[Progress] Developing My Sleep Tracker Game

[Plushy]

Dec 24, 2023
Alright fast laners, I finally have an update for you.
I went from the fast lane to the SUPER fast lane.

Project Update​

I finally decided to hire someone on UpWork today for a specific part of my app that has stumped me. I don't think I can learn this skill in a reasonable amount of time (server management & API integration, it'll probably take 1-2 years to master) plus I would much rather work on the parts I enjoy (game design/balance, art, UI, economy and AI)

I woke up this morning to 18 offers! This part of the job was so "hard" for me I didn't imagine anyone would bite. I am so grateful that since I have experience in game development I gave a generous offer so I think that's why people grabbed at it.

So far, I "hired" 2 people, and sent an offer to each. I kind of want to hire a third just to be safe.

---

Personal
​

Spoiler: Personal life that has nothing to do with app progress

Personally, I recently got broken up with in a terrible relationship that I clung on to for far too long (~2 years), and I am getting plastic surgery at the moment (Dec 28, 2023) to recover my self esteem.

BUT! This is excellent, because I have learned so much about working with people (met so many wonderful people and friends!) and having faith since then, that if this hadn't have happened, I wouldn't have the guts to hire somebody using money and work with people. I figured, if I can spend $30k on a risky cosmetic surgery, what's a few thousand thrown at my dream app? It'll be for a mechanic that has stumped me for weeks. A seasoned developer can wrap it up in a single afternoon.

I have thought about this app every single day all year, and waffled between procrastination and conflict with the ex. It is time to go full steam ahead. I think this will make me happier than any relationship would. And maybe the conflict was because I really wanted to be working on this, but we had different values. Also, since I will become prettier, this can only help with gaining trust, boosting my confidence and marketing my app. Money that isn't used for useful investments will be wasted on things you regret**. (I used to waste so much money - and time - on that failing relationship in health / gifts / therapy / coping / not working)

https://www.youtube . com/watch?v=Mu-es6rGfOE&ab_channel=Nevillution
"The Game of Life and How To Play It" - by Florence Scovel Shinn
** where that quote came from
Her book really made me change my mindset and filled me with faith, I wanted to share with my ex who was very negative, and all he got from that was we need to break up immediately because I wasn't his soul mate because things were "too hard"...

And I feel particularly blessed. I used to feel scarcity, I used to feel guilty that I was "privileged" to have this money (from my crypto adventures) when I was with the ex, so I wouldn't touch my money. He had such hatred for wealth. But now it's time to believe in my dreams, and part of my low self esteem was from having such "a hard life."

I reframed my thinking to think, "I deserve this money because I earned it with my ingenuity" and "It is here because a higher power is helping me create my dreams, and many people want this to come to reality. I am responding to their calls."

I read two books so far, "Low Self Esteem Workbook" and "Things Will Get as Good as You Can Stand" and even, "Getting the Love You Want," - which helped me interact with people more pleasantly - I concluded, that relationship failed because I wasn't confident enough, plus it also eroded my self esteem even more the longer I was in it. I'm grateful he broke up with me because I never would've done it. I don't like to give up. I'm grateful it failed, because it was a catalyst for growth. And as you can see, I've been developing an attitude of gratitude and positivity, and extreme kindness and tenderness to myself and others. It is the way. If you're going to achieve hard things, you need to be extra kind to yourself.

I have actually made a bounty of new friends in the mere 12 days since that relationship ended. It seems like all of the energy of the universe has opened up and poured its love into me.

Also it has been RAINING men. Everything I was lead to believe in that relationship was FALSE. I feel attractive, desireable, and successful. Men better than the ex in so many ways have been coming my way, offering commitment and dates and gifts and compliments. Smarter, wealthier, fitter, more funny, more confident men. I used to be loyal to him and have no eyes for others but just him, so no matter how poorly I was treated, I thought this was as good as it gets. That was false. As a woman you really are supposed to get the best man you can or you will suffer like I did.

