AltStore and the Indie App Renaissance

cross-posted from: https://flipboard.video/videos/watch/c0dfea13-7f2a-402c-b47c-50ccd151554b

AltStore co-founders Riley Testut and Shane Gill are the perfect example of necessity being the mother of invention. When Apple denied the launch of their retro video game app, Delta, in 2016, they realized that indie app developers needed another solution — one that could bring apps to communities without Apple dictating the rules and taking a cut.

Founded in 2019, AltStore is that solution. The creators of the first decentralized app store share their journey, including what an open app store means for developers and how they’re investing in the fediverse.

The conversation includes:

1:11 Genesis of AltStore3:00 Getting Delta in Apple’s App Store5:34 The Fortnite factor8:10 The value of an alternative app store12:04 The difference between putting an app in AltStore v App Store 14:41 Indie market for apps18:03 Ecosystem safety21:30 Is AI increasing the total number of apps out there?22:45 Vibe coding and paths for app distribution24:42 Fediverse and eureka moment32:26 People-powered discovery — a broader movement 34:29 Building communities around apps36:44 Patreon integration, supporting developers directly 38:38 Curating apps and source collections40:07 Solutions for in-app payments43:27 Pieces of the next generation ecosystem45:56 Decentralizing app innovation46:32 Relationship with Apple now51:23 What’s on the horizon for AltStore54:21 How to experience AltStore

Referenced:

Explore AltStore: https://explore.alt.store/Riley + Shane’s Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/cw/rileyshane

🔎 You can find Riley and Shane at https://altstore.io/.

✚ Connect with host Mike McCue at @mike@flipboard.social and @mmccue.bsky.social.

🌊 Catch the wave! Surf the open social web and create your own custom feeds at surf.social, a new product from the people at Flipboard. https://about.surf.social/

Disclosure: Dot Social host Mike McCue serves on the board of AltStore.