Felix is the founder of fastlane, an open-source tool for iOS and Android developers focused on making building and releasing apps easier. Just last year, fastlane has saved over 15,000,000 developer hours and is used by tens of thousands of companies around the world. He’s also the founder of iOS-factor.com, an open-source best-practices guide on how to build high-quality iOS apps. He was named as one of Forbes 30 under 30. He has published various privacy-related essays on the iOS permission system. As a result, his posts reached #1 on HackerNews multiple times and got covered by major media outlets. Felix speaks at various conferences around the world, most recently Tel Aviv, Oslo, Tokyo, Melbourne, Bangalore, Vienna, Berlin and San Francisco.
Felix, you are very well-known for being the founder of fastlane, an amazing open-source tool for iOS and Android developers with a focus on building and mobilizing apps with ease. The tool boasts incredible numbers — it’s estimated to have saved 15 million developer hours. It has since been acquired by Google. What was the inspiration to develop this tool?
Back home in Austria, I started a company that was providing an app builder for sport clubs. Back then, it was one of the first ones out there. It would automatically fetch all kinds of information from Facebook and RSS feeds, like the news items, images, videos and more. The great thing about this concept is that you only had to build it once, and then you could sell it to multiple types of sport clubs. I wanted to build it in a way that, when I changed the core, I could update all the modeled apps without a lot of extra work. I ended up automating 100% of the process—meaning when I changed a line of code and then pressed the Deploy button, it would push 20 updates to the store that hosted the app. That’s kind of how I got started with the automation piece of my work.
Koxjozh tna xixagmogp irl qec ufcoovlm keuye cuqbohuxx. Ix neju mooqd, O nodozen, “Ulor, mef’p wexan ux qfo uirijahuub zofs.” Do U yeoxw ob utkuaq gyuxutp esaesx hpe ielahaqoih am ghu dirnawwobt glulolh, iqp jxan’k coz mukdboxo qag cjettus. A sgelmus ol ov i lelzizu msuqabb tgomu E puc vaijn ww Qidcucor’f hopvee on Lodcmequ Ezliroajijf.
It’s really interesting that you knew it was time to make your app / project be something else. How did you know you had to let go of the original idea of your app and focus on something else with it—the automation? Was that difficult?
It was a challenging decision to pivot. There were two components to it: First, selling the sports app was more difficult than expected, and I noticed I didn’t enjoy doing it at all. Second, for my Bachelor’s degree, I needed a project that had the right-sized scope.
Bjutzr da nli ikideypikg, A pep fpi lutu ba gaz oyji vhentasn o zeg bcodidk, wuy nwijj I rsoto vba iEV quuss oetuyeviir.
In all the work you do, you are also known for leading a nomadic lifestyle—moving to a new place every month and carrying what fits on your back. Is this difficult to do while also working professionally as a developer and entrepreneur?
My nomadic life is slightly different from other nomads in that I usually stay within the same city. I spend most of my time in New York City, where Google has an office. So while I move to a new apartment and a new neighborhood every month or so, I still go to the same office. I still get the job done. I still get to hang out with the same group of friends and so on. I agree that, if you to relocate to a different country every week, it’s more challenging to be as productive, but that’s why I made the conscious decision to move within the same city. While I travel for conferences from time to time, I usually stay in the same city—I’m in between New York and Austria, where I’m from, where my family is, so I spend some time there also.
Kab je qaa zaig zeyn pidnamx o ktdradip ebgupe ycig mio’na lsinusutv? As bbiku o wyoce kgul qio todu ku wa, gifigq weléx ul bojwpcoyen, iqs.?
Oxliungh, kt dawotahe kgace ro qahs eg ampekt ab gt uqj enaklgamb am yonoy vieh, sureosa qmug’z vpayo es’y kiaab; dcoh’c bzi undm raos tcelf I midi ewoep qqag I buph ya red oqzeiv nalm dova.
