# Developer Sunsets Six-Year Crypto Hobby Project CoinCurrently

After reaching peak App Store rankings, the creator open-sources the codebase for community learning.

- **Source:** [Developing Android Apps](https://brifing.si/source/aa76b6c1-28c1-49f8-967e-b6a0eeadfa86)
- **Published:** 2026-10-18
- **Topic:** [Entrepreneurship](https://brifing.si/c/entrepreneurship)
- **Original article:** <https://www.reddit.com/r/androiddev/comments/1x9he8a/after_6_years_i_am_moving_on_from_my_hobby_project/>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/9ca8e682-b86f-4458-9723-4cb3577312dc

## Origins in SwiftUI Experimentation

The project began when iOS 14 introduced SwiftUI and Home Screen widgets. With less than one year of professional experience, the developer aimed to build simple cryptocurrency tracking widgets. A positive reception on Reddit, garnering nearly 300 upvotes, served as the primary catalyst for expanding the prototype into a full-featured native mobile application.

## Scaling a Personal Utility

Built primarily as a learning vehicle, the application focused on features the creator personally desired. Despite its humble origins as a hobby project, it achieved significant traction, peaking at number 99 in the Finance category on the App Store. The platform maintained a consistent user base, reaching 500 daily active users at its height.

## Transitioning to Open Source

After six years of development, the creator decided to move on due to a natural decline in personal motivation. To ensure the project remains useful, both the iOS and Android codebases have been published on GitHub. This transition allows the community to study the implementation details and learn from the developer's technical struggles.

## Maintenance and Future Support

While the original creator is stepping back from active development, the application remains available on both the App Store and Google Play. Future updates will be limited compared to the previous release cadence. The open-source move invites external contributors to maintain the codebase, ensuring the app continues to function for existing users.

## Technical Evolution Over Time

The project serves as a historical case study for mobile development, spanning the early adoption of SwiftUI to modern cross-platform expectations. By examining the GitHub repositories, developers can analyze how the architecture evolved over six years. The code reflects early design choices made by a junior developer who grew alongside the platform's capabilities.

## Strategic Shift in Focus

The developer is currently pivoting toward a new, undisclosed project. This transition highlights the common lifecycle of indie software, where initial passion projects eventually give way to new professional interests. The creator plans to share details regarding this upcoming venture in the coming weeks, marking a new chapter in their personal development journey.

## Community Impact and Learning

Open-sourcing a project with hundreds of daily users provides a rare look into real-world maintenance challenges. Aspiring developers can benefit from the existing structure, which includes native implementations for both major mobile operating systems. This transparency helps others avoid common pitfalls encountered during the initial development phase of the CoinCurrently application.

## Legacy of the Project

CoinCurrently demonstrates how a simple experiment can evolve into a recognized utility within a competitive category. By choosing to open-source the project rather than abandoning it, the creator preserves the value built over six years. This approach provides a sustainable path forward for the app while allowing the developer to pursue new challenges.

## Sources covering this story

- https://www.reddit.com/r/androiddev/comments/1x9he8a/after_6_years_i_am_moving_on_from_my_hobby_project/ — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._
