Life of an Indie App Developer - Computerphile

Marco Arment made his name developing Tumblr but is now an independent app developer and technology commentator. He works mainly on web and iPhone software.
More videos from this interview (and more coming): bit.ly/Marco_Videos
Marco's own website: marco.org
/ computerphile
/ computer_phile
This video was filmed and edited by Brady Haran (with a few tweaks by Sean).
Computer Science at the University of Nottingham: bit.ly/nottscomputer
Computerphile is a sister project to Numberphile. More at www.bradyharan.com
Game developer Marc ten Bosch: • Indie Games & the Four...

Пікірлер: 198

  • @ching9679
    @ching96798 жыл бұрын

    I admire this guy's humility. He seems like a really nice guy. Probably his character is one of the reasons of his success.

  • @rich1051414
    @rich10514148 жыл бұрын

    Nothing better than deleting code, or simplifying redundant code. That is what gets me through the '90%' of drudgery, thinking about how I can do this simpler than I did last time, or how can I automate this process to make it quicker from now on. I am definitely a programmer that requires a challenge, and I will invent them if none exist.

  • @gunjeetsingh90
    @gunjeetsingh908 жыл бұрын

    This guy is so humble and honest .. outrightly tells others he isn't qualified to manage a team.. here in india you find mostly arrogant nutcases who will never do that.

  • @you7uber5

    @you7uber5

    8 жыл бұрын

    +gunjeet singh india has shitty programmers

  • @gunjeetsingh90

    @gunjeetsingh90

    7 жыл бұрын

    +tenminutetokyo : You are not wrong when you say one can buy a Phd. But those aren't the people who make it to silicon valley. I have some friends working in the valley and i can tell you they can compete with anyone in the world. Its not that easy for indians to make it to Silicon valley.

  • @frooots

    @frooots

    6 жыл бұрын

    gunjeet singh cultural differences 😃👍

  • @markganus1085
    @markganus10858 жыл бұрын

    struggling programmer here. it's always motivating to watch talks with successful guys in the business.

  • @danield8718

    @danield8718

    7 жыл бұрын

    same

  • @JairoCepeda
    @JairoCepeda8 жыл бұрын

    I needs MOARRR. Seriously, I'm an indie developer, Hello Internet and ATP listener on Overcast. I love the work of Marco and yourself Brady. I'm eager to watch what's coming up.

  • @Perspectologist
    @Perspectologist8 жыл бұрын

    I really like this series with Marco. Looking forward to the release of more videos.

  • @Richard-yt4rk
    @Richard-yt4rk7 жыл бұрын

    This guy sounds like Big Head in Silicon Valley!

  • @jopaki
    @jopaki8 жыл бұрын

    What a cool gent. Thanks, Brady (keep em coming), for another gem.

  • @Stalkie
    @Stalkie8 жыл бұрын

    "Do not touch the screen. I know what you mean." Love it :)

  • @SONOFAZOMBIE2025

    @SONOFAZOMBIE2025

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Sami what does it mean? I don't get it... :(

  • @DYTerMyter

    @DYTerMyter

    6 жыл бұрын

    He doesn't like when somebody touch his spagh...sorry, screen. And he can get the opponent's point without any pocking his screen. Apology for the late explanation.

  • @gutlessband5825
    @gutlessband58257 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video. Really dig this sort of stuff. Would love to see more. Keep it up.

  • @danfarm
    @danfarm8 жыл бұрын

    You really are a great interviewer, Brady.

  • @kubispice3026
    @kubispice30268 жыл бұрын

    I have never seen a programmer so happy in their life. I sure as hell am not.

  • @CutiePi

    @CutiePi

    8 жыл бұрын

    +kubi spice Where do you work?

  • @ciyvi9

    @ciyvi9

    8 жыл бұрын

    +kubi spice why? whats wrong with being programmer???

  • @kubispice3026

    @kubispice3026

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Shorty4 Nothing wrong with being a programmer as I am a programmer, it is just the job I guess that you get or whom you work for. I personally do not like 12 hour days and short deadlines with threats of being fired if a extremely short deadline is not filled. I know 4 or 5 other programmers at different companies as well and they say the same thing to me. I guess the bigger the company the worse, unless you get the opportunity to work at say Google or Oracle.

  • @kubispice3026

    @kubispice3026

    8 жыл бұрын

    +2263275electro I work on backend development at a healthcare company.

  • @kubispice3026

    @kubispice3026

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Hanniffy Dinn Not enough time to start up a project and work for myself. To create a great project, you need multiple people with loads of different talents to work on sections of the project. Whether that be security related, CGI, marketing, etc. Most programmers do not create with security in mind, and this is a huge disservice to users of the product (s) that you create .

