How an iOS Subscription Actually Works, End to End
How an iOS subscription works end to end, from App Store Connect to your app unlocking. The four layers, the purchase flow, entitlements, with diagrams.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗// writing
Blog.
I haven't published here yet. In the meantime, here is the latest from my products, Spaceport and Lighthouse.
// from my products
Lighthouse
How to Set Up a Waitlist in 90 Seconds (Visual Walkthrough)
A screenshot-by-screenshot walkthrough of setting up a real waitlist page in 90 seconds. Name, pitch, goal, background, and the one survey question that pays for itself.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Migrate Your Waitlist From GetWaitlist, LaunchList, or Google Forms
A plain-English migration guide for indie founders switching waitlist tools. What to export, how to move the signups, and how to re-warm the list without losing momentum.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
RevenueCat vs Adapty: Picking a Subscription SDK for Your iOS App
RevenueCat vs Adapty for iOS subscriptions. Free tiers, platform coverage, paywall A/B testing, and integrations, plus which one fits an indie app.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Waitlist Landing Pages Built in Under 2 Minutes (2026 Guide)
How to build a waitlist landing page in under 2 minutes: what to put on it, how to turn signups into customers, and the free tool to create a waitlist in seconds.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
RevenueCat vs Superwall: Which One Does Your iOS App Actually Need?
RevenueCat vs Superwall for iOS. They solve different problems and are often used together. How the pricing models differ, and how to pick for your app.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Pre-Launch Marketing Strategy: 15 Tactics for Indie SaaS (2026)
Pre-launch marketing strategy for indie SaaS founders: 15 tactical moves to validate the idea, build a waitlist, warm it up, and launch to real customers.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
The App Store Small Business Program: A Guide for Indie iOS Developers
The App Store Small Business Program cuts Apple's commission to 15%. Who qualifies, how to enroll, the associated-accounts rule, and whether it's worth it.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Google Forms Alternatives for a Waitlist (2026)
Google Forms captures emails but misses everything else a waitlist needs. Six honest alternatives ranked by fit for indie SaaS launches.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
What is a Waitlist? A Complete Guide for Indie Founders (2026)
A waitlist is a landing page that captures email signups before your product launches. Full guide: why they matter, what makes them work, when to start.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
Best GetWaitlist Alternatives for Indie Founders (2026)
Honest roundup of the best GetWaitlist alternatives for indie founders: LaunchList, Waitlister, Prefinery, KickoffLabs, Viral Loops, Lighthouse.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
Vibe Coding a Paid iOS App: What the AI Agent Can and Can't Do
Vibe coding a paid iOS app with an AI agent works for the code and stops at the App Store. What it can build, what it can't, and the workflow that fits.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Viral Loops vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
Viral Loops is referral-first. Lighthouse is validation-first. Honest comparison for indie SaaS founders picking a pre-launch tool.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
Cursor Rules for SwiftUI: Keeping AI-Generated iOS Code Consistent
Cursor rules keep AI-generated SwiftUI consistent with your iOS project. The MDC format, globs scoping, what to put in a rule, and syncing with AGENTS.md.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
KickoffLabs vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
KickoffLabs wins on viral marketing and referral mechanics. Lighthouse wins on indie pricing and survey-answer-first pre-launch. Honest comparison.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
How to Change App Store Subscription Prices Without Losing Subscribers
Change an App Store subscription price without a churn spike. Grandfather existing subscribers, Apple's consent rules for increases, and the ASC API flow.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗Spaceport
Claude Code for iOS Development: A Setup That Actually Works
Yes, you can use Claude Code for iOS development. How to pair the terminal agent with Xcode, build and test from the CLI, plus CLAUDE.md, hooks, and MCP.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
SaaS Pre-Launch: The Playbook for Indie Founders (2026)
SaaS pre-launch playbook for indie founders: validate the idea, build a waitlist, run a beta, ship the launch email. Timeline, metrics, and common mistakes.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
Prefinery vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
Prefinery wins on enterprise-grade referral and integrations. Lighthouse wins on indie pricing and survey-answer-first pre-launch. Honest comparison.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
Apple's App Store Price Point Equalization, Explained