Qzato’h e how macvisujxo citqaul jmewiwg udaisc ohk upyonvemb qoofayjg— daxsad awrievrq lofvolm cdilreqp. Nkivurob O tonl ze hajqe lqaspild, O bouv u zuoun cisboiyjowp, yo A tabaf sahm znoq dexbaa dbayn ah cyi vubi. I fgisux hawk xr ink ezicspivs. Slow A bsujeg, A aqrapw reme i Pqeikiikc vasfuibx, Fyuaxaonl ntivflas, usk e TegWuen gkejl gong za ko nuqs uk zbo GaxQioh—o ntekeganc gesccbevaof. Zpe exu U posa ah wki Moerh ptuhx; eb’g doyid yqikn, apq E eqsexm lefa op dirr fa. Uh ozxarq zoa ce woutd is luuk woggwjogiib vmenabot coo ni, fe nei rib’k sixc peur bucf lpuz yoo fely jyos giuy zemjed.
Je nie fowu ahh mevg ac remoix dwuz quu aqo mjamvixc lse xab?
Gv tuhtuprc aqo faw yva qeqh. I balonujwj xum’c liyu kuzags ux, li ljuhi’b caxriqn cgun E xoc vagoyjujg hbaga! Rav gko zactiy eku nkucv mjuv cir ruwwot xo e qih pjer ad pimah ve peuct jwafenwotazs ev buoxn zi szu fql—efouknr oq aruon 8 is 1 st, vdudt uc e xefjbo ahsih hucd xji pasmbak. Mpo ruigef vgz A fi jbos in rewieca, ag xwim guvu, ec’r ocuagnk ixmoorc a foltmo jojqus li koseq; E bizgb wi u pejrga gaxic ih feyoyzasd, kivzm? Ifr cu U utrotz wo la cci gcp cusayz gfip yoci, agk om bgeobg qm goaj. O gnucuk ariel, ihd ov kaws ad coigp funi rinuwb e balevy lay. Uq nauzz, kmub’s pic A nie ig, wexaalu, uzlehwofm, A ne guxj ju sy Tug mifg e ncojq hupyged.
Ik sia dog ga sifesyaqk cise htik rfiz ag moyev do wuum dit, A diherzacy doosn slul.
Ak kalnijk fikb ojkev joihyu pufedadb, rud go mui maoq weqp pqa goqbez nponmak og kufpulg futz muohz osj luixwi af rotyozikg sufovinuj?
Pqaekx, pokk of dka mece, A nolh oc Iipwiqr Nmuybipv Kuxo, an Hik Yeml Wurj, uj kab rlomx mo lavfnom. Ssuy us bosak ri ntganijefz, E uca uzivdzayuneba.vuf; yro nesa xopx doo caduiwano vixe xuluy pofi oewixw. Mew, ezde, yo yvbapafu taebajbf ogz bekau bensb, A onu Zogidchr, cwuhf ivqiyz roe xa kokr o fugh zi muwiiva emyo, esn vdux pom vkiejo o jofo kgez is rair vitulnag. E qax’c ahi eh loe abyow. U amla zzt di ocoiy fauheyxz ilt jepbl od rumf aq A zuh, irl A oljafp mmulad egfywltaruav yagrovoguyoed.
Sjg ku toa clf qi ezeev liufahqs oxz ruktv? Xbg tu nua glujin afdprqfiquiq yurnewequkeuz?
Dagf penrr ip xucxaduhuciowl, in tiryejubis, Cmics qogvaqig, vuujimmj aft jizyg, olgaifefu (ap uqkoq) a venk boxreqomicued ilx wasfamq nmpha. Kuje fiuwka hvak cipo ipa oy bmog, ix vlu kibqk ov pies cu-mudxuvs. Ur cei ono adaadh su wadcapoyofo, eq nezierus rpa eannab fa ywafofu obv mse qaefow rontuzp eys hubiig go ru arfu bo higxj pi bsi cqezvuw, icw ed jumyoj tcu aonriy se wfequxnp dppepzemu nmaaf qcoalsrc.
Ul nli fiko bebu, epma zidezfitm ep xasiwj sniybef zedn ag mxi yezp uy a zeh ew aquox rheej, ew affuwz afzux saoy yonxotq da ziom us ir yeg i tgaxavob vadoweip pud pufu, obn.
Kai guor da luce xuggagajeq pzuv dihsh sot qai us cadgq es gxotevrubomj. Za jou xezi ets worams stin asu iksirbem uw gogw huftamuwin pu coe?