  • @21doyourthing
    @21doyourthing8 жыл бұрын

    Marco is great and so enjoyable to listen to.

  • @plop010
    @plop0108 жыл бұрын

    overcast is awesome! the standard ios podcast app is crap so I switched to overcast and it's just so much better. great job and thanks!

  • @bryn2666
    @bryn26668 жыл бұрын

    Nice Schiit Audio gear there.

  • @Computerphile

    @Computerphile

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Bryn Barker see the playlist link in video description to more Marco videos!!!

  • @BubbaYoga

    @BubbaYoga

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Bryn Barker "That sounds like Schiit"

  • @343N

    @343N

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Bryn Barker shiiiiiiiiiiiettt he's got schiit

  • @lednerg
    @lednerg8 жыл бұрын

    tumblr's Woz

  • @EtrielDevyt

    @EtrielDevyt

    8 жыл бұрын

    SJWoz?

  • @schmoab
    @schmoab8 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting interview. Gives me a few ideas. Thank you.

  • @JoeDzado
    @JoeDzado8 жыл бұрын

    I, too, love deleting obsolete code.

  • @victornaut
    @victornaut8 жыл бұрын

    I LOVE DELETING CODE.

  • @bernardosulzbach3134
    @bernardosulzbach31348 жыл бұрын

    This video is very good. This is the level of quality we've come to expect from this channel.

  • @Semikami
    @Semikami8 жыл бұрын

    It feels like it has been ages since this was teased…worth the wait! (these comments though…not so much)

  • @tatianatub
    @tatianatub8 жыл бұрын

    i remember the early days of tumblr and how often it was down

  • @doloresipsum5437

    @doloresipsum5437

    6 жыл бұрын

    ashley thank this guy for that 😂

  • @jmasterX
    @jmasterX8 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video!

  • @rafaelkrizek9608
    @rafaelkrizek96087 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for honesty! Helps a lot! :)

  • @ghffrsfygdhfjkjiysdz
    @ghffrsfygdhfjkjiysdz8 жыл бұрын

    Allot of wise things were said in this short clip. Being in the right place at the right time can get you in the door, but it is the perseverance that will make you grow.

  • @jmbu196
    @jmbu1968 жыл бұрын

    I

  • @Tribble_Mama
    @Tribble_Mama8 жыл бұрын

    Overcast is my favorite podcast app I have used so far. I recently switched from an iPhone to a Nexus phone and that is the one app I am having the hardest time replacing. It is also the only app I have ever spent money on.(partly because I'm cheap, partly because I'm poor :) I love it, still have it on my iPad.

  • @yababyism
    @yababyism8 жыл бұрын

    He didn't mention that he's on a podcast called under the radar. It's a great podcast about independent app development. If you're interested in this video, you should check out that podcast!

  • 8 жыл бұрын

    Seems like a really independence and fame longing guy that wants to have fun. That's not an easy way to take but a respectable one. Very nice interview.

  • @sweetspotendurance
    @sweetspotendurance8 жыл бұрын

    This was fascinating, keep 'em coming. Also, why was Brady back to Computerphile?

  • @TheSpacecraftX
    @TheSpacecraftX8 жыл бұрын

    This man is partially responsible for the cancer that is Tumblr but he seems like a cool guy. He just made it work. It's pretty cool to have a hand in so many successful projects.

  • @404namemissing6

    @404namemissing6

    8 жыл бұрын

    +TheSpacecraftX He made a great product. It are the users who made it cancer.

  • @TheSpacecraftX

    @TheSpacecraftX

    8 жыл бұрын

    I Wrestle Bears Very true.

  • @TheGreatSteve

    @TheGreatSteve

    8 жыл бұрын

    +TheSpacecraftX Be thankful the tumblarina's are quarantined there.

  • @TheSpacecraftX

    @TheSpacecraftX

    8 жыл бұрын

    ***** It's a breeding ground for "special snowflakes" and the extreme left. Like the kind of people who get love to get offended (e.g. shirtstorm). Those people were confined to tumblr for the longest time but they're spilling out into real life and other places online.

  • @sunsetsoverlavenderfields

    @sunsetsoverlavenderfields

    8 жыл бұрын

    +TheSpacecraftX there's cool parts of tumblr. there's also shitty parts. just like reddit, 4chan, facebook, and any other website.

  • @ferocious_lad2031
    @ferocious_lad2031 Жыл бұрын

    Okie this is f*ing 7 years but super relatably relevant till this day.

  • @YSOFTWARE
    @YSOFTWARE8 жыл бұрын

    I wish I was an iOS dev back in 2008.