I also learned, I love talking about my goals, and it only motivates me more. I started journaling every day so I won't bore you guys. I want to make a YouTube video about feminine motivation someday, because I've learned women have a bigger region for visual and verbal thinking, and greater "feelings" area. While rewards, consequences, logic, SMART goals, might be motivating to men, what seems to work for me is all that airy fairy voodoo "Manifest!" feel good stuff. I learned that stress increases testosterone and motivates men, while decreasing stress motivates women. If my brain has a higher proportion of neurons dedicated to feelings and words, why force myself to think like a man to succeed (if only 10% of my brain is masculine), when I can capitalize on my strengths? (using the full 100% of my brain))That relationship made me feel so masculine, having to do everything.)

Even while packing and studying for finals, I continued to create assets for my app using these visual, feel good techniques. I've never been so productive. I also finished reading SEVERAL books instead of grieving in the last 12 days. It seems like all my energy and words spent talking about him, have now been freed up to pursue my goals. Even my previous past time of trying to cope and wailing about the failing relationship, is now gone. All my thoughts are of progress and creation.

Anyway if any of you smart, fit, wealthy men want to hmu I AM single hahaha
And of course, I am dedicating myself to creation and wealth management. A man is not a hobby! Make your own damn money. My future clients of my app are my real lovers and providers. I think I will dedicate the next 1 - 2 years to working on my business before dating seriously again.

I am looking forward to publishing this, and growing. And then I want to go to grad school. So I feel like my dating pool will only get better.

 

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[Plushy]

January 10, 2024

Project Update​

• [A], whom I hired on UpWork, did a phenomenal job on integrating FitBit and my Unity game. I paid her 1.5k for this script.
  • I also happened to figure it out on my own, but her code is way better.
  • I'm considering making a tutorial on this for YouTube for other people who want to integrate API's to Unity game.
• Because [A] did such a great job on it, so quickly and well done, I've budgeted 10k for her to do the [main loop] and log in system. And that's the most I want to spend for now on paying someone else to do the work I'm supposed to do!

Personally, I feel ashamed that it is "my" game and my app, and I "suck" at working on it, and I've just been navel gazing, procrastinating, beating myself up, chasing illusions, etc. It makes me want to write more of the programming myself, but then I face a big wall of fear and procrastination, of which I go back into the books for, which is fueling my insecurity more when I just need to take action! I've read 7 books, all on self help stuff like boosting your self esteem, and I think it would've just helped me more if I had spent those hours working.

I feel like paying her is the "easy way out" and I "should be" doing this myself. I also rationalized, what difference does it make if I'm spending 12k on a shitcoin, vs 10k building an app? I felt perfectly justified spending tens of thousands on stocks and crypto, that I can flip, while when it's my app suddenly it's a lost cause? Whatever. So that's why I justify it. But I'm also wary of spending too much.

My intention is to update this blog more, because I noticed in the past, every time I've been consistent and successful, it's when I was updating daily. Whether it was weight loss, quitting benzos, or whatever, I seem to flourish when I'm in a community, I have a daily ritual, and I post about it.

I know the post value system is to prevent us from posting useless junk, but I wish the value system was suspended for progress threads, because I feel like if I don't post daily I fall behind a lot. I lack that internal locus of control, it seems the best I can do is recognize that I flourish when I can use the thought that "other people are watching me" to make myself work.

My next intentions / goals...
- Recreate the reward system
- Recreate the leveling up system
- Recreate the dialogue tap
- Update the art quality

I say recreate because the last time I made it, it was laggy and buggy which is so discouraging! I'm trying to change my mindset about this. I told myself, if the first time it is buggy, it's okay, it's like a rough sketch in art. You don't hang rough sketches, you go back, clean it up and polish it. I am trying to change my mindset and overcome procrastination and fear.

