Showcase: Appreciation Jar - Send appreciative messages to your partner

In today's fast-paced digital world, meaningful connection between partners can sometimes get lost in the noise. Appreciation Jar, developed by Stanislav Khromov, offers a refreshing solution: a privacy-first gratitude journaling app based on Capacitor designed specifically for couples to share appreciations and positive thoughts in a secure, intimate space.

Introduction

Appreciation Jar transforms the simple act of expressing gratitude into a powerful tool for strengthening relationships. Unlike social media platforms where personal moments become public, this app creates a private sanctuary where couples can focus purely on appreciating each other without external distractions or pressure.

The concept is beautifully simple: create a shared virtual appreciation jar with your partner, family members, or close friends, and fill it with positive messages that build stronger emotional connections through regular gratitude practice. What sets Appreciation Jar apart is its unwavering commitment to privacy - no email or phone number required for signup, with all data stored on EU-based servers and complete user ownership without any third-party involvement.

Features

Appreciation Jar prioritizes simplicity and privacy in its feature set. The app offers quick setup that takes less than a minute, allowing users to immediately start sharing appreciative messages with their partners. The cross-platform availability means couples can stay connected whether they're using iOS, Android, or the web version.

The privacy-first design stands out in today's data-hungry digital landscape. Users maintain complete control over their data, with servers located in the European Union and absolutely no third-party data sharing. This approach creates a truly secure environment where couples can express their deepest appreciations without concerns about privacy or data misuse.

The shared jar concept provides an elegant metaphor for relationship building - each positive message becomes a precious memory stored in a digital container that both partners can revisit whenever they need emotional support or simply want to remember why they appreciate each other.

Monetization

Appreciation Jar follows a unique approach to monetization by currently offering the app completely free to users. With approximately 5,000 total downloads and 500 monthly active users, Stanislav has chosen to focus on creating value and building a loyal user base rather than immediate revenue generation.

This strategy reflects the app's core philosophy of putting relationships and user experience first. By removing financial barriers, Appreciation Jar ensures that strengthening relationships through gratitude practice remains accessible to everyone, regardless of their economic situation.

Development

The development story of Appreciation Jar showcases the power of modern cross-platform tools. Stanislav chose Capacitor because learning native iOS and Android development plus maintaining multiple codebases would have been overwhelming for a side project. Among web-to-native options, Capacitor emerged as the mature choice that properly supported both platforms while allowing him to use familiar web technologies.

In the end, Appreciation Jar was built using a stack that includes:

• Capacitor: Cross-platform framework for building native mobile apps using web technologies
• SvelteKit: A modern framework for building fast, interactive web applications
• PostgreSQL: A powerful relational database for storing user data securely
• CapRover and Docker: Containerization and deployment platform for easy app management
• Umami: Privacy-friendly analytics
• GlitchTip: Error monitoring
• Pushpin: Realtime updates

The development process took approximately six months, with the only major challenge being the app-specific requirements like creating developer accounts with Apple and Google, setting up native environments locally, and building app bundles correctly. Stanislav praised Capacitor's documentation, noting it was excellent even for advanced topics like building custom plugins.

For Capacitor, the following plugins were utilized:

@capacitor/android
@capacitor/app
@capacitor/assets
@capacitor/cli
@capacitor/clipboard
@capacitor/core
@capacitor/ios
@capacitor/preferences
@capacitor/push-notifications
@capacitor/status-bar
@capawesome-team/capacitor-printer

As you can see, the app leverages only a few essential plugins to keep the codebase lean and focused on core functionality. This approach aligns with the app's philosophy of simplicity and privacy. The Capawesome Printer plugin is the only unofficial Capacitor plugin used, allowing users to print their appreciation messages directly from the app.

Q&A

Why did you choose Capacitor for this project?

"I chose Capacitor because learning native iOS and Android development plus maintaining multiple codebases would have been difficult for a side project - I needed a single codebase solution using web technologies I already was familiar with. Among the web-to-native options, Capacitor was the only mature choice that properly supported both platforms."

What do you like most about Capacitor?

"That I can still use my favourite stack for web projects. While there are UI kits like Ionic, I wanted to make a completely custom design for this app and Capacitor made that super simple. It also makes it easy to prototype the web/PWA version first to validate the idea and then add Capacitor at the end."

What are your future plans for the app?

"I'm working on a big update right now that focuses on the realtime components in the app. There will be presence indicators showing if other users are currently in the app (and where), live updating of posted messages (like a chat app) and some new creative ways to stay in touch with each other remotely."

What's your most valuable tip for developers using Capacitor?

"Start with what you already know - web and PWA, and build out your prototype. Once it starts to feel good (or you start needing native features) add Capacitor on top!"

Conclusion

Appreciation Jar represents more than just another messaging app - it's a thoughtfully crafted tool for nurturing relationships in our digital age. By combining the convenience of modern technology with a deep respect for privacy and meaningful connection, Stanislav has created something truly special.

For couples looking to deepen their connection or developers interested in building privacy-first applications with Capacitor, Appreciation Jar serves as an inspiring example of what's possible when technology is used to genuinely improve human relationships.

Download Appreciation Jar on the App Store or Google Play Store to start saving money on your Costco purchases today.

You want to showcase your Capacitor app? Reach out to us at support@capawesome.io. We would love to feature your app in our next showcase post!