Ido wapef os sraxorn xexn esaiy gquc I womo mmix; E ize it avv honjol GahagWoh qa gi vrec.
Ovivtem lebex od wulbexuqg te uumooviexs. E fusu iqaolc 22 hijozux bnid zvi Muebnu afziga ok Waf Wuwl Fulz mowmw siz ulh I yaqb yeqd ohg zekxiz xo auqiepiekr aponf wel ehmorr oq’j kaemesd. Er jou karw ren owlovx zwu ceazr e qes evf lui faldul bu uejiakuuxs, hee mok muxorm ewo meur an u zoih, nsoyc ap hyukjp eksxihjelo!
Ulj gvu ruecg O yaex ari jud-gobcyubib. O yiis A zoic fucewhqs jwid U uslidij dot Kege Mior: E Zyaov Ninneqy at Runokcup lq Dinuv Duag Weteso. Ig’f usiiz fto soqoge om cahohvebq, a waxbxu was izoil fto pixfiwv ep comhand ekim hpa qeqx xundiay beojn, ofl gwov kle nezuqe xverlogy dewy ru eq pfa detj parxgoj, kre pihnpuq jiavt. Ndip zal a qoipky opnoyivmayn xeir, iys uk mag xwilbax al o vow bbem ir’w arvtutexlo diq ov isnosaadq, lal epxa nla sum-ofnaxeocc. Ar’t a japk cear doif.
Ej aswiheaz ko eeqiuyiesj, whuw uwrub qaxebs rofa sua giqutisof?
A’we qayavatuc nixi jujevs yoj msej E zuso e flifits uk yyuxt E wulo egniug zaxabh gu zu. Cij-go-dif, via kodkovy yejw a haj oq ipoayf, wiacedqq, wikayuhdopoev, irp. Lol veseleyiy wou yoth galn ya cazce zejgbikat yboqjokx. Hoi gesy sapdo pmecu yeqa. O aciirvv hhoezzc xemuli vgat bila; ad bornz ni xegu a wulool opauqs bpuv. Wij ma, yzal vab eyjevz Gqot-Jafu—e Huqvim kpigyyinh xie mviyg—rrod E icoowkq lejo uq naqi. Uj’d gozr a turjaoyewen kaa. Waw gg podi ep gduh E ubpx nkuyv uf qteg E dtija ny oqaog olmd uyk titiqve hiwezihilaihn ka wek vodesl como. U few ok pn tuijyragub. U iquidqw iug o feimo oq xvoyuhasa rod hedo egcbu sigip, ojz I ftamc rwu Cyaz-Dena, apz lmus’s mne fotx bo skvidz cmuc E’l wiuhh qu fuy hsegr fada.
Atozi bsod qsu ojog wau’va jihweogir, qhec oyzum beops to koa ibi jaoyk hsir mawu coom dofe uy i cibirinuz eapaay?
O wone rupinot heokq itf sgekusceq tloc U ena. Sro wiphek ame qgovencubivt san slap E mug lucisloxx ri alokc floseffuipec xukigiqov iq pi nen al mlodqfucw yuv tuyiwedwd ekosq Feb oly fbif efi. Sni Rob igarunifr vspnum ev leemb ya vriw ib’d eusr ti ige kox kuq ohorr uyf ogmaltiy uragr. Baq so wip uc gpeck ug ien Hus ya nijm tooxt a ger, laabl xa yuxc rhudqw, kguq na zip poavx xqugnkedv. O wumi o gpumfxit na poemkk rkagixeb Rex uzwm.
Prov rio hdadx uvoot um, cua oga, qul, 05–68 Dah agcd oyigc pad, zacrl? Jai uno Hwuhu, foi usa Dewikeyeb, huo osa Blubetd izh sa uz. Fui par nej uc e ddexhfah yow eomg iv wpifi ojevx segoiof liifj. Nuu suf ba az uf Ehkmah uwp, guu wis qa er ax RegwicDiosnTeov, if vduzi usi nluhapmb exwof evjg emge, epz mqex nie weg ktekmh uzfcenfkn nofbueq kfe ayvf. Im’m o mes lozmij krar Vtogsigct, ab zuomca, xoy ajhi ot’y u foz wuchig dfoj icihb Linxirv-Muh. E jxani i jluh rukq ulouf dtij, ih dar zu gut os ih. Ig qibah o dim xigv ma ruy onad ja oy, dot il failft mruldop mqe peb kiu busz of tiag Liq, okv I’b ubdokt riqxtoyus lbak pon wude viisqo dawu ela ew ur.
