this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2023
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Mlem for Lemmy

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Goodbye, everyone (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 year ago by lFenix@lemmy.ml to c/mlemapp@lemmy.ml
65 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I will no longer be working on Mlem.

I started it a year and a half ago when I needed to take my mind off pain from surgery. And I always intended it to be a personal protect that would help me relax.

With the current development of the app, I no longer find being a part of the project relaxing or fun.

I’m not doing any coding anymore, since it’s all done by much more talented and experienced people. If I tried to contribute to my app now, as an outsider, I would be rejected. I’m also not doing much project management. I feel like I don’t have much voice in the development anymore.

I’m also getting backlash for trying to make the app accessible to the average person as opposed to just tech nerds, and it’s not worth the stress. This is happening mostly in my DMs (the other developers are not doing this, so please don’t go after them. They are very nice and would never do this), since some elements of this and Mastodon community don’t have the balls to face me in public.

These are just some of the many reasons I found working on the app for the last few weeks frustrating. Ever since the app exploded in popularity and the community grew, I can say that even thinking about working on Mlem made me instantly angry, annoyed and just overall pissed off.

It’s just not worth it anymore.

The current TestFlight version will keep working for two more days, after which I will erase the app from the App Store. Until then, someone from the team will have given you a new link. I have also transferred the app’s source code to a new owner.

I have released a new version just before posting this, and it’s the last version I have any influence on. The community will continue working on the app.

I will focus on my other apps, which will hopefully not become like Mlem.

Enjoy life, and don’t try to contact me.

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[–] dessalines@lemmy.ml 72 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I'm really sorry to hear that... its really unfair for people to put so much stress on you for what should be essentially a fun project you do in your free time. I'm also hitting a high-score of unread github notifications (900+), and I have to take a ton of piano-breaks, and de-stress in any way I can.

Anyways, thank you for all you've done making mlem, put yourself and your own mental well-being first, and take care.

[–] Gaywallet@beehaw.org 31 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

There is unfortunately a culture of entitlement and harassment that is absolutely pervasive on the internet. There's a special kind of tech harassment and entitlement which emerged on the internet from stackflow, github and other major websites which put up with people grandstanding their ideals and shitting on other people who don't have enough experience or are asking simple questions or demanding changes or hijacking reports to share one's own ideals which lead to nice people like OP simply leaving these spaces.

Please think twice before demanding something of a developer, and admin, a moderator. Think about what you're putting out into the world. There's another human behind that screen, extend them a little faith. Ask yourself what you can do to help, before demanding something of others.

[–] a1studmuffin@aussie.zone 7 points 1 year ago

Even well-intended messages can be suffocating. All it takes is an explosion in popularity due to circumstances outside your control (like we're seeing here), and suddenly you're inundated with GitHub issues, PRs, conversations, important decisions, critical incidents that need a response and so on. Even if you're full-time on it and salaried (which most open source devs aren't), you simply can't keep up with the volume - dozens, hundreds or thousands of other contributors trying to contact you, debating every aspect of your decisions, technical and social. The toll on mental health can be significant, especially to those personalities who like to stay organised and on top of things.

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[–] patchymoose@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 year ago

As part of the silent majority of Jerboa users, thank you for everything you do. I appreciate all your work on the app beyond words. Its so awesome.

[–] dwt@lemmy.ml 37 points 1 year ago

Sad to hear, but personal psychic health is important! Thank you so much for the work you have put in so far!

[–] JshKlsn@lemmy.ml 34 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Your words are exactly why Notch, the creator of Minecraft sold Minecraft, and stopped all of his ongoing projects.

Also the reason Eric, developer of Stardew Valley, said his new game Haunted Chocolatier isn't coming to mobile, because the mobile community is so insanely toxic and entitled.

People suck.

[–] argv_minus_one@beehaw.org 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Mobile in particular? Hmm. Are there perhaps relatively few children on PC? Is that why?

[–] JshKlsn@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 year ago

Yea, the mobile community sends him death threats because the updates take longer to come out on mobile. He's been so beaten down by it, that he decided to not release Haunted Chocolatier on mobile.

Pretty much everyone has a phone, so I'd assume it's mostly children who don't understand development and think he just needs to push a button to release it to all platforms at once.

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[–] SevFTW@feddit.de 31 points 1 year ago

Thanks for your work, much luck in the future!

[–] tromars@feddit.de 27 points 1 year ago

Oof that’s sad to hear, understandable tho. I wish you all the best!

[–] acdoe98@lemmy.ml 26 points 1 year ago

Thank you for bringing Mlem to life! And wish you all the best on your other projects and ones to come in the future!

[–] hikarulsi@lemmy.world 25 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you brother. The app is one of the reasons many people is able to switch. That’s a legacy you left behind that everyone should be proud of you.

Project direction and requirements change. Stress isn’t what you are looking for, moving on is the best choice

Take care of yourself first, stick around to and just be a consumer of the platform is also okay

See you around in the new world of lemmy

[–] ragnarokonline@vlemmy.net 7 points 1 year ago

This is so true for me too. Mlem will always be a part of my journey away from Reddit and towards a more open mind.

[–] Latinvelvet@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago

Oh man, I am so sorry the joy has been sucked out by others. I wish you all the very best for your physical and mental health.

[–] Cha0zz@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago

I really hope that you can find some joy in your other projects. I sincerely wish you all the best in the future!

[–] mitexleo@kbin.social 18 points 1 year ago

Huge loss for the community 😢

[–] Richie@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Sigh

I'm sorry that you have to deal with dogshit people trying to tear you down. It's so sad how people try their hardest to make the world worse rather than attempting to make it better. I'd honestly say just fuck the internet and go live life. This whole thing with Reddit has opened my eyes a lot. There's just no need to be on the internet. Simply put, the internet is just noise.