App Store price equalization converts your base price into a matching price in every territory. What it does, how the API works, and when to override it.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗Spaceport
How to Test iOS Subscriptions with a StoreKit Configuration File
Test iOS subscriptions and paywalls in the simulator with a StoreKit configuration file. No App Store Connect or sandbox account. Setup, flows, edge cases.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗Spaceport
AGENTS.md for iOS: Keeping Claude Code and Cursor Consistent in SwiftUI
Use AGENTS.md to keep Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex writing consistent SwiftUI in your iOS project. What to put in it, how each reads it, and a starter.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Waitlister vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
Waitlister wins on referral mechanics. Lighthouse wins on survey depth, feedback after launch, and a REST API for indie iOS/SaaS onboarding.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
LaunchList vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
LaunchList wins on one-time pricing and referral mechanics. Lighthouse wins on survey answers and what happens after signup. Honest indie comparison.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
GetWaitlist vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
GetWaitlist wins on referral loops. Lighthouse wins on knowing why people joined and what to do after. Honest comparison for indie SaaS founders.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
How to Create App Store Subscriptions with the App Store Connect API
Create and price App Store subscriptions with the App Store Connect API. JWT auth, subscription groups, price points, and per-territory pricing, with code.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Price Your First Indie SaaS (2026)
Playbook for indie SaaS founders picking a first price: three shapes that work, how to pick the number, common mistakes, and how to raise later.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
Live Activities and the Dynamic Island in SwiftUI on iOS 27
Build Live Activities and the Dynamic Island in SwiftUI on iOS 27. ActivityKit setup, updates, push tokens, and dismissal policies, with real code.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Segment Your Waitlist by Survey Answers (2026)
One-list-fits-all kills launch conversion. Playbook for indie SaaS founders: which questions to ask, which segments matter, how to send the right email.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
Liquid Glass in SwiftUI: A Practical Guide for iOS 27
Adopt Liquid Glass in SwiftUI on iOS 27. glassEffect, GlassEffectContainer, morphing button groups, tinted glass, and when to leave it alone.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Get Your First Waitlist Signups from X (2026)
X is where indie SaaS founders live. Playbook for turning replies, threads, and follows into waitlist signups without cold DMs or spam.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
iOS 27 Home Screen Widgets in SwiftUI: A Complete Guide
Build iOS 27 Home Screen widgets in SwiftUI. WidgetKit, TimelineProvider, interactive widgets with App Intents, and the new extra-large portrait family.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Turn Your Waitlist into a Beta Program (2026)
Playbook for indie SaaS founders: pick beta users from your waitlist, invite them the right way, collect feedback that ships, graduate them to paying.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
On-Device AI in SwiftUI with Apple's Foundation Models
Run on-device AI in a SwiftUI app with Apple's Foundation Models: LanguageModelSession, guided generation with @Generable, streaming, and iOS 27 updates.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
MailerLite vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
MailerLite is a full email marketing platform. Lighthouse is a launch toolkit where email is one of four pieces. Honest comparison for indie SaaS founders.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
How to Add Push Notifications to a SwiftUI App
Add push notifications to a SwiftUI app in 2026: request permission, schedule reminders, register for APNs, and handle taps and foreground alerts.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Convert Waitlist Signups into Paying Customers (2026)
Waitlist full but launch converts at 5 percent? Playbook for indie SaaS founders: warmup emails, launch day, 72-hour follow-up, non-converters.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
How to Add Sign in with Apple to a SwiftUI App
Add Sign in with Apple to a SwiftUI app in 2026: the button, the credential, the nonce, why name and email arrive only once, and server-side verification.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Fillout vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
Fillout is a form builder with deep integrations. Lighthouse is a launch toolkit where the form is one of four pieces. Honest comparison for indie founders.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Write a One-Sentence Pitch for Your Indie SaaS (2026)
How to write a one-sentence pitch for your indie SaaS: the format that works, examples, and the four mistakes that kill validation before it starts.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
