For the last four years, I’ve been focused 100% on YouTube and our courses on notJust Dev. This left almost no time for me to work on my apps. Even though I had many great ideas, it would take too long to bring them to the market.

However, things are changing fast. Now, with the power of AI, I can build amazing apps 10 times faster.

That’s why this year, I decided to invest more time building a portfolio of mobile apps. The goal is to launch 10 new apps by the end of the year by spending no more than 10 hours a week.

Is that possible? We’ll see.

But here’s my high-level plan:

1. Find high-intent keywords with lots of organic searches and low competition
2. Build one-feature apps that solve 1 specific problem very well
3. Use AI tools to speed up development
4. Work together with Lukas - each building 1 app at a time
5. Systematize, document, and build templates for common features: onboarding, paywalls, in-app ratings, etc.
6. Learn, adap,t and move to the next app

Let’s dive deeper into every single step:

1. ASO-Driven Development

Traditional app development often starts with a cool idea, then hopes people will find it. I’m flipping this approach entirely.

Instead, I start with App Store Optimization research to find high-intent keywords that people are actively searching for, but have low competition from existing apps.

I use a tool called Astro for keyword research to identify these opportunities.

What makes a great keyword?

• High search volume (a score of over 20)
• Low competition (a score of less than 50)
• Commercial intent (people willing to pay for a solution)
• Specific problem (not too broad or vague)

For example, instead of building a generic “fitness app,” I’d target something like “gym rest timer” or “bodyweight workout tracker” - specific problems with clear search intent.

The keyword research essentially becomes my product requirements document. If people are searching for “PDF page splitter,” that tells me exactly what features to build and what to ignore.

2. One-Feature Apps

The biggest mistake I see developers make is feature creep. They start with a simple idea, then keep adding “just one more feature” until they have a bloated app that solves everything poorly instead of one thing exceptionally well.

My rule: One core feature that you can explain in 5 words or less.

This approach has several advantages:

• Faster development - no complex architectures or endless feature discussions
• Clear value proposition - users immediately understand what it does
• Better ASO - focused apps rank better for specific keywords
• Easier validation - you know quickly if the core idea works
• No backend complexity - most single-feature apps can work offline or with minimal cloud services

If the keyword is “morning routine checklist,” I’m building exactly that - not a full productivity suite with calendars, notes, and habit tracking. Those can be separate apps.

3. AI-Powered Development

This is where the magic happens. AI tools like Cursor are genuinely transforming how fast I can ship apps.

Here’s what AI handles for me:

• Boilerplate code - navigation, state management, basic UI components
• Bug fixing - it can spot and fix issues faster than I can Google them
• Code generation - I describe what I want, and it writes the implementation

What used to take me a full day of coding now takes 2-3 hours. The AI doesn’t replace my product thinking or design decisions, but it eliminates most of the tedious implementation work.

I’m also using AI for non-coding tasks: - App Store descriptions - optimized for ASO - Icon generation - quick concepts and variations - User flow mapping - identifying potential UX issues early

4. Collaborative Sprint Approach

Lukas and I are building in parallel but staying aligned. While I work on one app, he works on another. We review each other’s progress weekly and share learnings immediately.

This prevents us from making the same mistakes twice and keeps the momentum high. If I discover a great ASO technique or find a useful AI prompt, Lukas benefits from it on his next app.

5. Systematization is Everything

By app #3, I realized I was rebuilding the same components over and over. Now I’m creating a comprehensive system:

Template Library:

• Onboarding flows
• Paywall screens (freemium, trial, one-time purchase)
• Settings pages with proper privacy controls
• In-app rating prompts that actually convert
• Basic analytics setup

Development Boilerplate:

• Project structure with proper folder organization
• Essential dependencies pre-configured
• CI/CD pipeline for automated build and deployment

The goal is to go from idea to App Store submission in under 40 hours of actual work.

6. Rapid Learning Cycles

Each app is an experiment. I’m tracking specific metrics for every launch:

• Time from idea to App Store approval
• Keyword ranking improvements over the first 30 days
• Feature usage analytics
• User feedback themes

After each app, I spend 2 hours documenting what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently. These insights feed directly into the next app’s strategy.

I’m not aiming for 10 perfect apps - I’m aiming for 10 learning cycles that compound into a systematic approach for building profitable mobile apps quickly.

The Journey Ahead

This approach combines everything I’ve learned about mobile development, ASO, and business strategy over the past few years. While each app is an experiment, the methodology is based on proven principles that I’ve seen work consistently.

The real value isn’t just in launching 10 apps - it’s in developing a repeatable system that any mobile developer can use to build profitable apps efficiently. I’m treating this as both a business challenge and a case study in modern app development.

By documenting every step, I’m creating a playbook that will be valuable whether you’re building your first app or your fiftieth.

I’ll be sharing the entire journey - successes, failures, and everything in between. Next week, I’ll show you the exact ASO research process I’m using to find these high-potential keywords.

What do you think? Too ambitious or not ambitious enough?

Hit reply and let me know your thoughts.

Cheers,
Vadim Savin