92: Cascable Studio - Daniel Kennett

On the podcast: Daniel Kennett shares his journey from indie developer to creating Cascable Studio. He tells the story of the challenges of building his app that supports over 250 cameras, the process of reverse-engineering hardware, and why his background in indie development shaped his approach to the business. Top Takeaways:🏗️ The framework doesn't matter — the app doesUsers don't care whether you used SwiftUI or RealBasic; they care whether the app is polished and fits the platform.💸 If they can afford a $4,000 camera, charge accordingly Pricing for a professional audience means resisting the race to the bottom; your users' willingness to pay reflects the value of the tools they already own.📈 Slow, steady growth is still growth A consistently rising line over five years, even without a single breakout moment, can eventually replace a full salary — if you don't panic and quit.🔄 Multiple revenue streams are a survival strategy, not a luxury An SDK licensing business and a webcam app built on existing infrastructure turned a COVID revenue crash into a three-week turnaround.🧱 Architecture decisions you make early can pay off years later Pulling camera connection logic into a standalone framework was an accidental decision that later became both a licensing product and the foundation for a pivot app.💍 The people closest to you live through your failures too Having a partner who saw the worst of it and still supported the next attempt — with sensible goals and financial guardrails — made the difference between a reckless gamble and a calculated bet.🎯 Subscription-only can alienate a professional audience When Adobe went subscription-only, it angered the entire photography industry overnight; offering both subscription and one-time purchase options lets customers choose their relationship with your app.About Daniel Kennett:🚀Senior macOS and iOS developer, currently running an independent software company, Cascable AB, that ships professional photography tools like Cascable Studio, a professional camera control app that empowers photographers with advanced features for non-iPhone cameras. 👋 LinkedIn🌐 Learn more about Cascable🌐 Daniel’s WebsiteFollow us on X: Charlie Chapman - @_chuckycRevenueCat - @RevenueCatLaunched - @LaunchedFM Episode Highlights:[0:00] Introduction to Daniel Kennett and Cascable Studio[1:00] Daniel’s background: From a self-taught coder to indie developer[5:00] The story behind Cascable Studio[8:30] The early days of indie development: Challenges and successes[12:00] Reverse engineering and building a tool for photographers[15:30] How adding camera support transformed the app's growth[18:00] Learning from failures and the importance of not giving up[20:30] Why a niche market can lead to success: Focusing on non-iPhone cameras[24:00] Managing financial challenges and building a sustainable indie business[27:00] The role of simplicity in app design and user experience[30:00] Expanding into new markets: Licensing SDKs for other developers[32:30] Why Daniel prefers to build with minimal outside funding[35:00] Lessons from working with hardware manufacturers and building partnerships[37:30] What's next for Cascable Studio and future goals for indie development [40:00] Daniel’s advice for future indie developers: Focus, perseverance, and learning