The launch of RITUAL: BREATHE & REFLECT.

The App Developer Journey

Last December, I decided to go deeper into the app development process. I had built a couple of React Native apps before, but mostly for fun, for myself, and always running locally.

I realized it was time to push further and learn the ins and outs of the App Store. The only barrier was the $100/year Apple Developer fee. However, when you consider how much we spend on unnecessary things, that investment in your own growth isn't too bad.

While my first large project is still a work-in-progress, building it taught me the foundation: connecting Expo to App Store Connect, managing TestFlight builds, and testing on physical devices.

My First Published App: Split

Since I already had the developer account active, I decided to keep the momentum going. I built and published my first app to the App Store: a React Native app called Split.

I built Split because I couldn't find a simple, offline-first PUSH PULL LEG tracker that worked better than the messy notes I was keeping on my phone. It was a utility I needed, and getting it live was a huge milestone.

RITUAL: BREATHE & REFLECT

For my second app, I wanted to shift gears. Since I was building specifically for the Apple ecosystem, I decided to go Native.

I started learning SwiftUI. Coming from a web and React background, I went through the tutorials and built the classic TODO app, but I quickly moved on to something more meaningful: Ritual.

What is Ritual?

Ritual is a minimalist mindfulness and "Emotional Architecture" application. It moves away from the bloated mainstream apps, focusing instead on a simple, binary way to balance your day.

SIGH: Guided deep exhales designed to release internal noise and "heavy" feelings.
JOY: Quick snapshots of gratitude to capture moments of light.

Key Features & Modern Best Practices

Drawing from my background in Creative Development, I wanted Ritual to feel like a high-end experience:

Pro Insights: A deep dive into your emotional architecture.
Vibe Shifts: Interactive heatmaps that visualize your activity and mood patterns over time.
Time Analysis: Identifying peak mindfulness hours and weekly flow.
Volume Cards: Comparing time spent in deep reflection (Sighs) vs. quick joy.
Customization: Seven aesthetic themes including Midnight, Aurora, and Cyber to "dress" your ritual.

Privacy First

In an era of data harvesting, Ritual takes a different stand. Your reflections are personal.

Local Storage: All data stays on your device. We don't even have a server to store them on.
Data Portability: Users own their data and can export it to CSV or JSON at any time.

Why Ritual?

I build apps that I personally need, making me the earliest adopter. I wanted a space to go whenever I felt anxiety, pressure, or negative self-talk—a place to put my feet on the ground and let scary scenarios go away.

Initially, the app was just called Sigh. But I didn't want the app to be associated only with negative moments. I wanted to balance that "release" with "capture." Every time you let go of a weight, you should have space to invite in a moment of Joy.

Refining the UX: The Thumb-Only Flow

The flow has become simpler over time. You choose Sigh or Joy, then move to a reflection screen where you hold a circle while breathing.

I originally had a screen where you wrote down your feelings and watched the words fade away. While it was a good way to externalize emotions, I eventually removed it in favor of absolute simplicity. I wanted an interface that could be used entirely with your thumb, making the ritual as frictionless as possible.

What’s Next: The Road to 1,000 Users

The next goal for Ritual is no longer about the app or the code—it’s about marketing. My main focus now is growing the community to reach my first 1,000 users.

To celebrate the launch:

Founder Status: Early users who join now will be considered the "Founders" of the app and will get lifetime access to all PRO features for free.
Future Growth: Once we reach this initial milestone, I will introduce different subscription tiers for the PRO features to keep the project sustainable.

Ritual is releasing this month. It’s time to breathe.

Try Ritual:
ritualbreatheandreflect.com

Download:
Ritual: Breathe Reflect