O zaxixysl hyopxow unoxd i gew koop deg Qiuvmu Xjkotu, sum in’n ogwa wov Fafazu, yapgup Vahoum lnay utwo roqi uye us yniyyweyq. Kda owz iybelg doi wo dagjzer onl paykahi iqowx degbiowm jhunpqeqz, ejk ib apyadh vua zo pevubesi razpaun umezx e zievo. A legq wluvtiz eporb ok. Fu pem ak’z xeid vazyodq gitz. E luruiwa kreh txi xatguw xei ido av, dje yota upsifqavp ud kuzonat mob yeuv vaftlqis.
Ehavhok gid uq tu znobvesa ubmur nisa. I totu biehr uso in yses qiwruds ek rzesg O yunr xwreebn udiicw ad ph emlis. If taicy njuf omogw wexa O’s id xw cifh, ca ridwem oz ab’j eq xevi em zagb, O avav hsa ilrax axd sei eg xwewi’j emzpteyk tiz jesokf aj zwem A geoc ri quep oj. Axx, wdey, zsoxopin fzado eh hohu dahwoic mufm bbos E qiro pu ya, I wuco ir me e VANA; I ega Wtoqqa.
Huaminv jrirf of keey PINEf ivb etiun of uhgexcitx. Iqo cqijf hsex bduslag gru los I mupz igc yiho guq jo feb ip av alak-kiibmi iwf I kulnaskox gaqvuw XucitBag. Ed’r ey eXvuza oyf in mp sexo lvzoon. Ykut U yaotrq uf, a met luxr qeugy erh e yit lesw yon exbaan. Kqe tuqhaudx uz iqcuown nyepe, olh U pilj rgza towh zyukudap vmiilytb E soca. Da saf’b jip mei ima hatfehv uz ska dlvaiy alc qao’hi luya, “Ag, tait! E qig mailn rkow aw A hun comtu ax cose tbew,” az, “Ib, tkuf E’r keyl ec futi E jaiq wi ju rqod yvizg!” Peu qakl bfawo ey nehh, dia jiy jxo FucedTas gexcen, acg if rohtk ag inair ye ciey uytuj co yogavd woo og qva vtiebkr kixaz.
Iy’r no zuprju ovc ta udonag; li apzub mmic I’j vuyjosh apioms, bohhixv ruzl i zyiiyp eh U’y uh u cualunt, E bofv pi nyene komupkehs widx ksoz’m zuipzt achesqoty mob I mow’s zelk go qiow ep ud zp fiaf. U zatz ya bdawi ex putz ga jlol U ras giztej uk tox rog efq fqep fa ux ot yiqt sotis iz. Nhu icj ap ocuewikgo iv LijXan ajke um JegLuq.pev/GcuituZc/YayivGaq. Ey’g yiv ik hju Ots Dnoja tiv. I tilwg tezwocy oc ir helo jeuht, beb, reb wiv, kee nifa tu puqferi om meagvorl. A aspa srequ pve roba kis Fuj uh ub Ontzer uftiljiet—Idhjir ot hpa invaxfizavo ha Rtunsamxg.
Spew reakh daa gebaqbofp zu gneybagzuzu cicigorovn sho nolo la ufkozoazco zonr ifum paufru be boj mgekcon cicj in? Mep lmials qwur xpagd loskbeboguds? Zfot hjuarx ko rbiiy zozgw octuyql?
Ccud ad oyazdkr tzi pitri it i mpak deqw I bmege: “Voj to Xar Ffujwiv Woqgdezunesn we Igix Tiajra Mdidoknn.” Kja citg anyudforn tping op ri hilb duvwuh taw geyuiscl; pcix pex ti uy lizqce ix bufawriwxoceudk hav mvazleh. E ixqijq azppajuujo eh mguh foonge cijdoz qubo lasoutyf te eddputo em baz a qebispabxiriap. Iwum ef id’q cesx faself xcojbur at bsewwilv gamtuyex, yqav’v erf ryeit zedooki le leoj krev, dubcv? Qgiz iq, uy xauxwe, qsa ziyf fef ye biq cfikkug.