 

[srodrigo]

January 10, 2024

Project Update​

• [A], whom I hired on UpWork, did a phenomenal job on integrating FitBit and my Unity game. I paid her 1.5k for this script.
  • I also happened to figure it out on my own, but her code is way better.
  • I'm considering making a tutorial on this for YouTube for other people who want to integrate API's to Unity game.
• Because [A] did such a great job on it, so quickly and well done, I've budgeted 10k for her to do the [main loop] and log in system. And that's the most I want to spend for now on paying someone else to do the work I'm supposed to do!

Personally, I feel ashamed that it is "my" game and my app, and I "suck" at working on it, and I've just been navel gazing, procrastinating, beating myself up, chasing illusions, etc. It makes me want to write more of the programming myself, but then I face a big wall of fear and procrastination, of which I go back into the books for, which is fueling my insecurity more when I just need to take action! I've read 7 books, all on self help stuff like boosting your self esteem, and I think it would've just helped me more if I had spent those hours working.

I feel like paying her is the "easy way out" and I "should be" doing this myself. I also rationalized, what difference does it make if I'm spending 12k on a shitcoin, vs 10k building an app? I felt perfectly justified spending tens of thousands on stocks and crypto, that I can flip, while when it's my app suddenly it's a lost cause? Whatever. So that's why I justify it. But I'm also wary of spending too much.

My intention is to update this blog more, because I noticed in the past, every time I've been consistent and successful, it's when I was updating daily. Whether it was weight loss, quitting benzos, or whatever, I seem to flourish when I'm in a community, I have a daily ritual, and I post about it.

I know the post value system is to prevent us from posting useless junk, but I wish the value system was suspended for progress threads, because I feel like if I don't post daily I fall behind a lot. I lack that internal locus of control, it seems the best I can do is recognize that I flourish when I can use the thought that "other people are watching me" to make myself work.

My next intentions / goals...
- Recreate the reward system
- Recreate the leveling up system
- Recreate the dialogue tap
- Update the art quality

I say recreate because the last time I made it, it was laggy and buggy which is so discouraging! I'm trying to change my mindset about this. I told myself, if the first time it is buggy, it's okay, it's like a rough sketch in art. You don't hang rough sketches, you go back, clean it up and polish it. I am trying to change my mindset and overcome procrastination and fear.

I don't understand your reasoning. I get that you'd like to be able to do all the programming yourself. But programming is a very wide field and you shouldn't feel ashamed for getting help from specialists. I've made simple games in Unity and other tools. But, as mainly a frontend developer these days, now I'm building a web app prototype that uses openAI and need a backend, and I'm struggling a bit to figure out how to build and and deploy it as it's not trivial. And I've done backend development before and I can figure out new stuff relatively easily. But software development in general is not simple beyond trivial applications, and one can only have so many skills.

So, don't overthink it. The fact that you found a good contractor (specially on Upwork) should be something to celebrate. It costs money, but it's okay if you can afford it and move on.

 

[Plushy]

January 11, 2024

Project Update:

• The API broke again, on my script and her's. I felt discouraged and frustrated for the rest of the night and didn't do much work after trying to fix it a few times. I thought about moving on to another mechanic. Then I felt ashamed and beat myself up...
• This morning I received an update from her, she OVER-DELIVERED and her new script not only works, but she also created a debug page for the app?! I feel astounded by the quality of her work. The script is communicating with MY Fitbit account already and shows my step count today in the game! That's incredible! How did she do it? She apparently used the same line I used, "Unitydl://" in the redirect link - somehow when she used it, it works, when I use it, it's a jumbled mess that doesn't? I don't understand.
• Waiting for her to reply with the source code now

Next steps:

• Create a document telling [A] What I need for the next milestone of the project
• Show her the previous work
• Figure out what I need to do next while she works on that.