How to Add Subscriptions to a SwiftUI App with RevenueCat
Add subscriptions to a SwiftUI app with RevenueCat in 2026: dashboard setup, a paywall with RevenueCatUI, entitlement gating, restore, and testing.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Notion vs Lighthouse: Building an Indie Waitlist (2026)
Notion is a workspace tool with a forms feature. Lighthouse is a launch toolkit with a waitlist at its core. Honest comparison for indie founders.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
StoreKit 2 vs RevenueCat for Indie iOS Apps in 2026
StoreKit 2 vs RevenueCat for indie iOS apps in 2026: the real cost, working code for both, what iOS 27 changed, and a clear way to choose.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Kit (ConvertKit) vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is a creator newsletter platform. Lighthouse is a launch toolkit where the newsletter is one of four pieces. Honest comparison.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
AsyncImage in iOS 27: Headers, Caching, and Custom Sessions
iOS 27 rebuilds SwiftUI's AsyncImage with URLRequest support, custom URLSessions, and phase-based errors. Load authenticated images, no custom loader.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Grow a Waitlist Organically (Without Ads) (2026)
Channel-by-channel guide to growing an indie SaaS waitlist without ads: eight channels that work, the cadence, and the post format for each.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
What's New in Xcode 27: The Complete Guide
Xcode 27 at WWDC26: coding agents in the editor, on-device completions, Device Hub, agent skills, and new frameworks. Read the complete guide.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
What to Put on Your Waitlist Landing Page (2026)
Practical layout guide for an indie SaaS waitlist landing page: headline, problem paragraph, form, goal counter, and the five things to leave off.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
First 30 Days After Launch: A Post-Launch Checklist (2026)
Week-by-week post-launch checklist for indie SaaS founders: respond fast, ship the first feedback-driven update, send the follow-up, review the data.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
Loops vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
Loops is an email engine for already-launched SaaS. Lighthouse is the toolkit for the launch arc itself. Honest comparison for indie founders.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Write Your First Launch Email (with Template) (2026)
Practical guide to writing your first launch email as an indie SaaS founder: subject line, structure, the one link, plus a copy-paste template.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
App Store Subscription Pricing at WWDC26: A 25-Country Guide
WWDC26 reworked App Store subscriptions, but Apple still will not price them per country for you. What changed, and how to price across 25 markets.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Pre-Launch Checklist for an Indie SaaS (2026)
Twelve-step pre-launch checklist for indie SaaS founders: validate, build the waitlist, run the survey, prep the launch email, plan post-launch.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
Tally vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
Tally is a free form builder. Lighthouse is a launch toolkit where the form is one of four pieces. Honest comparison for indie founders.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
Substack vs Lighthouse: Which Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
Substack if the publication IS the product. Lighthouse if the newsletter is one piece of a launch toolkit. Honest comparison for indie founders.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Add a TestFlight Beta Waitlist to Your iOS App (2026)
A TestFlight beta waitlist filters who gets in before you hit Apple's 10,000-tester cap. How to set one up, what to ask, and how to invite.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Lighthouse
Beehiiv vs Lighthouse: Which One Fits an Indie Launch? (2026)
Beehiiv if the newsletter IS the product. Lighthouse if the newsletter is one piece of a launch toolkit. Honest comparison for indie founders.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
What's New in Swift at WWDC26 for Indie iOS Developers
Swift 6.3 and 6.4 shipped at WWDC26: bidirectional Swift Testing migration, ownership in ordinary code, gRPC Swift, and MLX Swift. See what matters first.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Best Product Feedback Tools for Indie Founders (2026)
Best product feedback tools for indie founders in 2026: Canny, Featurebase, Nolt, Frill, Sleekplan and Lighthouse compared on price and fit for a small product.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗Spaceport
App Store Screenshot Automation With XCUITest
Automate App Store screenshots across every locale with XCUITest: clean status bars, seeded sample data, and dismissed system alerts. Ship the full set.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗Spaceport
Xcode 27 Translation Agents: Localize iOS Apps for Growth
