u/lupodevelop

Hi everyone!

TL;DR: I've just shipped Hexy 1.1, a native iOS app to track and monitor your Hex.pm package downloads, now with widgets and a refreshed UI. I'd love for you to try it out!

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/it/app/hexy-watcher/id6762607967

https://preview.redd.it/mjz9t8oigwyg1.png?width=480&format=png&auto=webp&s=63b6cf713cd39f1d557cd209e25637ee1a3ed2c9

Widget? oh yes!

If you've made it this far, here's the longer version.

I'm a terrible "social media" person. I'd rather spend time at the keyboard than figuring out how to talk about what I'm building. But this community feels like a good place to share.

What is Hexy?

Hexy is a native Swift app that connects to the Hex.pm and tracks your package downloads over time. You get a clean overview of all your packages, a per-package chart to spot trends, and now two Widgets to keep an eye on things from the Home Screen or Notification Center. Long press on any card and you get a full detail view for that package.

No accounts, no tracking, no ads. Just your data, on your device.

Why native?

After years of C# and Windows-native dev, I wanted the full, raw experience of building something entirely mine, from the first line of Swift to the final App Store submission. Every pixel, every sync logic, my responsibility. iCloud handles sync between macOS and iOS with zero setup, which honestly still feels like magic.

What's new in 1.1

• Refreshed UI across the board
• Long press on a card to open the package detail view
• Two Widgets to monitor your trends at a glance
• Updated chart, now package-specific

The Apple situation

iOS is live and updated. macOS has been sitting in review since the very first submission and has not shipped a single version yet. Not 1.0, not 1.1, nothing. It's collecting dust in the queue while Apple takes their time. If you have any insight on how Apple review works for menu bar or widget-heavy apps, I'm genuinely all ears.

The awkward part

If you appreciate the no-ads, no-tracking approach and want to keep the DIY spirit alive: ko-fi.com/lupodevelop ☕

Happy coding! 💜

Hi everyone!

TL;DR: I*’ve just released* Hexy*, a simple and efficient app to track and monitor your* Hex.pm package downloads. I’d love for you to try it out, it would honestly make my day! If you want to hear the story and the "why" behind the tech choices, keep reading below.

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/it/app/hexy-watcher/id6762607967

screenshot

If you've made it this far, congratulations! You've unlocked the long, confusing version.

First off, please bear with me if I’m terrible at this "social media" thing. Writing sensible announcements, convincing people, or trying to "sell" a product isn't really my forte. I’m way too much of a DIY/maker person—the kind who’d rather spend time at the workbench or glued to the keyboard than figuring out how to communicate.

Actually, I’ve realized over time that the things I find genuinely cool, useful, or interesting usually don’t resonate with most people. I’m a niche person, often excited about details that others don't even notice. But if there’s one place where "niche and passionate" is the norm, it’s here.

So, Let's start:

Since I started diving into the BEAM world (Elixir, Erlang, Gleam ), I’ve been blown away by the energy. This community has a vibe that’s just different: welcoming, active, and genuinely cool. I’ve felt at home here from day one.

I wanted to make a little something to say thank you. No strings attached, nothing pretentious, just a small gift for all of us who build and share: Hexy Watcher (or "Hexy" for friends).

We all know the feeling: you run mix hex.publish (or, in my case, gleam publish), you close the terminal, and that’s it. But a download isn’t just a stat; it’s a dev on the other side of the world trusting your code to build their dream (so heartwarming). It’s a sign that your work is out there, breathing and moving. I built this so we can keep those trends a bit closer, making the life of a package feel a little more "real" and visible.

The Tech Stack (and why native): 
The app is written in Swift. I know, I know... I could have used a cross-platform framework like Flutter, React Native, Tauri, or even Elixir Desktop.

So, please, don’t ask me things like "Why didn’t you build it for Windows/Linux/Android?" just yet. Please: after years of C# and Windows native dev, I felt the need to get my hands "dirty" with a completely new ecosystem from the ground up. I didn't want to hide behind a multi-platform abstraction. I wanted to experience the full, raw process of publishing something entirely "mine" from the first line of code to the final App Store submission.

I wanted to be responsible for every single pixel and every sync logic, rather than just being the dev who builds a small piece of a larger machine (a terrible idea). That’s why I chose to ignore the "build once, run everywhere" path for a moment: I opened Xcode and went full native, focusing on macOS first and then iOS, using iCloud to keep everything in sync between devices without any setup.

Status:

• iOS: Live now!
• macOS: Currently stuck in the "Apple Review Maze" (they’re taking their sweet time!). I might release it outside the App Store soon if they don’t hurry up.
• Android: I haven’t forgotten you! Once the Apple dust settles, I’ll see if I can embark on that journey.
• Linux: (P.S. I’m experimenting with Rust + eww, so something might pop up there too!)

I’d love your feedback! If you have a moment to try it out, please let me know what you think. Honestly, even just some "emotional support" would mean the world to me putting your own work out there for the first time is always a bit nerve-wracking! 😅

I hope you find it useful. It’s just my way of giving back to a community that’s been so great to me.

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/it/app/hexy-watcher/id6762607967

Happy coding, everyone! 💜

One last thing (the "awkward" part): 
I know, I might sound a bit desperate here... but hey, if you appreciate the effort of building a (simple) app for free, with no ads, no tracking, and no spy attached, maybe consider buying me a coffee? It would help keep the DIY spirit (and my caffeine levels) alive while I figure out the Android/Linux versions! ☕️

Ko-fi.com/lupodevelop