ios
48 hours to the iOS 26 SDK deadline. Stop reading. Start uploading.
Apple's April 28 SDK cutoff is two days away. If you haven't uploaded a build to App Store Connect yet, here's the triage list.
Carlton Aikins3 min read
FIG 4.0 — Blog
Notes on shipping mobile apps.
Policy changes, technique guides, and release-ops essays from the team building Stora.
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watchos
The 64-bit deadline on the wrist: a 2026 guide for watchOS and Wear OS developers
Apple requires 64-bit watchOS apps from April 28, 2026. Google requires the same for Wear OS from September 15. Here's how to ship before both deadlines.
indie-dev
104% more apps on the store. The submission queue didn't get any kinder.
App releases are up 104% year over year. AI is building apps faster than ever — but reviewers, listings, and rejections still scale at human speed.
android
Android 17 app memory limits, explained: what they are, why Google added them, and how to test your app before the stable release
Android 17 introduces per-app memory caps based on device RAM. Here's how the limits work, how to detect when you hit one, and how to fix the patterns that trip them.
app-store-connect
The new App Store Connect Analytics, explained: 100+ metrics, cohorts, and what indie devs should actually track
Apple's biggest App Store Connect Analytics update since launch adds 100+ metrics, cohorts, and peer benchmarks. Here's what to use and what to ignore.
android
Google Play just quietly rewired contacts access. You have about three weeks.
Google's April 15 Play policy update changes how Android apps request contacts, location, and account transfers. Here's what indie devs need to do now.
ASO
How to Use Regional Pricing and Localized Store Listings to Double Your Downloads
India, Brazil, and Indonesia now drive 45% of Google Play downloads. Here's the practical playbook for setting up regional pricing and localized listings that actually convert.
App Store
Apple Just Shipped iOS 26 Design Kits. Your Screenshots Are Already Outdated.
Apple released official iOS and iPadOS 26 UI design kits for Figma and Sketch. Here's why that matters more for your store listing than your actual app.
Android
Your Android App Has Until August 31 to Target API 36. Start Now.
Google Play's rolling API level policy means apps that miss the Android 16 (API 36) deadline become invisible to new users on newer devices. Here's what that actually means.
Swift
Swift 6.2 Approachable Concurrency: A Practical iOS Migration Guide for 2026
Swift 6.2's approachable concurrency makes migrating to the iOS 26 SDK far less painful. Here's a step-by-step guide for indie developers facing the April 28 deadline.
Android
Google Just Put a State-of-the-Art AI Model on Your Users' Phones
Gemma 4 is live in the AICore Developer Preview. On-device AI on Android just crossed a line that should change how indie devs think about what's possible.
Android
How to Add On-Device AI to Your Android App in 2026 (Gemini Nano + AICore Guide)
A practical guide to integrating on-device AI into Android apps using Gemini Nano, AICore, and Gemma 4 — without a backend, API key, or cloud dependency.
iOS 27
How to Prepare Your App for a New iOS Release Cycle (The Complete Indie Dev Guide)
A practical, end-to-end guide for indie developers on surviving WWDC, navigating OS betas, and shipping an update that's ready for day-one iOS adopters.
WWDC26
WWDC26 Is 59 Days Out. What Are You Waiting For?
Apple just confirmed WWDC26 for June 8–12. Here's what indie developers should actually be doing right now — not two weeks before the keynote.
google play
How to Reprice Your Android App Before Google's New Play Store Fees Go Live
Google's Epic settlement drops Play Store commissions to 20% and unlocks alternative billing. Here's what Android developers need to do before June 30, 2026.
app store connect
App Store Connect Has Webhooks Now. Your Release Pipeline Should Care.
Apple's new webhook API means App Store Connect can push build status events to your server in real time. Here's what that actually changes for indie devs.
compliance
Age Verification Laws for App Developers: The 2026 Compliance Guide
Utah's deadline hits May 7. Louisiana's is July 1. California's in January 2027. Here's what mobile developers need to implement before each cutoff.
security
SparkCat Is Back. It Got Through App Review Again. Here's Why That Should Worry You.
