So... I wanna build an android app...

[oldmobie]

I've recently started teaching myself MIT's App Inventor 2. I primarily wanted to learn how to make my own app. As a secondary goal, I'd love to turn it into a residual income stream. There are several ways to do that, and I haven't chosen yet. But my first app isn't gonna do it. It's tiny and lame, most of the fun wears off in a minute or so. No way am I charging for that.

So I need a new project. One that will generate enough feedback to help me polish it into something marketable. I think I'd like to try some kind of garden journal. It falls well within my interests, and I think this forum could be a great resource for feedback and potential beta testers.

Somewhere on here is a thread where a few of you have talked about how you journal. You were talking about on paper, but I'll probably look that up and see what applies here. Probably edit this post with a link to it, too. EDIT: Here it is.

Here's my preliminary list of feature ideas (provided that my skills are sufficient):

1. Journaling of first/ last frost dates, planting dates, harvest dates, user defined dates (weeding? first flowering?) I'd like these events to have a space for comments, maybe the option to attach pictures or documents. Google calendar integration would be a plus.
2. Seed inventory
3. trade list
4. Journaling for seed purchases or trades. (I've recently started keeping track of who I've traded with, how to contact them, what I sent them and what they sent me.)
5. Encrypted backup of all data
6. Export any/all data as .txt , .pdf , .html

So, what do you guys think? Would such an app provide anything new, or just duplicate what's already out there? What else would be good to bring to this project? What version of monitization do you find least annoying? Free app with ads? Free version with ads, paid version without? Paid app, no ads? Donationware?

In case anyone's curious, here's a link to my first app on the Amazon app store. It's lame. Don't say I didn't warn you. The Easiest Game in the World

[rowan]

I use www.myfolia.com for all that you have listed and like it. It is very handy. The only app that comes to mind that I have been thinking of using is www.almanac.com/content/vegetable-garden-planner-pc-and-mac which has PC and mobile versions and is just what I need, if it can handle a farm size layout. I have been going to try it but have not go around to it yet. I don't think it does everything on your list but what I want is the way you can make a plan of your garden and what is in every bed, and being able to go over what you have planted in past years with production figures.

I don't use internet on my phone, only on my PC so I can't use mobile apps. I do have an android OP on my PC but it is hard to use so I don't bother.

Anyway I say go for it but as there are other gardening apps out there you might want to make and market something for small commercial, or at least professional amateurs or breeders (which might interest me) as there isn't much for them, with the ability to store and arrange data from projects.

Love to see what you come up with. Just my 5c.

[keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.)]

Cool i say go for it if you can. As far as games go i always liked those harvestmoon games, even the original (of which is now abandonware and the roms freely downloadable online).

Don't know if i have a real use for an online journal app or not. Myfolia isnt bad and the journal feature of openwetware wiki isnt half bad either ( though aimed more at scientists).

What i do have a use for and strong desire for is a breeding pedigree app. Similar to human or dog genealogy. There literally is nothing out there i have found. But personally while an app wouldn't be half bad, i too prefer dedicated pc apps as well. (bonus if data can be synced between a phone/tablet app and the pc app). I primarily use ubuntu Linux so a debian/ubuntu compatible app would be great. Bonus if it is also cross platform between Windows and Mac as well as i do switch between platforms too.

There is even open source genealogy software you probably could modify. I'm still waiting for a programmer to do it for me.

That is my two cents.

[oldmobie]

... My skills are NOT sufficient to the task. I had every intention to raise my skill level and do it anyway, but it would appear to also be outside the scope of app inventor.

I searched the play store again and found gardenize. It does a lot of what I wanted, so I've been using it. My biggest dislike so far is that the export feature is only in the pro version. Can't fault the dev, though, I was gonna monetize if I built something.