From ’80s Coding to Building My First iOS App: VigiGym
Hey Indie Hackers,
after decades in design and UX, I decided to return to coding — and built my first iOS app: VigiGym, a minimalist workout tracker for people who already know what they want to train.
I’ve been lifting weights since the ’80s and coding on those early beige computers back then. But for most of my career, I worked in visual design — websites, interfaces, user flows. When I couldn’t find a workout app that matched Apple’s clarity and focus, I realized I had to build it myself.
Since I’d been away from programming for a while, I developed a workflow I call VibeCoding: using clear intent, logic, and modern AI tools to bridge the gap between concept and implementation. It allowed me to think like a designer and execute like a developer.
VigiGym runs on SwiftUI and Core Data, works fully offline, and connects with Apple Watch. It doesn’t try to coach you — it just gives you structure, precision, and a clean interface to track your lifts.
I’m still early on the indie path — no paying users yet, but steadily growing visibility (Peerlist, Uneed, Betalist).
If anyone here has experience marketing indie iOS apps or optimizing App Store presence, I’d love your input.
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/vigigym-workout-tracker/id6748325582
Website: https://www.vigigym.com
Some organic marketing ideas:
For subreddits that allow self-promotion (like r/sideproject, r/imadethis), post something like: Built VigiGym after getting tired of bloated workout apps that feel more like social media than training tools. It’s a minimalist iPhone and Apple Watch workout tracker made for self-guided lifters. You can build custom routines, track supersets, and see real muscle maps of your progress — all 100% offline, no noise or cloud. It’s live now on the App Store if you want to train distraction-free. Curious what people value most in a lifting app — design or data?
For non-promo subreddits (like r/fitness, r/Apple, or r/weightroom), frame it as a solo dev insight: I’ve noticed how many gym apps try to be everything — community, nutrition, coaching — and end up cluttered. I built a minimalist iPhone + Watch tracker focused purely on lifting flow, no social feed or analytics bloat. Every screen’s designed for one-hand use during sets. Made me realize how much better workouts get when the app just gets out of the way. Anyone else prefer minimal tools when training?
Then reply daily under Reddit and YouTube comments about gym tracking, Apple Watch workouts, or minimal fitness tools. Write things like, Yeah totally — that’s exactly why I built a super clean tracker that just logs sets and shows muscle visuals, or Same, most apps slow you down mid-set, this one’s designed to work with your training rhythm.
For YouTube, comment early under videos like “best Apple Watch fitness apps,” “workout tracker for iPhone,” or “minimalist gym setup.” Say something like, Love this — I built something similar for self-guided lifters who just want to lift and log, not scroll. The Watch version especially feels like a natural fit for quick set tracking.
For short-form, post two slideshow videos per day. Example 1: “Why minimalist workout apps make you stronger.” Example 2: “The Apple Watch gym app that just works.” Use slides showing quick routine creation, color-coded muscle visuals, and stat summaries from the app.
Post one AI UGC video daily with an AI avatar showing interest or surprise, with overlay text like “Wait… this lifting app was built by ONE person?” followed by visuals of the iPhone and Apple Watch interface.
Post three green screen memes weekly — use visuals like a lifter juggling phones mid-set with overlay text “POV: your workout app wants you to post instead of lift,” then cut to VigiGym’s clean interface.
Run this consistently for 30 days — two slideshow posts daily, one AI UGC video daily, three memes weekly, plus Reddit and YouTube comment engagement to build authority across fitness and Apple communities.
You can run all of this directly inside Aftermark AI (aftermark(dot)ai) to automate Reddit replies, generate AI UGC videos, and schedule short-form content btw