A new SparkCat malware variant slipped through both the App Store and Google Play by hiding inside SDK dependencies. What indie devs should know.
app store
How to Cut Your App Store Rejection Rate in Half: A 2026 Developer Guide
Nearly 40% of iOS submissions get delayed or rejected. This practical guide covers the most common pitfalls and how to fix them before you hit submit.
monetization
Subscription Fatigue Is Real — And One-Time Purchases Are Making a Comeback
41% of consumers report subscription fatigue. Here's why indie mobile devs should rethink their monetization model before users rethink their spending.
flutter
How to Build AI-Driven Dynamic Interfaces with Flutter's GenUI SDK
A practical guide to Flutter's GenUI SDK — how it works, when to use it, and how to ship adaptive AI-powered UI from a single codebase.
xcode
Apple Put AI Agents Inside Your IDE — Here's Why That Changes Everything
Xcode 26.3 ships agentic coding with the Claude Agent SDK baked in. What this means for indie iOS developers and their daily workflow.
aso
App Store Screenshots That Convert: The 2026 Playbook for Indie Developers
A practical guide to designing App Store and Play Store screenshots in 2026 — sizing, messaging, layout, and the mistakes that tank conversion.
ios
1 in 8 iOS submissions get rejected for privacy manifests. Here's why.
Apple rejected 12% of App Store submissions last quarter for privacy manifest issues. Most of them were avoidable — if you know where SDKs hide.
app distribution
The App Store Duopoly Is Cracking Open
Japan's MSCA and Google's Registered App Stores program signal a new era for mobile app distribution. Here's what indie devs should be thinking about.
cross-platform
React Native vs Flutter vs Kotlin Multiplatform: How to Choose in 2026
A practical comparison of the three leading cross-platform mobile frameworks in 2026, with real adoption data, performance benchmarks, and decision criteria for indie devs and small teams.
android
Google's Android Developer Verification Is Rolling Out. Here's What It Means for You.
Google is deploying Android Developer Verifier to devices this month. Indie devs have a window to prepare before sideloading changes hit in August.
ai
How to Add AI Agents to Your Mobile App in 2026 (Without Burning Through Your Cloud Budget)
A practical guide to building AI-powered features into iOS and Android apps using on-device models, hybrid architectures, and task-specific agents.
ios
The iOS 26 SDK Deadline Is April 28. Here's What You Actually Need to Do.
Apple's new SDK requirement hits in four weeks. Your app will get Liquid Glass whether you want it or not — here's how to prepare.
swift
Swift on Android Is Official: A Practical Guide to Cross-Platform Swift Development in 2026
Swift 6.3 shipped an official Android SDK. Here's what it actually supports, how it works, and whether it makes sense for your app.
app store
Apple Killed IAP Promo Codes. Offer Codes Are Actually Better.
Apple retired In-App Purchase promo codes on March 26. Here's why offer codes are a straight upgrade for indie developers.
google play
Google Play Just Overhauled Its Fee Structure. Here's What Developers Actually Need to Know.
Google slashed Play Store commissions to 20%, introduced alternative billing, and launched registered app stores. A practical breakdown for mobile developers.
aso
App Store Optimization in 2026: The Indie Developer's Complete Guide
ASO has changed. Keyword stuffing is dead, screenshots are your biggest conversion lever, and AI tools are table stakes. Here's what actually works in 2026.
app store
Apple Just Gave Developers 100 New Metrics. Here's What to Do With Them.
Apple overhauled App Store Connect with 100+ new metrics this week. More data is only useful if your listing is worth optimizing. Here's how to think about it.
product
Why Stora
Deploying a website takes minutes. Shipping a mobile app to the App Store still takes days. We built Stora to close that gap.