  • @jamesrockybullin5250
    @jamesrockybullin52508 жыл бұрын

    00:07 00:24 00:36 01:11 01:42 02:28 02:34 03:35 04:19 04:27 05:48 07:26 08:23

  • @CYXXYC

    @CYXXYC

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Piano Telope He is nervous xD

  • @euphoricanimal

    @euphoricanimal

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Piano Telope You have so much time.

  • @SleeveBlade

    @SleeveBlade

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Piano Telope lol didn't notice that

  • @jamesrockybullin5250

    @jamesrockybullin5250

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Vishwas Chauhan I suppose that's why he is being interviewed and not me. :) But I will not be listening to his podcast or other spoken-word media... jk x

  • @joshuajurgensmeier4534

    @joshuajurgensmeier4534

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Piano Telope Wait... Is laughing against the rules now?

  • @tzisorey
    @tzisorey8 жыл бұрын

    "When do you let it go?" Great art is never completed - merely abandoned.

  • @slugrider
    @slugrider8 жыл бұрын

    Anybody know where I could pick up some of those acoustic panels that he has?

  • @SimplyMyAccount
    @SimplyMyAccount8 жыл бұрын

    Overcast is the best podcast app by far. But please take out the pause play button sound thing. It isnt big enough to actually see the sound waves so it just looks like half light orange half dark orange.

  • @BoebieBaby
    @BoebieBaby8 жыл бұрын

    Are there any places where people can give off projects to other people?

  • @Amutechnologies
    @Amutechnologies7 жыл бұрын

    nice one thanks for the sharing..

  • @mayur1234560
    @mayur12345608 жыл бұрын

    The top-right thumbnail at the end of the video titled 'app development' doesn't even exist (yet) ?

  • @pierreleonsimard
    @pierreleonsimard8 жыл бұрын

    Inspiring!

  • @wargaming67
    @wargaming678 жыл бұрын

    Are those Schiit Audio stuff near the speaker on the left?

  • @davidthorne999
    @davidthorne9998 жыл бұрын

    This guys sounds like bighead from silicon valley

  • @therealpanse
    @therealpanse8 жыл бұрын

    Damn... He really had to say "gif" without a trigger warning? I feel offended.

  • 8 жыл бұрын

    +therealpanse Ich auch - und das schon bevor das Video hochgeladen wurde. Verschwörung? Illuminaten? Freimaurer? Oder doch nur Außerirdische...

  • @Lugitaro

    @Lugitaro

    8 жыл бұрын

    +therealpanse Please go easy on him. It's not his fault that it turned out like that.

  • @asoidfhowehjr8248

    @asoidfhowehjr8248

    8 жыл бұрын

    +therealpanse e d g y

  • @justodiaz1858
    @justodiaz18588 жыл бұрын

    As a software developer, I agree with what he says at about 4:20, you need both of fixing an app and creating something new.

  • @Ramzuiv
    @Ramzuiv8 жыл бұрын

    Marco looks quite different than how I imagined he looks

  • @chloupichloupa
    @chloupichloupa8 жыл бұрын

    This guy is so modest that I think he has real confidence issues ^^.

  • @petefluffy7420
    @petefluffy74208 ай бұрын

    When did they change from being programs?

  • @stewiegriffin6503
    @stewiegriffin65036 жыл бұрын

    why is Agassi making apps ?

  • @MichielHaisma
    @MichielHaisma8 жыл бұрын

    MARCO ARMENT ON KZread OMGMGG

  • @hatchera
    @hatchera8 жыл бұрын

    "Being in the market when it's taking off is a huge advantage" So, gotta learn all about VR. App stores and such are already flooded.

  • @ConditionOfMan
    @ConditionOfMan8 жыл бұрын

    Buffer overflow attack annotation link directs to Indie Games & the Fourth Dimension.

  • @finnianquail8881

    @finnianquail8881

    6 жыл бұрын

    Drake Walker It was a buffer overflow app

  • @crookesm
    @crookesm8 жыл бұрын

    Do one on Siracusa too, please!

  • @CowTipper898
    @CowTipper8988 жыл бұрын

    Overcast is the best podcast app

  • @certee
    @certee8 жыл бұрын

    Something about being a co-developer of Tumblr and being called an Indie dev just doesn't sit with me right.

  • @mitchellbrien7034

    @mitchellbrien7034

    8 жыл бұрын

    Regardless of if Tumblr was indie or not while he was there (it stopped being indie when he left by the sounds of things), his current job is "indie developer" so that's what he calls himself.