Personal reflections:

Spoiler

The situation is changing all the time and I need to adapt. It turns out, I wasn't mentally prepared for how quickly she would deliver, and how good her results are. I used to complain all the time that "I take too long" when it turns out she turns around the project so quickly, I'm not prepared and feel anxiety?! I need to get my emotions together. I was preparing for the worst case scenario where she DOESN'T deliver, and I'm on my own, and how I would have to rebuild from scratch - when it turns out she fixed all the bugs I was worried about and over-delivered on top of that. What a problem to have! Not being prepared to be successful! Now that her code works, instead of thinking of how to start over, I need to pivot to think about how to build on top of that. I feel like a pony put next to a stallion, to see the quality and speed of a true professional. I didn't know people could be that trustworthy! I've never seen anyone deliver quite like it. Money truly is a lubricant.

I've decided to journal every day so I can regulate my emotions and set my goals / intentions better. So I won't be such a mess. I want to be successful, high powered, efficient, effective. I want to be a better communicator. I've decided that avoiding the work is avoidance and I hate avoidant people. Work is love, effort is love, and work is healing. The only way to heal my work ethic is to work, not by "reading" about it.

I decided to take my commitment to my app as seriously as I would take a commitment to a date. If I was willing to be patient and forgiving and kind and never ever-ever give up on a romantic partner, to move heaven and earth to show up for someone, why can't I use that love on my project / business? I would overlook serious red flags and flaws in a partner, but at the littlest frustration in MY project, MY DREAM, that's worth giving up on? Nuh-uh! I would spend 2 years on a guy, and think we would be together forever - until he DUMPS me! and then in a measly 1 year on a project I'd think "that means it's never going to happen" I'm taking too long! etc. I have love and work all mixed up. What I'm looking for is work, not love! In fact, I think my motivation drive is entirely just love. My desire for love, is my motivation. Love is patient, kind, forgiving, and puts in effort, puts faith over fear - and that's the attitude I ought to apply to my creative vision, not other people. At least, not until later. Until my ducks are in a row, I can't imagine being in a relationship.

The capacity I have for work is my capacity for love, so I am going to heal it. I used to be at the computer, studying or making art, up to 16 hours a day. My work ethic used to be through the roof. Now, I want it to be as great but also sustainable. And I was able to do that without having anybody in my life, so the only validation and support I need is of my own (and through these silly little blog posts) The truth is, LOVE IS irrational. It IS irrational to put crazy hours into your work, with no proof of success yet, and I have such a capacity for doing that, when that energy ought to be turned into my dreams, not some guy!

I am still recovering from jaw surgery, so I'm super weak at the moment. I realized, I was willing to risk dying without seeing my dreams come to fruition? I've got to get it together.

 

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[Plushy]

I don't understand your reasoning. I get that you'd like to be able to do all the programming yourself. But programming is a very wide field and you shouldn't feel ashamed for getting help from specialists. I've made simple games in Unity and other tools. But, as mainly a frontend developer these days, now I'm building a web app prototype that uses openAI and need a backend, and I'm struggling a bit to figure out how to build and and deploy it as it's not trivial. And I've done backend development before and I can figure out new stuff relatively easily. But software development in general is not simple beyond trivial applications, and one can only have so many skills.

So, don't overthink it. The fact that you found a good contractor (specially on Upwork) should be something to celebrate. It costs money, but it's okay if you can afford it and move on.

Thank you for putting this into perspective for me. It is scary and shameful to feel like you can't do it all, but I do need to change this thought process around. The most important thing is creating a quality product and having it delivered.

 

[Plushy]

I absolutely love this thread, and my friends, stop enabling me you guys!! Things are going so fast now.

tl;dr:
Posting more regularly on the forum is helping with my motivation.

Sent the documentation for the upwork hire to write more code for me. Also she delivered a bug fix overnight. I am impressed and amazed by her reliability and work ethic. I secretly wish there was an anime where I find out this amazing freelancer is just me in another timeline because by golly, that is a person I aspire to be like.

Spoiler

I was whining and complaining, whingeing (whine + cringe) to my friend about how scary it is how reliable [A] is and how fast things are going. And because of talking about it (and if there's any value I want to add to you guy's day, is that talking about your goals can sometimes be a form of motivation) I ended up wanting to try something out at the computer. Little did I know, 2 hours later I had written the documentation for what I wanted next on the project that I had been putting off all day, simply because I talked about it and talking relieved stress for me. And [A], the stellar freelancer that she is, already replied and is on it.

