Wouldn’t It Be Good If…? How to Come Up with an Idea for Your Magic App

OK, cool, a magic app… but what does it actually do?

Marc Kerstein
Wouldn’t It Be Good If…? How to Come Up with an Idea for Your Magic App
Artwork by Lucinda Siegler

Maybe by now I’ve either tempted you to develop your own magic app, or I’ve managed to convince you that it’s a terrible idea. Creating an app can be rewarding and fun, but if you’ve spent any time observing magic-app-purchaser Facebook groups, you’ll have noticed that releasing one is only half the battle.

As AI coding tools continue to transform software development, programming knowledge is no longer the barrier it once was. A few years ago, bringing a magic app idea to life usually meant finding a developer and convincing them to build it. Today, instead of sending your pitch to a developer, you can send it to ChatGPT and have a working prototype in minutes. With a little back and forth, you’ll soon have a fully fledged App Store app, making it possible for far more magicians to build their own apps.

As a result, the question is gradually becoming not whether you’re able to build your own app, but what that app should actually do.

To keep reading, sign in or subscribe

Get unlimited access to all things magical and wondrous.
Subscribe now