From a Self-Built Tap to Curated App Stores: My Milestone as an Indie Developer

Hi everyone, and if you’ve just landed on my page—welcome!

Today, I want to share a major milestone in my journey as an indie developer. What started as a self-built repository to solve installation quirks on macOS has officially graduated into a unified, cross-platform distribution hub.

🍏 Why Do I Need a "Self-Built Tap" on macOS?

If you are a Mac user, you might wonder why I maintain a self-built repository instead of using official distribution channels.

To be completely frank, it is because I still code on an aging 2015 MacBook Pro. Due to macOS update limitations and modern Xcode toolchain requirements, my applications cannot currently be submitted to the official Homebrew core repository or the Mac App Store.

To bypass these hardware limitations and ensure Mac users aren't left behind, I built 👉 huanguan1978/homebrew-tap as a bridge for painless installations.

This repository hosts five local-first tools that I actively maintain (you can find one-click installation guides for macOS, Windows, and Linux in the repository's README.md):

• 🤖 gai: A minimalist local-first AI workbench with zero presets, guiding beginners to quickly learn LLM generation through hands-on practice.

• 📂 fileshows: A visual file search and batch processing utility featuring duplicate checking, secure shredding, and YAML automation.

• 🔒 chabox: An offline secure file vault powered by ChaCha20-Poly1305, featuring a private secure diary and multi-pass file shredding.

• ⚙️ ft (filetools): A high-performance CLI tool for batch file processing, designed for developers to build cross-platform automation via intuitive YAML configs.

• 🔑 chapose: A lightweight CLI encryption utility sharing chabox's cryptographic backend, built specifically for scripts and automation pipelines.

🪟🐧 On Windows & Linux: I’ve Made It to the Official Stores!

While hardware limits hold me back on macOS, these tools are far from mere "toy projects." On platforms free from Apple's specific build environment constraints, I have successfully pushed my applications to the most mainstream, official distribution channels.

You can now deploy these utilities via native, secure methods on every major OS:

• Windows: Install with a single terminal command (winget install), or download directly from the official Microsoft Store.

• Linux: CLI tools install via a clean, secure remote curl script, while GUI applications are fully approved and published on Flathub (Flatpak) and the Snap Store.

• macOS: Still easily deployable via my self-built 👉 Homebrew Tap (brew) and MacPorts (port).

🛡️ Why Curated App Stores Matter to You

In the local-first and privacy-focused space, promising security is easy—delivering it verifiably is much harder.

To meet the strict security standards of Windows and Linux official stores, I spent a substantial amount of time on cross-platform adaptation, packaging, and debugging. The Microsoft Store, Flathub, and Snapcraft enforce rigorous review criteria, including automated vulnerability scanning, strict dependency checks, and sandboxing requirements.

This ensures two critical things:

1. Official Security Endorsement: You don't have to take my word for it. These platforms independently verify that my binaries are untampered, secure, and sandboxed, meaning they run safely without compromising your operating system.

2. Production-Ready Quality: These are robust, stable utilities built to align with modern OS distribution standards—not amateur scripts.

Whether you use Windows at work, macOS at home, or Linux on your servers, you can now enjoy a unified, high-efficiency workflow using native, secure methods.

☕ Pushing Limits, Moving Forward

To this day, I still optimize and refine every line of code on an 11-year-old machine. To mark this unified, cross-platform milestone, I have completely rewritten the About section on my profile—feel free to take a look.

As an indie developer with zero ad revenue or venture backing, I rely entirely on the support of users who value clean, honest software. If my tools have saved you time, or if you believe in my "privacy-first, local-first" development philosophy, please consider buying me a coffee.

Every single cup directly supports my goal to upgrade my compilation hardware, bypass physical limitations, and continue building honest software. Thank you so much for your support! ❤️

— cronw.hg (huanguan1978)