A Small Release Checklist for Indie Apps

Shipping a small app is rarely blocked by the final line of code. The difficult part is remembering the quiet checks around it: a fresh install, an empty state, a recovery path, and a way to see what failed after release.

I keep a short checklist for each release:

1. Open the main flow as a new user.
2. Test one invalid input and one slow network response.
3. Confirm the first screen explains the next action.
4. Record the version and date in a simple changelog.
5. Review one real session after launch before starting the next feature.

The list is intentionally boring. Boring checks are easier to repeat, and repetition is what keeps a side project maintainable. I collect small experiments and product notes at Burning Tribe.