Over the past several months, you may have noticed that things have been quieter than usual here. I haven’t released as many updates, shared new projects, or been as active with my apps as I once was. I wanted to take a moment to explain why, because I believe the people who support my work deserve honesty.

Losing My Dad Changed Everything

Seven months ago, I stepped away from iOS development following the passing of my dad.

Losing him was one of the most difficult experiences of my life. When you lose someone who has been such an important part of your world, it can be difficult to find your footing again. Everyday responsibilities become harder, motivation can disappear, and even the things you once loved doing can feel overwhelming.

For me, software development had always been more than just writing code. It was something I had spent years learning, building, and improving. Developing apps was a passion that gave me a sense of purpose. But after my dad passed away, I found myself struggling to focus on that passion while trying to process such a significant loss.

I needed time away, even though stepping back wasn’t an easy decision.

The Personal Struggles Behind the Silence

Along with grief, I was also battling depression. Some days, finding the motivation to work on projects I once enjoyed felt almost impossible.

I want to be honest about that because life doesn’t always follow the plans we make for ourselves. Sometimes, we have to put our personal well-being first, even when it means temporarily stepping away from our goals.

During those seven months, I wasn’t abandoning my work or forgetting about the people who use my apps. I was dealing with things behind the scenes that made it difficult to continue working at the pace I had maintained for years.

Taking a break wasn’t about losing interest in development. It was about trying to find my way forward during a difficult chapter of my life.

Why My Apps Were Temporarily Removed From the App Store

During my time away, my Apple Developer Program membership wasn’t renewed. As a result, my apps were temporarily removed from the App Store.

I understand that seeing an app become unavailable can be frustrating, especially for customers who rely on it. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this caused.

The membership lapse was a consequence of being away from my usual development responsibilities during this period. It wasn’t a decision to walk away from my apps or the people who support them.

A few days ago, I renewed my Apple Developer Program membership. This was an important step toward getting things back on track.

Please keep in mind that renewing my membership doesn’t necessarily mean every app will return immediately. App availability depends on Apple’s processing and any additional requirements that may apply. My goal is to work through those steps and move forward from here.

Finding My Way Back to Development

After more than seven months away, I’m beginning to look ahead again.

My journey as a developer has always been about learning, creating, solving problems, and turning ideas into useful software. Those things still matter to me. Although my circumstances have changed, my appreciation for the work I’ve done and the people who have supported it hasn’t disappeared.

As I return, I want to take a thoughtful approach to my projects. That means reviewing my existing apps, addressing outstanding issues, and planning future updates as I’m able.

I also want to continue expanding my work beyond iOS, including Android development and website design and development. This next chapter is an opportunity to build on my experience while allowing myself the time and space to move forward at a sustainable pace.

I don’t want to make promises about release dates or timelines that I can’t guarantee. What I can promise is that I’ll communicate as clearly as possible about my work and share updates when I have meaningful progress to report.

A Thank You to Everyone Who Has Supported Me

To everyone who has downloaded my apps, visited my website, followed my projects, or supported my work over the years, thank you.

Your support means more than you might realize. Independent development can be a challenging journey even under the best circumstances, and the opportunity to create software that other people find useful is something I never take for granted.

I also want to acknowledge that grief doesn’t follow a schedule. Seven months may have passed, but that doesn’t mean everything suddenly becomes easy. I’m still moving forward one step at a time, and I’m learning to balance my personal life with the work I’m passionate about.

My dad’s passing changed my life, but I don’t want this difficult period to define the rest of my journey.

I’m still here. I’m still a developer. And I’m looking forward to what comes next.

Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and for being part of this journey.

— Paul Roden Jr.
Independent Software Developer