nowfound

Commerce · September 2, 2022

IM

I made an indie app store alternative with a twist

The twist is that although it does (part of) the job of an app store, it's not (nor aims to be) an app store. It's a script you add to your existing web app that makes it "self-distributing". Check it out: https://progressier.com. Under the hood, it leverages the concept of "PWA", but it goes further: 1. It creates an installation page for your app that looks like an app store listing. Demo example: https://install.page/covid 2. It handles every OS/browser combination to create an installation flow that works everywhere (e.g. on Safari/iOS, with in-app…

I made an indie app store alternative with a twist launched on September 2, 2022 with 6 votes, #1,157 of 3,464 launches that month and more than 50% of that year's launches.

What it does

In the maker’s words, at launch

The twist is that although it does (part of) the job of an app store, it's not (nor aims to be) an app store. It's a script you add to your existing web app that makes it "self-distributing". Check it out: https://progressier.com. Under the hood, it leverages the concept of "PWA", but it goes further: 1. It…

Does a similar job

all alternatives →
  • An app store just for installable web apps2023 · store.app · ▲484

    The Everything App Store. A cross-platform, open app store that puts users and developers first. Search for a new app or list your app in seconds.

  • AppDeskMar 2026 · appdesk.dev · ▲90

    Every morning I'd open App Store Connect in Safari, enter my password for the millionth time, then wait 8 seconds for the dashboard to load and continue fumbling around for what I needed. Everything took too many clicks and way too long to load. I did this for years and got tired of it. Good thing Apple provided API access for all this data. So I finally built the app I wanted, just the way I liked. Fast, keyboard-friendly navigation, data syncs and gets stored only on the local device. Meet AppDesk — a native macOS client built with SwiftUI for App Store Connect. Everything runs locally —…

  • Altstore2019 · altstore.io · ▲247

    A home for apps that push the boundaries on iOS

  • DocketMar 2026 · drobinin.com · ▲114

    Like Jira but for indie devs and AI agents

  • Indie Kit2025 · indiekit.pro · ▲58

    I wanted to build simple apps to launch over the weekend. I was so frustrated implementing billing, stripe, auth, quota management, etc. I just gave up. So I made Indie Kit Login users, process payments, send emails at lightspeed. Spend your time building your startup, not integrating APIs. Indie Kit provides you with the boilerplate code you need to launch, FASTER THAN EVER.

  • OffStore.appNov 2025 · offstore.app · ▲7

    Discover progressive web apps

Source: Show HN post ↗ · launch text quoted in part

Launched alongside, September 2022

the whole month →
  • IM

    Life & fun · 2022 · dogbunnypuzzle.com

  • A couple of years ago, I had an interesting idea. What if there was a marketplace where all the underlying tech was open-source? The order management system, the storefront, customer support, etc. The marketplace would simply connect to the seller’s infra instead of locking them in. If, for some reason, the seller is removed from the marketplace, their software stays with them and they can continue accepting orders directly. This model can be used to disrupt any marketplace from AirBNB to UberEats: building tech for home renters and restaurants and later, leveraging that to build a competing…

    Dev tools · 2022 · openship.org

  • Polywork▲1,214

    Discover opportunities to collaborate

    Life & fun · 2022

  • xTiles▲1,036

    Organize your ideas & projects visually

    Work · 2022 · xtiles.app

  • Arcade 2.0▲1,026

    The easiest way to showcase your product

    Life & fun · 2022 · arcade.software

  • Maven▲978

    100+ live courses taught by experts, education reimagined

    Life & fun · 2022 · maven.com