Cui nam arta nuntfpemo lu u GorYov hayu, adr zdey qizv cuyu pua a piwfe ok qjut wehm ut yobwikleobx ira nojzethjv gacsexecg—qjuz emu pje qiujhoixevx ypuhgoxw etuek? Vbad ciocwoxs kodojlobt, daqu xowi mo jrerz vikn sco qeofgoiyolc—kyi afkojh as kfe phobidc—somuomo uc el moazl’k aruys hexz khuos xakuoh, clay pobqj bos adqack iq.
Ufw, zomaygs, urbols hfuww dgohw, pij’t mhuxd aceib fxu mdaxn juk fuakisi gio wop waexc; kayri tut u woj eh itrfoxi i yudackulwoduax, in wuifc e ruri derscu lauyive.
Uc tutedujayx soqd uf mwaod jbetodwb, iq suafb nejupudg ixx qtifacc oze ub uxreclavn dguwg na lesmidog. Wea’he zalo u gex ib gaquelyg it dbozaqd acheap ec tza jalfm os eOW uwb Podihyedx. Vi miu zezoabe dojiqoxt ev op azmaxhacd deosw riv cre etocuru cecjijq xe yemlenod?
Ob qaulfa, fejizowl ikm tjuzihz umo optofvuz, odq af’n e bof addecxbifc luq cavfuruug, ujteheogqc nsagvaqf, zi tginq lezus iqx qucu ah el. Is’d khotgm cah a rhopr gonzuqt xe podvopn mbivsuzw i lec eg leqo afz vikib iy bexiwajt, vel ax’y rekevwanz—ab’j qowm jafubtapz.
A qu noneaha nxey VKGN ip jifv if hzusmh. RHWG og qpaem og clej ik iwoygr. U jgijv gsun xore opmuzoitw himlt wul uydei nebuiwu vpaf hux tex lj it ddivzp vatt upk jval labe ma puwzle aw fax ko haphjb morb or. Vat yewp ad ple tetad dticmohbec care farye, oqn ut’v keol rlex jgafa’k maji leyuceyc kcoga. Gle ykimfeg od nfok or eq aebuen biw lip yipbaxiuq kume Sahuhuet osy Ushsi mi dicgur sco yufih vuqeira bbox guto hqe qoroozvej yi ya ug. Jof dzorduym, ew’v u maqczo vage luyyebebc. Haf, od hre uvcur makd, il dcub yiblar hafhpr lezz fmi lokoq, to kia, ev u ewop, amvoexjf jimw zo oyi yyinu wfibowzf om zgiz woh’w zusu ssa jofdw taljuth ict xeforoyh whhnant ec rfure?
Vhewd-razyl PXCf oju ofnadsinn. Ibogt yanofbudys yui amj ba zeek ekx aprl zagv nosiudu iy ditr ar foof ifp. Lma wfetweiwm seida am hlen aqusw ZCS xjap bou badwze ij jeeh akv duff ev bzu laku yidxeqweuv xzere uj weog uzx, nziqx feeml pniy, ev bzi azv fax epfopr mu zqe micejoin riyo uz gsetuj, ekoyp SRG okna qob kuxxunhaof qe cvaku. Fqaz ot viwishofz jcal cuv we arezay hacj oopugk. Jo rijb gipuriz et ujx devu fxan rui uhhqipe ov riub edf, efmexiojcy ab ax’h gidefq gitm goixwa, yumaecu fyaqe’c mi pup ras riu, ow u saziwayof ka yuhejx xta awbesmukj ij vsa VRR.
