement. This single piece of content solved our initial ASO challenges, helping us secure key search terms within just a day. Now, users can easily find our product when searching, which was our primary goal.
Moving forward, I plan to focus more on product development rather than promotion. We’ve received a wealth of feedback since launch, and I believe that by continually improving the product, we'll naturally attract users who need it.
What has been some memorable feedback since your product’s release?
Since the product’s release, several pieces of feedback have stood out:
First, feature requests have been pouring in. Most users love the product, as it’s the first time they’ve had access to such a tool on mobile. However, they’re also quick to point out missing features and bugs. I’m incredibly grateful for users who take the time to email or message us with feedback - it’s invaluable for rapid iteration and bug fixes. As a solo developer, thorough testing can be challenging, so early user feedback is crucial. Each piece of feedback I receive is truly touching.
Second, many users have struggled with database imports. This is our most common issue, stemming from various complex reasons. While some problems are on our end - which we're continuously working to resolve - the biggest hurdle is often iCloud Drive’s instability. It’s challenging to guide users through the correct process of downloading and saving content from iCloud Drive. It’s almost like a “philosophical” Schrödinger’s problem. This has prompted us to consider creating more comprehensive database setup guides and troubleshooting tutorials, which we’ll prominently display to help users navigate these challenges.
Lastly, we’ve seen unexpected demand for NAS and cloud storage support. Within days of launch, we received numerous requests for NAS compatibility, with some users even attempting SMB access and inquiring about Hive support. Rationally speaking, NAS users among Eagle’s user base are a tiny minority, so this would typically be a low-priority feature. However, this highlights why Eagle has been hesitant about mobile development - the variety of storage solutions and mobile sandboxing limitations make many seemingly simple solutions quite complex. We initially chose iCloud Drive as our storage solution because it’s currently the most reliable option to implement. Nevertheless, we’re committed to exploring ways to make our product accessible to as many users as possible, including those with different storage setups.
Are there any products out there that you feel deserve more recognition?
Raycast and Linear have been my go-to tools since last year.
Raycast really stands out. I used to swear by Alfred, but Raycast feels like a more polished product for everyday users. It’s a breeze to set up, super customizable, and has AI at your fingertips – all of which have totally changed how I work.
I’m always using it for things like translations, hunting down SF Symbols, digging through my Apple Notes, and firing off Linear Issues. The quick-add feature has got me jotting down tasks left and right. Breaking things into bite-sized chunks makes them way easier to tackle, and Raycast is perfect for that.
As for Linear, it’s a game-changer for task management, which can seriously boost your mood and keep stress at bay. Instead of getting hung up on big-picture roadmaps, the real trick is chopping everything up into tiny 5-10 minute tasks. That way, you can chip away at your to-do list whenever you have a spare moment, which is a great way to kick procrastination to the curb.
I used to need big chunks of time to get anything done. But with a kid in the mix, those long stretches are hard to come by. Linear’s been a lifesaver in helping me figure out how to make the most of those little pockets of time for getting stuff done.
What are your primary hardware tools?
My tech setup:
iPhone 16 Pro
iPad Pro M4 11” and iPad mini 6
MacBook Pro 14”, MacBook Air M2, and Mac mini
I’m pretty old-school with my gadgets. The MacBook Pro 14” is hands-down the best Mac I’ve ever owned. It’s got the perfect size, power, and screen. With apps like Raycast and Arc, I’m glued to my Mac most of the time. By the way, I’m really loving the new high-impedance 3.5mm headphone jack on the MacBook Pro. It’s such a treat to use wired headphones with it - I don’t even need to shell out for an expensive DAC anymore!
I’m a big fan of iPads, but truth be told, I don’t use them as much as I’d like. There’s just not enough hours in the day. The iPad mini 6 is my go-to for reading and entertaining the kids on the go. The iPad Pro? That’s more for work stuff like testing apps and user experience.
My golden rule for buying tech: Make sure I’ve got time to actually use it. Before I hit that “buy” button, I ask myself, “Will I actually have time to play with this?” Even if I’m drooling over something, if I know it’ll just collect dust, it’s a no-go for me.
Take high-end speakers or gaming consoles. I’ve been tempted more times than I can count. But when I stop and think, I realize I don’t have the time to enjoy them. Maybe someday when life slows down, I’ll treat myself.
I’m not all about getting the most bang for my buck. I’ll happily shell out extra for something that’s easy on the eyes. Some might call it a waste of money or falling for marketing hype. But hey, it’s my choice. The most important thing is buying what makes you happy.
Shopping should be about treating yourself, not trying to outsmart everyone else or pinching every penny.
Given your experience across product, design, and development, what insights would you share with other independent developers?
For indie devs, wearing the hats of product manager, designer, and coder is a must. But let’s face it, being a one-person army and nailing all three? That’s a tall order. The real trick is juggling these roles and knowing when to focus on what.
Take coding, for instance. Remember when we first dipped our toes into Swift and SwiftUI? It was all about scouring the web for answers and trial-and-error. Fast forward to now, and it’s a whole new ball game.
These days, AI’s got most newbies beat. No more endless Googling for the basics. Instead, it’s all about getting the big picture - understanding how everything fits together and planning your attack. When it comes to the nitty-gritty, AI’s got your back.
But here’s the thing - we can’t just coast on AI. We’ve got to keep our coding chops sharp and stay curious. That said, if you know how to ask, AI can be a real time-saver for those pesky details.
Now, about product and design - they’re crucial, no doubt. But here’s my two cents: as a solo dev, if you can’t do it all, focus on making sure your product actually works and feels good to use. Don’t get bogged down in making it look pretty right off the bat. Trust me, I’ve been there - spending ages on fancy designs only to realize it wasn’t the smartest move.
My strategy? Launch fast, get feedback, and keep improving. Once people start saying, “Hey, this works great, but it could look better,” that’s your cue to polish up the design.
This way, you’re sure your product’s actually solving a problem before you start making it look good. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you envision for the future.
Just call me Bunny. I studied Industrial Design in college and always had a thing for UI/UX design. Post-grad, I spent years as a financial product manager, mostly working on supply chain finance and payment systems. Later, I got to be the product manager for exping, a cool map creation app. It’s been quite a ride!
As for what’s next with Hive, here’s the deal: I’m just one person juggling development, product, and design. My time and energy are pretty maxed out, so I’m not looking to build a team right now. For the foreseeable future, I’ll stick to my evening hustle - a few hours of fast-paced updates. It’s all about doing what I can with what I’ve got, you know?
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.
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