I'm actually taking a step back and appreciating the work I did put in. Even if I have to scrap it, I think the fact that I made a solid attempt at developing this app myself, makes her take me more seriously. And the art I've put into it, when I put it in screenshots for the documentation, really does look like a professionally made game. I actually thought, as much as I whine and mope about how amazing her code is, she probably doesn't have the color theory I have and skill for aesthetics I've developed over years. So... specialization? And as much clout as "I am an artist and a programmer" has, perhaps there needs to be a class of people that look up to me because "yes I'm an artist but I'm also a business person!" I love that this forum has helped me move past the block of "I shouldn't spend money on it" and "I should do everything myself" because once those blocks have been removed, I'm actually thinking about my next steps now, I'm actually thinking like, "wow, time to build a website next since this game looks like it's going to be wrapped up really soon!"

If there's anything else of value I can add to this post, it's that It's okay if things are really scary and unpredictable. It isn't a sign of failure. One month ago, I was resigning to the fact that this game might take 2 or 3 years to make. The next month, with the sudden turn around with hiring help, it may take only 2 or 3 months. Through it all, I am learning acceptance - letting go of the timeline. People hound that a goal needs a deadline. I think that was holding me back! Because when I kept missing my deadlines, I only became more and more discouraged.

But now, it seems way faster than anticipated, showing me I had a fear of success too. But even then, I have to detach. Something could happen to this amazing hire, and I might be on my own again. So I have to detach. But still, if everything DOES go well, quickly, and successfully, then I have to adjust to that timeline too. I thought I would have months to prepare for marketing, art, and sales. Now it may all happen sooner than I thought! Also, I just want to complain again, that while opening up the previous build, it was extremely laggy and discouraging, no wonder I didn't want to work on it. Little did I know, God would send me an angel to help me out. It's so weird how things work out like that.

I guess a successful person is just used to things working out for them and are used to miracles when they commit, but to me, these seem like unexpected blessings and last minute miracles. I know everything still seems to be a mess right now, but trust the process... I feel optimistic. I feel like my work hasn't gone to waste, because when I put it in a document, the love I had put into making it look nice, pays off in that I look like a legit company with a legit game. I think everything really is happening for a reason. If my relationship hadn't failed, if my friend weren't getting married, I wouldn't have desperately gotten jaw surgery, which gave me the courage to spend money on my app, which now my wish of "I wish my game would be done" is coming true.

 

[Bounce Back]

Mind recording how you chose her out of all bids/profiles you viewed? I think now would be a good time to record that information while it is still fresh.

Rooting for you!

 

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[Plushy]

January 13, 2024

Project Updates​

• Working with my friend [N] to sort out what information is needed to create a log in system
• [A] is working on the alarm and calendar tracker
• I am working on the alarm set up page and bed time set up page

I realized I can make a kickstarter, and accomplish my stretch goals for this game that I wanted by using other people's money. If I don't get much funding from the kickstarter anyway, then the market wasn't really interested and I would've wasted time and resources creating those stretch features for a game people didn't even want! OR, if I make the game, and it's still successful on its own, I can reinvest the profits into expanding it. I have lots of ideas for extra features, but right now I should focus on the MVP after all.


I made this chart. My strategy is the middle route I suppose. I know that as I put more effort and time in, the odds of success increase. It's my only leverage as a small "company". And right now, even with 0 funding from other people, I still want to create a good game.

I could be like dwarf fortress or stardew valley and go all in, dedicate years and years into crafting the perfect game, but that's such a high risk!

Of course, big game companies can throw 20 million dollars into development and buy the best art, best programming, every feature you could want. And it's not risky to them at all either, since they already have existing games they can replenish money from. People who don't have a ton of money, trade in time and risky new ideas.

I've been journaling long hand every day and meditating every day. I think this online accountability is helping too.