As some of you may have heard late last night I released a small OSX app called Dripps - it’s a super-simple file sharing system that allows you to quickly upload files to a certain directory (if it’s a shared directory for teams) and then given a direct URL link (via Google’s URL Shortener API) to the file for sharing publicly.
So you can share files publicly and privately. The premise was simple: I have been paying for some other applications that do very similar things (like CloudApp, Droplr, and many others) and also paying for a big account via Dropbox and in an effort to save a bit of money I thought I might as well have Dropbox handle the file management and sharing capability!
In addition, I wanted to learn more about XCODE and the Dropbox API and get my feet wet with those development environments. I’ve been known to tinker and experiment so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to build it on-off and on the side, especially since there was little pressure to ship it or even make any money.
It took quite a while actually – about 5 or 6 months. There’s a lot of reasons for the expanded timeline and I may end up sharing the soup-to-nuts process of building my first App Store app at some point. Right now I’m glad it was accepted (it was rejected three times…!) and I can go work on something else!
Check out the video for some more information and let me know what you think!
Giveaway:
Naturally I have some free copies to give away – 10 to be exact. So, feel free to enter below:
- Comment about your theory on the name “Dripps.”
- Tweet about this blog post for +1 entry.
Big props go to CloudApp and Droplr for the mass inspiration – thanks for challenging me to try my hand at XCODE and inspiring me to ship something!
And thanks to @chrisfromcanada who first tweeted at me telling me he bought the darn thing… although Apple approved it April 2nd I didn’t have anytime to fix up the website or create the video or anything! But he told me that it was on the main page of Productivity and Utilities in the App Store – YIKES!
Had to get my butt in gear last night. Sheesh.
OH. And finally, thanks to @JoeyBergeron for the logo! You rock man! Such a community effort…!
Ok. Done now.
Honestly John. Not sure about the name. It sounds like it might have a leak or something. LOL. Anyway. Hawt idea and I can’t wait to try it out.
yeah. i originally thought just “drip app” and have the domain be drip.ps … and then apple was like … uh, no. so, i said.. “ok…. how about dripps?”
no response… approved.
tom, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
Looks pretty cool, but I have to agree with John on the name. I just don’t see how I would associate it with sharing if I was browsing for such a feature in app store.
Nice work on the Mac Dev stuff. Is this your first foray into Objective C as well?
App names don’t have to be tied to what they do – would I search Skitch when I’m looking for screenshot software? Evernote when looking for whatever Evernote is? I think the name is unique and memorable.
True, but your talking about apps that have become brands themselves. That doesn’t often happen with smaller side projects.
It’s working great so far – glad to be able to break the news for you
I’m not entering but just wanted to say congrats on the launch of Dripps!
Dropplr, Dripps, it all involves falling.
Dripps – Dropping digital drips of data from your Dropbox cloud.
Looking great John! My theory on the name, lots of dripps make a drop(box)…
james, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
Dripps – I’ll write it off to late nights spent building the app with your chemex coffee maker sitting next to you.
Congrats dude!
jay, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
Holy crap! I didn’t even realize I won until just now.
Drips make up a bucket full. It represents an iterative method of development. With the ability to drip content with your team you enable completed product/project development.
Atleast, that’s the way it looks from here.
Sweet!. Didn’t know I ever wanted dropbox to do this out of the box until now.
brett, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
Woot!
well, you drop files one a time, like droplets falling… so, dripping files into Dropbox -> Dripps!
WOAH! It’s out of it’s cage now! Fantastic John! Can’t wait to see how fast this takes off. Lets push this thing around the social media interwebs and promote it.
joey, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
D.R.I.P.P.S.
Dropping Really Innovative Philes Pretty Simply
From A dictionary site:
drip (drp)
n.
1. The process of forming and falling in drops.
2.
a. Liquid or moisture that falls in drops.
b. A slight intermittent flow or leak: fixed the drip in the faucet.
3. The sound made by liquid falling in drops: listened to the steady drip of the rain.
4. A projection on a cornice or sill from which rainwater can drip, protecting the wall below.
5. Slang- A tiresome or annoying person.
It obviously is related to definition #5 on that list.
alex, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
Drip is defined as “To let fall in or as if in drops” so naturally an app called Dripps is an easy way to let files “fall in as if in drops in” to wherever you need for easy access. Love it!
mike, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
Awesome. Maybe it is called drips because the files drip into the folders you desire. I think it is a great app. I could really make use of this for school!
brandon, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
DRIPPS…why not? I find that people get used to names and it kind of makes sense. Sharing drips of info. I love drop box and your app looks useful.
D. R. I. P. P. S.
Develop a Resource Instead of Paying for a Paid Service
Like Brett, I didn’t know I even wanted to do this with Dropbox until now.
bryan, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
If I had to speculate about the name (which I do in order to enter!) I’d have to guess that you’re playing off the idea of DROPbox. Maybe a little bit of a “Drip, Drop” motif.
Now that the official entry is taken care of… Thanks so much for such an awesome resource! I’m so glad that I have the functionality of CloudApp but linked into my Dropbox account! Amazing!! Keep up the great work!
tim, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
Driplink, drippr, I do like the drip part though, activdrip, driplynk, hmmm. I love it man, I will be happy to buy this app. I use Dropbox personally and in our business on a daily basis. I couldn’t live without it. I sync coda projects with it and it’s great for that too for checking code in and out.
joshua, you’re a winner! email me for more info.
You’ve got to drip a lot before you have a drop. Great job.
ok i’ve downloaded the Apps now what happens.? how do I share the file with someone?