  • @TheRealCountDancula

    @TheRealCountDancula

    8 жыл бұрын

    +certee You're right, he wasn't an indie dev working at Tumblr. But now he's self employed working on projects like Instapaper and Overcast.

  • @EyePodX

    @EyePodX

    8 жыл бұрын

    He's an indie iOS app developer, not necessarily an indie developer in a general sense.

  • @certee

    @certee

    8 жыл бұрын

    +EyePodX Indie to me invokes a sense of a game developer versus the scary corporate world. He practically founded a corporation. His resume will allow him into many doors. That isn't Indie to me.

  • @kerberossi
    @kerberossi8 жыл бұрын

    Happy to be early!

  • @TheRomichou
    @TheRomichou8 жыл бұрын

    The "don't touch my screen, I know what you mean" sticker though.

  • @rasm781b
    @rasm781b8 жыл бұрын

    What programming language do Marco use?

  • @Arcsinner
    @Arcsinner8 жыл бұрын

    03:30 Fed-EX truck!

  • @tankmohit

    @tankmohit

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Archsinner Brand Placement. lol

  • @noelgallagher7887
    @noelgallagher78878 жыл бұрын

    2:20 "Do not touch the screen, I know what you mean." Haha I also get crazy when people put their dirty little finger on my screen

  • @sonicx7098
    @sonicx70986 жыл бұрын

    Can't wait this guy start streaming, would be cool. Kappa

  • @Lostpanda123
    @Lostpanda1238 жыл бұрын

    The next thing is VR. Be ready people!

  • @anjith

    @anjith

    4 жыл бұрын

    Been ready for a while 😒

  • @tomdonaldson698
    @tomdonaldson6988 жыл бұрын

    Interesting!

  • @512TheWolf512
    @512TheWolf5128 жыл бұрын

    tumblr is a terrible place nowadays why thank you for it, Marco, thank you!

  • @jetbtwo
    @jetbtwo8 жыл бұрын

    I believe what he meant to say is Brand (tm)

  • @theamjolnir9641
    @theamjolnir96415 жыл бұрын

    So essentially he learned about branding and marketing and that helped him succeed.

  • @aliedperez
    @aliedperez8 жыл бұрын

    Oi! back-end is where fun is! It's way more interesting than insane a-new-framework-trend-every-month front-end.

  • @Seawolf159
    @Seawolf1598 жыл бұрын

    he said sometimes it's just luck, sometimes it's just being at the right place at the right time (and some other one), but these 2 are the same !? aren't they both luck!!

  • @lorenzocalabro4785
    @lorenzocalabro47858 жыл бұрын

    What's that keyboard? :D

  • @sofiekimochiha3702
    @sofiekimochiha37026 жыл бұрын

    thank u :*

  • @dancrooks1490
    @dancrooks14908 жыл бұрын

    This is exactly what I want to do in life.

  • @Dataacid

    @Dataacid

    8 жыл бұрын

    +daniel crooks You will regret it.

  • @SIMUN2277

    @SIMUN2277

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Dataacid why?

  • @immanuelsegol829

    @immanuelsegol829

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Dataacid LOL, why would he?

  • @nixothepaladin

    @nixothepaladin

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Dataacid Why? If you get the gist of it, it's really quite fun.

  • @kubispice3026

    @kubispice3026

    8 жыл бұрын

    If you can handle stress very well, then you could possibly love it. If you cant, then look elsewhere.

  • @manasbansal7946
    @manasbansal79463 жыл бұрын

    "waste some time with..." subtle

  • @1stepofe-noise311
    @1stepofe-noise3114 жыл бұрын

    "Controller : [Logic]"...any number of players take turns with the same basic rule set of shapes pieces to mix...then...the entire set the players create is shifted by 1 person over to challenge them with the other person's arrangement...its timed...whoever's in the top 50% gets a slightly tougher starting basis...the grind continues by 50% of cutting the players...until...1...remains...

  • @SirNightmareFuel
    @SirNightmareFuel8 жыл бұрын

    So do you figure VR could be the next wave?

  • @BunnyFett
    @BunnyFett8 жыл бұрын

    Is he seriously younger than me? We both have similar careers, I think he's really cool. :D Edit: He's 5 years older than me, I just checked. He just started a few years later than I did.

  • @mvitcpmvitcp8103
    @mvitcpmvitcp81032 жыл бұрын

    Why did he say he moved past the stage of his life where he could do something like that?

  • @TheGrooseIsLoose
    @TheGrooseIsLoose8 жыл бұрын

    I can't figure out why he doesn't sound the same. I barely recognize his voice and I hear it all the time in podcasts.