Xcode 27 translation agents localize your iOS app through String Catalogs. Ship localization in a weekend, plus where it still needs a native speaker.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Waitlist with a Survey: Why Answers Beat Emails (2026)
A waitlist with survey questions tells you who signed up, what they want, and what they would pay, before you write any code. Why email-only is a vanity metric.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
Device Compatibility Testing for SwiftUI Indie Apps
A pragmatic guide to device compatibility testing for indie iOS teams. Learn to create a device matrix, automate tests, and validate SwiftUI apps on iOS 17+.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Validate a Startup Idea Before Writing Code (2026)
Validate your idea before you build: five small experiments, what each one tells you, and how to read the result honestly. For indie founders.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
iOS App Stats: The 2026 Guide for Indie Developers
Get the essential iOS app stats and benchmarks for 2026. This guide helps indie developers track what matters for retention, revenue, and paywall conversion.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Best Newsletter Tools for a Small List (2026)
Best newsletter tools for a small list in 2026: MailerLite, Beehiiv, EmailOctopus, Kit, Buttondown, Substack, Sender, and where Lighthouse fits.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
7 iOS App Examples for Indie Devs: A 2026 Guide
Explore 7 real-world iOS app examples for indie devs. Get deep dives into SwiftUI, monetization, and architecture to inspire and accelerate your next project.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Get Your First 100 Users (2026)
How to get your first 100 users in 2026: where they actually come from, a week-by-week plan, and the do-not-scale tactics that work.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
iOS App Recommendations: 10 Engines for Personalization
Our top iOS app recommendations for adding personalization. Compare 10 recommendation engines like Algolia, Recombee, and Core ML for your SwiftUI app.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Carrd Alternatives for a Data-Led Waitlist (2026)
Best Carrd alternatives for a data-led waitlist in 2026: Waitlister, LaunchList, GetWaitlist, Framer, and Lighthouse. Why signup data matters.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
Low Code iOS App Development: The Indie Dev's Guide 2026
Ship your app faster with low code iOS app development. Learn about different approaches, their real-world trade-offs, and how to build production-ready apps.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Run a Product Survey Before You Build (2026)
How to run a product survey that validates an idea: when it helps, six steps, which questions to ask, how many responses you need, and tools.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
7 Indie Games in Development to Watch in 2026
Explore 7 must-watch indie games in development for 2026. Get insights on Early Access, dev choices, and lessons for mobile and subscription-based games.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Typeform Alternatives for Indie Founders (2026)
Best Typeform alternatives for indie founders in 2026: Tally, Fillout, Formbricks, Google Forms, and Lighthouse. Pricing, caps, indie fit.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
The 10 Best Indie Game Dev Tools for 2026
Discover the 10 best indie game dev tools to build and launch your game in 2026. Our guide covers engines, art, audio, monetization, and more for solo devs.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Canny Alternatives for Indie Founders (2026)
Best Canny alternatives for indie founders in 2026: Featurebase, Fider, Nolt, Upvoty, Sleekplan, and Lighthouse. Pricing and indie fit.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
Rapid iOS App Development: Ship SwiftUI Apps Fast
Master rapid iOS app development in 2026. Get the roadmap for shipping production-ready SwiftUI apps fast with pre-wired architecture & AI tools.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Mailchimp vs Lighthouse: For a Small Waitlist (2026)
Mailchimp is a mature email marketing platform. Lighthouse is a waitlist and validation toolkit with a built-in newsletter. Honest comparison.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
Swift & SwiftUI Time Zone Management: 2026 Guide
Master Time Zone Management for Swift & SwiftUI apps. Learn UTC storage, local display, notifications, API handling, and testing to prevent common bugs.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
Best Waitlist Tools Compared (2026): An Honest Guide
Best waitlist tools in 2026: viral referral growth, plain email capture, or validation with real answers. Honest comparison of the main options.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
A Production-Ready Feature Flag Implementation for SwiftUI
Learn a production-ready feature flag implementation for SwiftUI apps. Our guide covers architecture, SDKs, RevenueCat integration, and rollout strategies.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Lighthouse
How to Build a Waitlist for Your App (Step by Step, 2026)
A pre-launch waitlist is the cheapest way to find out if anyone wants your idea. How to set up a landing page in an afternoon, and collect answers.
