Open-Sourcing the App That Reached Top 3 on the iOS Medical Paid Chart
Snoreman is a tool I built for myself to monitor whether I snore during sleep.
Just over a month after launch, it exceeded my expectations: it reached top 3 on the iOS Medical Paid chart and has stayed in the top 10 since. I'm deeply grateful for the support. True to form, I'm open-sourcing it.
Links
- App: App Store link
- Source code: github.com/timqian/snoreman
- AI-assisted development prompt history: View commit history
Why Open Source?
Open-sourcing is one of my six personal principles for building products (see all principles), and it's the way I prefer to work.
A few reasons why I believe in it:
- Get help from users: People find bugs, submit PRs, and help make the software better together.
- Build for shutdown: Even if I stop maintaining the app or can no longer afford the Apple developer fee, anyone who needs it can still compile and run it themselves.
- Extra distribution: GitHub is a discovery channel in its own right, helping reach users who might never find the App Store listing.
- Inspire other builders: Seeing a real, shipping app's code can be a valuable reference for anyone with an idea.
Can You Still Make Money If You Open Source?
I think yes.
With the source code available, technically proficient users could absolutely build and install it themselves — but there's a time cost. Since the app is priced modestly, most users find it easier to just buy it from the App Store. It saves time, and it's a way to support the developer.
I've tested this model before with the star-history Chrome extension: it was open source and self-installable, but the Chrome Web Store version cost $1.99 — and it had consistent sales. (It later went free when the Chrome Web Store dropped support for paid extensions.)
What If Someone Copies It?
The code is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA: you can view, modify, and even distribute it — but not for commercial use. Anyone who monetizes it illegally is subject to legal action.
But even if someone copies it and I don't notice — what can they realistically charge?
- Price it lower than me? How do they break even?
- Price it higher? Why would users choose the knockoff over the original?
In the era of vibe coding, the moat isn't the code itself — it's brand and ongoing service. Code can be copied; trust cannot.
Welcome
If you snore or want to record your sleep audio, give Snoreman a try. If you're a developer, feel free to star the repo or submit a PR. All feedback is welcome 👋