Inspiration
“I didn’t have time to work out.”
I kept hearing that, often from people who had spent hours scrolling that same day. I know how easy it is to pick up your phone for a minute and look up much later. We have an incredible amount of entertainment in our pockets, but sometimes it leaves us feeling like the day disappeared.
I didn’t want to build an app that shames people for being on their phones. I wanted to make it easier to pause and do something for yourself first. That became LOCKD: if you want time in a distracting app, earn it with push-ups.
What it does
You choose the apps you want to lock. When you want to use them, LOCKD asks you to do push-ups first. Each rep earns screen time, and you can adjust the plan to suit you.
That’s the whole idea. Less negotiating with yourself, more moving before you scroll.
How we built it
I built LOCKD for iPhone. It uses Apple’s Screen Time tools to protect the apps people choose, and the front camera to count push-ups on the device. RevenueCat handles the in-app purchases.
Getting those pieces to work together took a lot more than putting a counter on a screen. The app has to know when time is earned, when it is being used, and when to let someone back into the app they chose to lock.
Challenges we ran into
The hardest part was making the idea feel simple when the system behind it really isn’t. Screen Time restrictions involve several parts of iOS, and they have to stay in sync even when LOCKD is no longer open.
Then there was the push-up counter. It had to feel dependable enough that people would trust the time they earned. I spent a lot of time thinking through camera placement, phone movement, and what should count as a real rep.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
LOCKD went live, and during its first week someone paid for it. That first purchase meant a lot to me. It was a small signal that this idea was useful enough for someone to support.
I’ve also received constructive feedback about the app. It has already helped me see what could be clearer and what needs work next. I’m proud of that part too. Shipping is a milestone, but hearing from people and making the product better is how LOCKD will become something real.
What we learned
I learned that a simple idea can hide a surprisingly complicated product. But I also learned that you don’t need to solve every problem around screen time to help someone make one better choice today.
What's next for LOCKD
I want to keep listening, especially to the people who are actually trying LOCKD. I want the setup to feel easier, the push-up tracking to feel more reliable, and the app to fit into real routines.
The bigger hope is still the same: that the next time someone reaches for a feed without thinking, they might pause, do a few push-ups, and choose what they want to do with their time.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.