Read the full post on lighthouse.build ↗
Spaceport
Master Unit Testing in Swift: A 2026 Guide
Master unit testing in Swift with our 2026 guide for indie devs. Learn to test models, networking, async, & SwiftUI views efficiently. Real examples & best
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
Beta Testing iOS Apps: TestFlight Guide for Indie Devs
Guide for beta testing iOS apps. Master TestFlight, manage testers, validate subscriptions, and prepare for App Review. Indie dev tips for 2026.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
Modern API Documentation Standards for Apps and AI
Learn the API documentation standards for 2026. A guide to creating docs for human developers, mobile SDKs, and AI agents using OpenAPI, style guides, and CI.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
8 API Key Management Best Practices for Mobile Apps
Protect your mobile app with our API key management best practices. Learn to secure keys from Firebase, RevenueCat, and OpenAI to prevent leaks and hacks.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
Indie iOS Release Management Strategy: 2026 Guide
Master your indie iOS release management strategy for 2026. Get practical tips & best practices for successful app launches and updates.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
iOS TestFlight Distribution: Complete Developer Guide
Learn about iOS TestFlight distribution: build prep, tester management, & automated uploads. Essential guide for indie developers.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
iOS Conversion Rate Improvement: An Indie Dev's Playbook
Boost your app's revenue with this practical guide to conversion rate improvement. Learn to diagnose funnels, A/B test paywalls, and increase subscriptions.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
Multi-Language Support for SwiftUI Apps: A 2026 Guide
Add multi-language support to your SwiftUI app. Our 2026 guide covers Xcode, SwiftGen, pluralization, RevenueCat, CI, and localizing AI prompts.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
Universal Links iOS: Your 2026 Implementation Guide
Learn to implement universal links ios in 2026. Our guide covers AASA files, Xcode setup, SwiftUI, debugging, and best practices for seamless web to app
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
Rapid Mobile App Development: SwiftUI Apps in Weeks 2026
Master modern rapid mobile app development for iOS. Ship a production SwiftUI app with subscriptions & auth, step-by-step, in weeks by 2026.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
Master Dependency Injection Swift in 2026
Master dependency injection swift with our practical guide for 2026. Explore protocols, SwiftUI's Environment, testing, Swinject, Resolver, and choosing the
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
SwiftUI Getting Started: Your First iOS 17 App
Your SwiftUI getting started guide for 2026. Learn to build a complete iOS 17 app from setup to App Store, including state, navigation, and production tools.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
Best iOS App Development Tool Guide 2026
Find the right iOS app development tool for your project. Guide covers IDEs, CI/CD, analytics, and selection for indie teams shipping subscription apps.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗
Spaceport
Top 10 AI Coding Assistant Tools for 2026
Explore the 10 best AI coding assistant tools for 2026. Compare features, pricing, and find workflows for indie teams and Swift/SwiftUI development.
Read the full post on spaceport.build ↗Syndicated summaries from spaceport.build/blog and lighthouse.build/blog. Full posts live on each product's site.