Just launched my first Mac app after 6 months; here's what I learned about visualization research
Hey IndieHackers!
I just shipped Klarity Disk to the Mac App Store lastweek. It's a disk analyzer, but the real story is the research rabbit hole I fell into.
The Product
Mac disk space analyzer with treemap/icicle visualizations instead of traditional sunburst charts.
Price: $4.99 (going to $6.99 March 31)
Model: One-time purchase, no subscription
Tech: SwiftUI + AppKit, native macOS 14+
Link: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/klarity-disk/id6758895498
# Why I Built It
I was frustrated switching between 3 apps whenever my 256GB Mac filled up:
1. DaisyDisk (find large files)
2. Activity Monitor (check what's running)
3. Finder (delete stuff)
Wanted everything integrated.
# The Research Detour
While building, I got obsessed with WHY sunburst charts (used by most disk analyzers) felt slow to scan.
Found Cleveland & McGill's 1984 research: humans judge LENGTH 40% more accurately than ANGLE.
Sunburst = angles + radius (cognitively demanding)
Treemap = rectangles (length comparisons)
Wrote a full analysis with citations: https://www.klaritydisk.com/blog/treemap-icicle-vs-sunburst
This became my differentiation: research-backed design vs "cheaper alternative."
##Technical Challenges
Glassmorphism on macOS 14:
Apple's .glassEffect() requires macOS 26 (unreleased). Had to reverse-engineer it with SwiftUI primitives.
Wrote about it: https://klaritydisk.com/blog/building-liquid-glass-ui-macos
App Sandbox:
Security-scoped bookmarks for file access. Documentation is sparse.
App Store rejections:
Rejected twice for hardcoded colors (dark/light mode issues). Fixed, but painful.
# Stats So Far
- 6 months development (solo, nights/weekends)
- ~40 hours/week
- First commercial Mac app
- Launched Feb, 2026
- Revenue: TBD (literally just launched)
##What I'm Struggling With
1. Marketing - I'm a developer, not a marketer. Posted to Reddit but hit self-promo rules everywhere.
2. SEO - Only 2 of 8 pages indexed by Google. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.
3. Getting initial users - Beyond friends/family, how do you get those first 10-50 real customers?
4. Product Hunt timing - Should I launch now or wait? I have zero following.
# What I Learned
1. Research-backed design works - Having Cleveland & McGill citations gives credibility vs "I think this is better."
2. Writing matters - Technical blog posts helped me think through design decisions AND gave me marketing content.
3. App Store is picky - Dark/light mode support is non-negotiable. Test EVERYTHING.
4. Solo indie Mac dev is viable but slow - 6 months for v1 feels long, but I learned a ton.
# Questions for IH Community
1. How do you market Mac apps when Reddit bans self-promotion?
2. What's worked for you getting initial users?
3. Should I do Product Hunt now or build momentum first?
4. Am I overthinking the visualization science or is this a real differentiator?
Happy to answer questions about SwiftUI, Mac development, or the research process!
Promo codes available if anyone wants to test it and give honest feedback.
