Hi dev.to community! 👋
I recently finished building my first indie macOS app, TransMov, and wanted to share the development journey, challenges, and lessons learned — especially for other independent developers who might be tackling small workflow-focused tools.
The Problem
When I was working on my previous app, I needed some animation assets. APNG turned out to be a good choice, and we also experimented with Lottie animations. However:
- Professional tools like After Effects are expensive, complex, and not always accessible, especially in certain regions like China.
- Video editing apps like CapCut support background removal, but export options are limited (MP4/MOV/GIF).
- AI tools like Lovart allow background removal, but they consume paid AI credits, which doesn’t scale for ongoing use.
I wanted a privacy-first, local solution that could turn videos into GIF/APNG/WebP animations without relying on cloud services or paid subscriptions.
The Solution: TransMov
I first prototyped a web version using Cursor, which allowed me to generate the first cat animation for my PurrrrrFocus Pomodoro app. After seeing it work well, I decided to make a native macOS app.
- 1 week to build the first functional version
- Several weeks of testing and iterative improvements
- 1 month from idea to Mac App Store-ready product
Features now include:
- Video → GIF/APNG/WebP conversion
- AI-powered video background removal (local processing, privacy-first)
- Frame-by-frame preview and advanced export options
- Targeted at designers, developers, and content creators
Lessons Learned
- Start small: A single workflow problem can become a useful standalone tool.
- Prototype fast: The web version helped me validate the idea before committing to a full native app.
- Iterate with feedback: Early testing and adjusting based on small user feedback saves time in the long run.
Next Steps / Open Questions
I’d love to hear from the community:
- How do you discover niche workflow tools as an indie developer?
- Any tips for gaining early traction without a mailing list or pre-existing audience?
- What’s your favorite approach to building privacy-first creative apps?
If anyone is curious, I can share short demo GIFs showing AI background removal and video → animation conversion.
If you want to try it out, it’s available on the Mac App Store
and Product Hunt.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, or experiences — please leave a comment below!
Thanks for reading! 🙌
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