When I decided to build AppForceStudio in public, I wasn’t sure what would happen. I didn’t set out to ‘market’ AppForceStudio. I set out to learn. That’s why I chose to build a product in public.
Would anyone care?
Would it actually help us grow?
Would sharing our messy, behind-the-scenes moments turn people away instead of bringing them closer?
Now, a few months in, I can confidently say: building in public works.
It’s not just a “growth hack.” It’s a mindset shift. And it’s been one of the best decisions for AppForceStudio so far.
Why Building in Public Works
Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- You get feedback faster. Instead of polishing in a vacuum, we ship early, show users what we’re working on, and get real reactions.
- People root for you. Strangers become supporters because they’ve seen the journey, not just the final product.
- Trust compounds. By sharing not just wins but also struggles, people trust that we’re building something real, not hype.
The truth is, building a product in public works because it creates trust and speeds up feedback. Transparency makes people feel like insiders. When they feel included, they tend to stay.
Behind the Scenes of Our AFS Journey
AppForceStudio started with one goal: to make building and launching apps faster, simpler, and more accessible than traditional dev cycles. Part of our decision to start building a product in public was to prove this goal in real time with users watching.
We wanted to remove the endless handoffs, bloated timelines, and $100k+ budgets of traditional development. Instead, AppForceStudio lets you go from idea to live app in days, not months
Here’s the part you don’t usually hear:
- We got random paid users early—without running ads.
Some discovered AFS through our blog posts (SEO is working 🎉), while others found us through social channels.
As we shared progress publicly, people DM’d, signed up, and paid. They read, clicked, signed up, and some even paid – all completely organic. - We also spotted a few key issues.
Some users loved AFS, but others dropped after a few sessions. Building in public meant we couldn’t ignore it. Our community saw the same thing and even pointed it out. - Pricing was another lesson. We launched with one model, but user conversations showed us where the value truly sat. So, we’re adjusting.
This kind of real-time clarity only happens when you’re exposed. It forces you to listen to your core users instead of assuming.
Wins, Failures, and Feedback
Some highlights (and hard truths) from the last stretch:
✅ Win: Early testers told us our “Design-to-App” feature felt like magic. Upload a screenshot or Figma file, and AFS turns it into a working UI.
❌ Failure: We shipped a prototype update too fast—without enough onboarding—and confused users. That one stung.
💬 Feedback: Users loved speed, but they also wanted more guidance inside the playground. So, we’re rolling out Playground Assistance, an AI copilot that helps you edit and build directly.
Read: Things You Think You Need to Build an App vs. What You Actually Need in 2025
What’s Coming Next
We’re not stopping here.
The next big milestone? A native mobile app experience.
Soon, you’ll be able to design, iterate, and publish directly to the App Store and Google Play from inside AppForceStudio.
This has been one of the most-requested features, and we can’t wait to show you what’s possible.
The Core Lesson
If I had to sum it all up in one sentence:
👉 Talk to your users as early as possible, and let them shape the product with you.
That’s the real power of building a product in public: it keeps you honest, fast, and close to your users.
It keeps you honest.
It keeps you fast.
And most importantly, it keeps you close to the people you’re building for.
If you’ve been watching our journey, thank you. Every DM, comment, and piece of feedback has made AppForceStudio stronger.
And if you’re sitting on an idea, here’s my nudge: Every app starts as an idea. The difference is whether you ship it. Stop waiting for perfect. Start building. Your first version could be live in less than a week.
Read: Should You Hide Your Startup Idea During Validation?
Try AppForceStudio for free today.