  • @jordangreene7952

    @jordangreene7952

    8 жыл бұрын

    Different microphone, it makes a surprisingly big difference

  • @muddi900
    @muddi9008 жыл бұрын

    Overcast is still not on Android.

  • @bibinzacharia7577
    @bibinzacharia75776 жыл бұрын

    I'm a +2 (higher secondary) student from Kerala, India. I have a billion usd app idea but i don't know how to build an app. What could i do for accomplishing my idea. Can anyone help me.. thank you!!

  • @ABPioue289t89883475q

    @ABPioue289t89883475q

    6 жыл бұрын

    Bibin Zacharia lol

  • @DaneMackier_ZA
    @DaneMackier_ZA8 жыл бұрын

    Spring cleaning is the best :)

  • @TechXSoftware
    @TechXSoftware8 жыл бұрын

    I'm an indie developer too :P

  • @hacker-7214
    @hacker-72148 жыл бұрын

    Too bad instapaper is now useless cuz of apple news app. but I still love overcast though. Really smart guy, I can see he wants to be the next Mark Zukerberg

  • @corkhead0
    @corkhead08 жыл бұрын

    Programmer here, deleting code is easily the most satisfying part of my job. All those potential problems, gone! Nasty spaghetti code, gone! Copy pasted garbage, gone!

  • @Ptjuusitalo
    @Ptjuusitalo8 жыл бұрын

    It's always a bit disconcerting somehow seeing the faces of all these people whose voices you are so familiar with.

  • @stanleysadventres
    @stanleysadventres8 жыл бұрын

    This is perfect for CGPGrey.....

  • @junglifox9244
    @junglifox92446 жыл бұрын

    Sir I have a idea to create a great apps sir plz help me

  • @kefka4053
    @kefka40538 жыл бұрын

    Wow. Early. Also, love this video.

  • @darkmage07070777
    @darkmage070707778 жыл бұрын

    *sigh* Wish I was smart enough to come up with stuff like Mr. Arment. Ah, well.

  • @mattrmay
    @mattrmay8 жыл бұрын

    Let the camera sit.

  • @amreladawy3784
    @amreladawy37848 жыл бұрын

    We may spent lifetime searching for an opportunity like tumbler, and you just walked away? I hope that you kept some options to keep you funded.

  • @brandon-butler

    @brandon-butler

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Amr ElAdawy He's buying a Tesla, I think he's got plenty of money :)

  • @kubispice3026

    @kubispice3026

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Brandon Butler I don't know. I wonder if he requested a payout. I know he said he left before they blew up, but exactly how big the platform was when he left is still unanswered.

  • @amreladawy3784

    @amreladawy3784

    8 жыл бұрын

    +kubi spice Yes, this is my question also

  • @brandon-butler

    @brandon-butler

    8 жыл бұрын

    kubi spice I wasn't implying he bought it with funds from Tesla. I think he gets a lot of money from selling Overcast.

  • @amreladawy3784

    @amreladawy3784

    8 жыл бұрын

    Brandon Butler All software people deserve better life with more money and appreciation

  • @TerryRoyer
    @TerryRoyer8 жыл бұрын

    He's only 33 too... dang.

  • @ashishkumar-pi4ns
    @ashishkumar-pi4ns5 жыл бұрын

    Hey Dude are you a app developer? I Want to start my business can you help me to develope my business android app?

  • @Lion_McLionhead
    @Lion_McLionhead8 жыл бұрын

    Being financially independent from a corporate buyout & having a mortgage helps.

  • @raulrsj20
    @raulrsj208 жыл бұрын

    He's 33, right? Looks much older, guess working that hard takes its tolls on the person, brilliant mind and very eloquent too, nonetheless. Inspiring.

  • @DaPainterDude
    @DaPainterDude7 жыл бұрын

    Hey Marco, I just watched your video. I'm looking for a developer. I have an amazing app idea. I'm not sure how to protect my idea before speaking to a developer so they cant steal my idea. Do you have any pointers for me?

  • @martinw4445
    @martinw44453 жыл бұрын

    This dude must be Stefan Molyneux's blood brother.

  • @vianddirect5196
    @vianddirect51964 жыл бұрын

    I connected very well, the boring 90% stuff

  • @sanjaykumartiwari2226
    @sanjaykumartiwari22265 жыл бұрын

    Can you make an app 📲 that can recognize snake 🐍 by using camera 📷 idea

  • @meanwhile_0
    @meanwhile_08 жыл бұрын

    that "indy" in the thumbnail

  • @oz_jones

    @oz_jones

    8 жыл бұрын

    +meanwhile It's a dog's name.

  • @AfaqSaleemChannel
    @AfaqSaleemChannel8 жыл бұрын

    I don't get the dislikes o_O