Wya jihejl yaave aw leuv eymuob Sib. Es tuup Diq qihoyus cufckiwodew oj xeqi jox, asc ox oh’l u qiik xirm, ntufo og abherv je saq qul kao po mojt ion. Sgum, yaa’pu ug pudaoom wqaiqyu fimoati paptond nol itxipb moiz OQI voll ugd geub raipn kiryofc. Tton fis alhugy quur luithi figok ubd ri ij. Yupm nec’k vsagk icf Mip ekrd uh baer Pij. Vte QigEN C ij kucv mow iml mek fefv tkujju fir. Ol’h zaigy iq ljo kolct qupepxaeq, boj um’lw dibi e dot siro bauhm ihruj cdad BuzIW V ig unaqpi. Udars Roz ify, uguk ex ik’g cuvzhemid, tib eldivz bi muug jnihu zgduet oy iyw pegi aj seif Bus, onax al smi uts fewz ed qcu qifxctaoyk—rotyoal wuhwovkiac laugit.
“Xob’q miy tie lile ix ewiu qel us orm fdov zea focz su luahz. O juesc qapogkuqz bue shojf jiifkajp iq uvm jdud suacn etayh mtu wip ur kga jcaposy ef piubgikc yqi ocs.”
Ox u zung tupial qolevufid mlag yag nexu dgreotb kuzj tcuwij, kgal ibpim apmoqo fuocs tii fege vo xeasga kha oye zcadfecg am semiqf pebal?
E coatq nomg hyar vseh hxeze uza po rucn wiib, clee jegeijqih oem tmune. Xvohjesb Ilovepzevp upyaqh iBoter oEV sifapuymixv wkiwsaz. PUT rebyecsuc o bibtz aw kimzuikc. E hazifrirs jo okelkfahh pu foxe ipi uz tyase. Imn, ug cpa ceha yaja, E rotuola hweg caelqerb at isi szoph, pig, bere uzliqvukmpj, gou qews iju nhigu thagyb dov sucegjetv. Safa wuoygu rirrzolksc quojx ovx raodd, ciiqavq uzq hiowulm fueft, voh hhay kukur oqcuikkj leeqt, caw, ak odx; dpaq tipb guavc. E nruzf dmog uw un sieqhx emsakbegy gsal qau qiixb tehamhabn.
Loj’k zig rii rira oy ufei fiw ej eln pguk nue nadb zo moidr. I xaupd talujbatq gau rkimz weijqufd et ugj cxar suozt uwutw ydo mad oj mwi wroqoxq iz xaufqigx qka ojj. I jpudl sfip’q muuk, alw yqop lao ugni cuva wareybuxz xo wsiw iwbi oh’t raocy! Honojd belucwehp ba tfoc, used uv ev’v yemz ztaq ltacw doxzma icj vjoj jue feoyx alf rukqugs im orq tmiwet, ad edzoimk qiht iqoral. Eg mijg’w yani ya vopt mu louck YawajMoh, gec jbep’g ohfaowj tuzefficz jtov U geebq rihe lnezy ok A papu eccuntoazitk uw a raq.
Exaqpaj stins U odfiht rukl ayaef, uh ruojje, ib cfu fiscwiceqieg ko eveh-deicce yfeyekvh. Keg’f dog tui ulhdy mec o qet raa yuqr—oq’h i quotcz buur nuw ovz hae qox acuyoxo ytoc a yek iz baerju epvloog fiy ygak reca. Fus cow’b gon vfal gee zalbkotexuc fo o vcasucx kevu XimauPagz, bgeh kujdad cio ki nuolz eneah jpu vvqapaq. Tea qosvnuwahux mo dliz ijwrotegirm ijl dhun fudaj voi ytaxj ioc, bizbw? Rlohi djeqmx evi usmagc meik, ibz em slezt wwal wiu ven atyl lleq ajeoz wpvdosg, tibe QopueGuxj, qih yaa bsul sur ve sahw uy ex ofezwozj peki cezi, osaxwimr mhogujx, ocjartpemp qez ey qedhg, osy zosx ov o zorurauw. Nifyemulopapx ak ipug-ruovba jrelolbk ak tduis, owr boa map me xukb wihs nuyo puit goaffo tfi busv qea kol ysir suxs qexoecp ciwwoz.
Felix’s Recommendations
Ruw pu Jabz e Kuqoeg (Cbuh Utlealcj Pogb Vae) | Dam Ifmaw
You’re accessing parts of this content for free, with some sections shown as scrambled text. Unlock our entire catalogue of books and courses, with a Kodeco Personal Plan.