My First App: The Concept

Ok, so here it is!  This is the day I tell you about the first iPhone app I plan to build and publish in the app store.

I don’t know what the name will be exactly, you’ll have to stay tuned for juicy details like that, but here’s the concept…

A Vacation Time Tracker!

So what does that mean? Well, every good productivity app starts with a need. There’s obviously something in your life that’s difficult that you want to make easier.  For me, one thing that’s irritating is keeping track of how many vacation days, personal days, sick days, floating holidays, etc that I have used at work.  I know some people they see all of this information bundled nicely on their pay stub, but not all of us have such luxuries.  Where I work I’m kind of on my own with that sort of thing.  In fact, I probably have a better idea of how many days I have left than my employer does.

Left to my own devices I’ve gotten scattered in my tracking habits. I know there’s a text file on my computer with some days recorded, and a notes file on my iPod as well, and the time I’ve reserved is on a staff calendar somewhere, but I wish there was a way to pull all of this together.

Some of you party poopers out there are probably itching to say, “Hey Scott, you know there’s already an app for that.”  Well, duh, there’s already an app for everything! That doesn’t mean that I can’t make a better one though!

I think this is a good starter project for me, for the following reasons:

• It’s not too simple (like an app where you push a button and it makes a farting sound).
• It’s not too impossible, like my 2D side scrolling game idea.
• It’s going to satisfy a real need in my life, so I’m personally motivated to use my own app.
• I think other people will find it useful enough to pay .99¢
• There’s not a lot of competition for this type of app.

Here’s the list of features I’m currently considering, I would LOVE to have your feedback. Please let me know if I’m leaving anything out!

• Track vacation, personal, sick days and holidays.
• Track multiple job profiles (for the industrious people or couples who share a device.
• Compose and send a vacation time request email to your employer from the app.
• Send time reports to your employer, spouse or whoever.
• Get reminders before your personal days expire.
• Automatically roll over remaining vacation days (if applicable).
• Record how you spent your vacation time (via text notes, pictures taken from  your phone, or possibly voice recording).

So there you have it.  All the cards are on the table.  Like I said, it’s not extremely original, but common things can be made extraordinary with the proper execution. Remember, we had smart phones around well before Apple brilliantly executed the concept and built what we now know as the iPhone.  So I’ll try to do my best and make the best vacation time tracking app in the store, and I welcome your comments, critiques and suggestions.  Thanks for reading!