Inkwell: Micro Journaling

Inspiration

I've been trying to get into journaling for a while now, on and off. And I always felt the pressure of a blank screen. I tried to download other journaling apps, but I couldn't trust any of them. So, I decided to build a privacy focused app that is okay with tiny achievements like a one sentence journal entry.

What it does

• Micro journaling: Write as little or as much as you want. One sentence counts. Multiple entries per day welcome.
• Local insights: Your device analyzes your entries to surface patterns and moods - no external servers involved
• Instant search: Find any entry from years of journaling, all processed locally on your device

How I built it

Swift and SwiftUI from the ground up, with SwiftData for local storage and iCloud sync. No third-party analytics, no crash reporting that phones home, no backend infrastructure at all. Only RevenueCat to handle payments. The hardest part was resisting the urge to add "just one more feature" - keeping it simple took more discipline than adding complexity would have.

Accomplishments that I am proud of

After nearly ten years of iOS development, Inkwell is my first app with in-app purchases. I'd always been hesitant to charge for my work - something about putting a price on an app felt daunting. When that first lifetime purchase came through, it was surreal. Someone actually valued what I built enough to pay for it.

What's next for Inkwell: Micro Journaling

Honestly, I want to see where this can go. I'll keep refining the app - adding thoughtful features that make it more compelling without compromising privacy or simplicity. Image/video upload is on the list. iPad support and dark mode too. But mostly, I'm focused on small improvements based on real feedback, building something sustainable that a small group of people genuinely love using every day.

Built With

• swift
• swiftdata
• swiftui