First, I’ll say congratulations! Sounds like you made something people really like, which is exciting and rare. Think of all the apps on product hunt that never budge. That’s awesome.

The business cycle from idea->software product->competitors is only getting shorter.

With this sort of app, I see popularity as your “moat”…

If Reddit is the top of your marketing funnel, win there. When I install a Mac app, I generally go with the one that’s most popular on the Mac apps subreddit, and has the most reviews / downloads, and has the biggest community. If everybody is recommending it, that’s generally good enough for me to try it. In that sense, once you have the lead, the winners keep winning, and the competitors eventually move on and do other stuff.

Again, congrats. It’s so cool to have built something people like.

That's an incredibly kind and insightful comment. Thank you so much, I really appreciate you taking the time to write that.

You're right, the cycle from idea to competitor is getting terrifyingly short, and for a simple utility like this, a patent or complex code isn't the moat.

My entire plan is to focus on building a great product, being active in the community, and becoming the trusted, "original" recommendation that people like you would choose.

It's really encouraging to hear that perspective from a user. It validates that I'm on the right track.

Thanks again for the kind words and the fantastic analysis!