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This is me asking the universe... "Is this enough?"

A self-taught developer without a high school diploma has created eight macOS apps, including a window customization tool, after failing at three startups and losing freelance graphic design work to AI. The developer, who dropped out of school at 17, describes building the apps as a way to turn ideas into reality and asks whether their work is enough. The apps are available on a Carrd site, with plans to port them to Windows if there is demand.

read5 min views1 publishedJun 21, 2026

I know these kinds of posts are overdone, so I'll spare you the promo/AI ad and give you something real. I've attached my Carrd site with all my info if you're interested in supporting me or following along.

I didn't go to college, nor did I graduate from high school. I ended up getting my GED at age 17. I have no notable achievements or accolades I can flex. What I do have is wicked determination and creativity. If I can do anything... It's turning an idea into a reality. I think that's one of my most valuable skills, and I really do cherish and nurture it as much as I can.

That being said, I've tried using my creativity in many ways. I've written a fantasy novel nobody wanted, I've failed at 3 startups, and was a freelance graphic designer for a while before AI came into the picture and wiped us all out. It hasn't been easy, but boy, have I learned a lot... not only about myself, but also about the resilience it takes to achieve your dreams even when you're losing hard.

I don't really have any friends, and my family is kind of split up all over the country, but I do have a very supportive partner who has been there with me through every failed venture I've dreamed up and tried to pursue. Without them... well... I don't know where or who I'd be. So here's a special thank you to my partner. I love you.

My newest venture they've been supporting me through is solo app development. The kind that's like "Hey, what if this did this or that?" and then spend days and weeks obsessing over it until finally... it exists. Dreaming up something that doesn't exist yet and then giving it your all to bring it to life... now that's true magic right there.

It's something people can spend their entire life trying to do, but never having the willpower, confidence, or time to ever do. And I know I'm not winning a Nobel Peace Prize or winning an Oscar. I'm simply sharing my hard work with the world. Proudly, and wondering if what I have to give will matter to anyone.

This is more than a promo post about a collection of apps I've exhausted myself mentally, physically, and spiritually to create. This is me asking the universe, "Is this enough?" "Have I found it?" And whether the answer is no or not yet, I've still enjoyed every minute (and I do mean every minute) creating things for people to use. To be of service to someone other than myself for once.

Over the last few months, I've dreamed up and created a growing collection of macOS apps that I genuinely believe are worth sharing. Sorry if you don't have a Mac device and you've read this far, but if this blows up and or there's enough demand... I have a Windows machine that I can use to recreate these apps for different kinds of devices and people. I'm up for the challenge, so let me know if that's something you'd look forward to seeing happen.

As of today, June 21st, 2026, I've brought eight apps into the world. (as if I've given birth or something 🤣) The idea came to me like any "good" idea or idea worth acting on comes... spontaneously, and stemming from a bunch of other "bad" ideas.

I was sitting at my desk thinking of what it was I wanted to do next. I thought... Maybe I could make a desktop Tamagotchi pet...

No... that's been done before. A lot.

And then a decent idea came to me... what if I could blend/fuse the seams of desktop windows to create seamless flows without harsh lines. Like unified windows. Well, that idea turned out to be very, very difficult to pull off. Dang near impossible really, especially with the limitations of customization Apple has around window manipulation. So I scratched the idea.

Then, for some reason, the nostalgic thought of custom cursors came to the forefront. The ones that sparkle, or animate, or trail particles as it moves. and then BOOM 💥

You've heard of cursor customization, but what about window customization? I looked it up and have yet to find anything exactly like this. So there's a prideful part of me that's like, "Did I finally create something new?" Maybe it already exists, and I've just missed it, but my newest app is called TRAYL. Like TRAIL, but with a Y...for funsies.

It's a window and file movement customization utility for macOS. You can select any Apple emoji and customize the trailing effects of windows, and desktop files/folders. There are really cool drop animations, and you can even customize different animations for different active windows open on your computer. So if you want Safari to have earth emojis trailing behind it when you move it, but you want an open picture of your partner to emit little sunshine emojis too, that's possible.

One of the coolest parts about all of the apps I've dreamed up is that they all have auto-updaters installed by default, so if there are features that users really want, or bugs that people find that need to be fixed quickly, I can do it all very fast. And you would get the update instantly.

This is all one long post just to say, I've made something.

And I know that.

But there's so much more that's led up to this moment, and I thought it wouldn't be as sweet if I didn't at least introduce myself and give you something real for once. So thank you so, so, so much for taking the time to read this, and I really hope that if you do try this app or any of the others, they bring real purpose and joy to your life. That's why all of the apps are free/pay-what-you-want.

Because that's all I'm really trying to do.

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