eelco

Also, it depends on how good you want the app to look and behave. With HTML you don't have as much control over how content is loaded, animated, etc. Be prepared to deal with really hard to debug crashes if you're making a heavy app.

Last, but not least, the frameworks: the amount of effort that has been put into the native frameworks makes up for a lot of the (perceived?) ease of using HTML, but having to invent a lot of wheels. But again, it really really really depends on what your app will be doing.

Seeing how the tool requires certain amounts 'points' for some of the brushes to be available, this would make the benefit of a premium account even more clear after toying with the tool.

So, to sum it up: for me, not being able to try out the tool immediately is a small frustration. Presumably, for other people without Deviant accounts this is also annoying. I believe, as argued above that they might be able to make more money if they let people play with the tool first. Regardless, that might not be their goal at all.

If you'd made a (very similar) Android app as well, you could have tested if the use of a certain mobile OS makes a significant difference in happiness ;)

On the other hand, when inspired, working for a longer stretch (couple of weeks) on one single thing also works really well for me.

Ah, well, I guess it is a matter of balance (like most things in live :)

My standard response when people ask me about building an app is if they've considered creating a mobile site. Unless they have something platform/device specific in mind, like in app purchases, push notifications, using the camera or compass or if the UI is important, it often does not make sense to create an app.

Most important, however, is the user (surprise, surprise). What is the task the user will perform at your site/with your app? If it's something they'll only do a couple of times (or even once) it's not worth an app (unless, maybe, you want them to pay for it). Installing an app is a much bigger upfront commitment (even if it's free) than visiting a website.

So, the question here is: why didn't you trust your gut feeling? Why did you value your (simplistic) rationalization more?

* Break big tasks into small pieces, make a list.

* Visualize yourself taking (and completing) the first (physical) step.

* Take a time based goal instead of task based one, e.g., just spent 5-10-15 minutes on the task.

* Start with big rewards (for small things) and try to make them smaller as you go.

* Set deadlines, plan backwards (but don't abuse it to procrastinate ;)

I think of discipline as a muscle that you have to train. Don't expect to be able to lift a complete weekend of productive work if you usually 'slack off'. I definitely recognize your behavior.

At least it seemed very entertaining to the TED crowd, they're mostly laughing.