Behind every product, there is a vivid story.
A record of how we discover problems and solve them with technology, shared by the founder of Ring Tech.
BY JKCREATE
The Starting Point and the Dawn of AI
The story begins in 2011, at the dawn of the mobile internet. Back then, a seed was planted in my heart to become an independent developer. However, while the ideal was full, reality was skinny. Over the next decade, I tried several times to teach myself iOS programming, but failed every time. The dream of launching my own app seemed out of reach.
Until December 2024, a beam of light shone in. I encountered AI programming—a disruptive wave of technology. I was shocked to find that I no longer needed to master complex syntax and frameworks. By focusing on product ideas and user insights, I could turn creativity into reality. That long-buried dream was instantly activated.
My first goal was simply to go through the entire App Store publishing process. After two weeks of effort, I launched [Little Bear Turntable]. It was a small tool I built to help me and my daughter agree on a time to go home. Although simple—some might say 'reinventing the wheel'—it gave me the first taste of building from 0 to 1. Like many developers, my debut was almost unnoticed, but this didn't dampen my passion; it made me think deeper about building truly useful products.
The real turning point came in January 2025, when DeepSeek went viral overnight. On the morning of Lunar New Year's Eve, a clear idea appeared in my dream: easily convert Markdown output from DeepSeek into shareable, beautiful images. I immediately woke up, rushed to my computer, and finished the core development in just 2 hours using AI.
At the time, my goal for this app, named [Wentu], was humble: earn 1 dollar. However, after sharing the development story on social media, I reached that goal the next day. Even more unbelievable, I saw [Wentu] climb to No. 3 on the App Store Productivity Charts!
That was the happiest time since I quit my job to start this studio. I struck while the iron was hot—my videos got millions of views, I was interviewed by the media, and received countless positive feedback from users. My creative universe was thoroughly ignited.
The success of [Wentu] made me realize that with AI, it's possible to build products with thousands of paying users! It wasn't just about the power of AI, but also about building my own confidence. I always felt I had a talent for products but never found the opportunity. [Wentu] was my gateway to a new world.
During that time, I was in a state of flow. While iterating [Wentu], I built two more original apps.
Material Camera
My previous job was in social media, requiring me to shoot many themed clips. My photo album was often a mess, mixed with personal photos, making it hard to use.
One morning, I realized: why not let photos be saved directly into specific albums? I built it quickly with AI. Instead of a camera view, you see your albums. Click a cover, shoot, and everything is organized from the start. I reversed the workflow—locate the album first, then shoot, saving the trouble of sorting later.
While [Material Camera] didn't get much attention, I was simultaneously building another Apple Watch app: [SlowEat].
Inspiration came from a time I ate too fast and burned my chest. That direct pain stimulated me to build [SlowEat]. It's like a mindfulness app for your watch, helping you chew to a rhythm. Set a reasonable count, and you'll naturally slow down.
Even before release, I teased it on social media and got unexpected attention. After launch, it gained even more. Surprisingly, many used it for weight loss—I later learned that slow eating helps prevent overeating.
This app led me to build a community. Users give me feedback, pushing the product forward together. I love this co-creation; it's not a lonely pursuit but one driven by real needs. Building useful products is true happiness.
After [SlowEat] stabilized, I took a break for a few months. In July, I restarted my creative journey. This time, I moved beyond iOS to build a Chrome Extension.
Using LLMs frequently, I realized the wait for AI output can be stressful. So I built [CalmWait], a plugin to help you practice mindful breathing while the AI generates content, automatically stopping when the AI finishes.
I also added a 'line-by-line' reading feature for long AI responses, which are often hard to digest at once.
Interestingly, during research for this feature, I discovered I might have ADHD. Looking into it, everything from my past started to make sense. It was a memorable experience—discovering myself through AI development.
Since I started AI programming, I've paid more attention to excellent apps. Unlike many, I focus on what components or technologies they use. I've learned that building products isn't just about 'flashes of inspiration'; you need to accumulate technical knowledge—not necessarily the code, but knowing what's possible. This determines if you can execute quickly when you find a need.
Tixing
For example, I noticed an app called 'Che Piaopiao' that uses Live Activities for train reminders. I loved the idea because I often miss trains. I didn't know what Live Activities were before, so I studied them.
Soon after, I was out with friends, had a beer, and then remembered I'd taken antibiotics that morning. We were all worried (though I was fine in the end).
I reacted quickly: why not use Live Activities to remind people on antibiotics not to drink? I built the demo in my car that night. Though it's a niche app, the process was fulfilling. Now, when I see social media posts about drinking while on meds, I recommend [Tixing]. It feels like doing a good deed.
As I delved deeper into AI, I started following influencers who frequently mentioned 'Next.js'. I asked AI what it could do, and then used it to build this blog site you're browsing.
In September, when my daughter started school, I built the 'Custom Name Copybook' web app. The idea came from watching her practice writing her name daily. I noticed some children had custom copybooks with their own names.
I found that existing products were expensive and bloated. Using Next.js, I built the first version in 2.5 days.
When the copybook with my daughter's name printed out, I was thrilled. But I soon realized that simple tracing wasn't enough. I co-developed with my daughter, iterating based on her feedback. The current version, with custom strategies and 'point-tracing', has significantly improved her writing and interest.
Currently, AI programming is met with two voices: non-coders rejoicing at their new power, and coders criticizing the flood of 'garbage' apps.
My take: This is a celebration for the common person, much like the short video boom in 2018, giving ordinary people extraordinary capabilities.
But I know one thing: I won't give up after a few failed ideas. Building products takes time—like a ten-month pregnancy. AI only shortens the learning curve; building a great product loved by many is never an overnight feat.
I accept early failures but focus on my growth. This is what I've dreamed of for years. I feel luckier than most—out of my few products, two have already seen success.
On Originality and Inspiration
In software, especially in China, plagiarism is a tough topic. I want to be clear: I never copy others' ideas. I've always preferred original work, which has sharpened my intuition.
But as I see more cases, I realize that standing on the shoulders of giants is smarter. For me, that means upgrading and iterating on others' foundations to build products that solve problems better.
"Sometimes I feel that only when I am creating products, I am truly alive."
I won't sell courses. My joy is in building and selling products. Seeing people use Ring Tech products is my greatest happiness.
Indie Developer's Journey: Building AI Apps from Idea to Top Charts | Jkcreate · Ring Tech | Jkcreate · 圆环科技