Thank you for your work 🫡

[–] eoddc5@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is a truly truly bizarre post.

[–] eoddc5@lemmy.world 28 points 1 year ago (2 children)

To add context here: it seems like this wasn’t even discussed with the other developers, Brooklyn seems just as confused and lost with this announcement

Then adding the line “don’t contact me” seems just a very strange way to close the message.

I’m all for protecting mental health and if not working on this app will help contribute to his well being then that is supported. The message itself, however, isn’t delivered well and could be handled in a more responsible manner.

Add to it that he stated the app would be live for another 2 days, then removed from testflight. And it’s already removed. With no real communication to the other developers, who seem to be hearing this only from this thread.

[–] maegul@lemmy.ml 31 points 1 year ago

I understand where you are coming from. Having exit plans in place and knowing how to trigger them before it’s too late is a skill and a valuable one.

But not everyone learns this skill or that it’s important. I wouldn’t be surprised if most don’t, especially amongst that would benefit the most from it. I have learnt its importance the hard way and too late in life for it to really matter much.

I’m this case, it seems they were burnt out and trying to cope rather than pivot and so the end was calamitous.

It’s sad and destructive, but I’d ask you to try to respect that in all likelihood they probably did their very best to the point that it hurt them. And that jumping ship dramatically and unexpectedly, while annoyingly disruptive, tends to shake out well so long as they don’t take anything down with them (which, given the transfers, seems to be the case here). This, sadly, comes with the territory of people pushing themselves on voluntary passion projects for the rest of us to enjoy.

[–] stevecrox@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago

Is the author quite early in their career?

The reference to their code not being accepted screams imposter syndrome. Which is really common in junior developers.

The stuff about not being heard and not being involved in project management. Comes off as a junior who lacks the confidence to assert themselves or a senior who hasn't made the senior -> tech lead transition.

One of the big junior -> senior lessons is learning when to ask for help. A junior feeling completely overwhelmed not wanting to bother people is a fairly common problem.

[–] tookmyname@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 year ago

Thanks for everything. Wish you all the best.

[–] Floppy@beehaw.org 14 points 1 year ago

Thank you for everything, and sorry it became a sour experience. Most of all though, thank you for handing it over to others to continue! Too many projects just die; hopefully this one will live a long life.

[–] thesanewriter@vlemmy.net 12 points 1 year ago

Thank you for your contributions to this community, it's a shame it got to be such a big stressor in your life. Take your time and relax for a bit, your mental health is important

[–] notacat@lemmy.fmhy.ml 12 points 1 year ago

Oh man that sucks. I’ve been using mlem from the beginning since it’s nicer to browse from than the website. I hope this doesn’t sour your experience of this growing community and I hope you recognize your contributions to it and how many people you’ve helped get here.

[–] timmytbt@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 year ago

Thanks for everything you've done. All the best

[–] blaamejsen@feddit.dk 10 points 1 year ago

Best of luck with your other projects.

Sad it had to get to a place like this

[–] giddy@beehaw.org 10 points 1 year ago

So sorry to hear that. Thankyou for your hard work

[–] Goodbyeworld@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Mlem has been great for me. I really appreciate the work you have done. I think Mlem was pretty clutch in helping me move from reddit and get cozy over here. I hope you are proud. Best of everything to you on your next endeavors!!!!!!!

[–] norbert@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Sorry to hear that, i really enjoyed using the app. Thank you for your work! All the best to you, i hope you find joy in another project.

[–] twolf@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago

Sorry to hear this, your personal health is always the most important thing. I hope you can find fun in your other projects and thank you for your hard work.

[–] cultsuperstar@kbin.social 9 points 1 year ago

Every community will have its toxicity. Sorry you were a target for trying to do something useful and helpful. Take care of yourself, first and foremost.

[–] baascus@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Best of luck with your other apps, and I hope you find fulfillment in your future endeavors ❤️ ❤️

[–] gts@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

It’s open source, right? As a dev I’ve got no problems contributing and spreading some workload. I’ll go check it out.

[–] nkh@beehaw.org 7 points 1 year ago

Also sorry to hear this, it’s been a pleasure working with you and for what it’s worth I agree that the app should be designed for the general user first and foremost.

Thank you for creating the project and for bringing this herd of cats together, hopefully we can continue moving it forward and it doesn’t become only for tech-nerds 🤞

I hope that you stay well and get back to having fun on your other projects - if you ever want to catch up give me a shout, but I’ll respect your request not to reach out

Take care,

  • nkh (mormaer)
[–] randombit@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 1 year ago

Thank you so much for Mlem! As a developer myself, I was blown away by how good mlem was for version 0.0.1. I would hope that in the spirit of federated communities and open source software that people would be understanding of the time constraints and challenges of working on a personal project for the benefit of everyone. I’m truly saddened that a small minority of selfish users soured an otherwise great start to a sorely needed app. I am looking forward to your future projects and hope that this and other thank you messages show how much we appreciate you and what you selflessly gave to us.

[–] acow@programming.dev 7 points 1 year ago

Good call on looking out for yourself! It’s hard to recognize when cutting ties to a project is for the best.

[–] chibah@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

the app worked great for me, thanks for having it available during the most needed time to switch over to the lemmy. and it feels like just a few days ago. :) best of luck on your future endeavors.

[–] biff@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago

Thank you very much for your work creating mlem, and I wish you the very best!

[–] EthicalAI@beehaw.org 6 points 1 year ago

Yeah if you don’t enjoy the work don’t do it! Open source leaves its own legacy. You built the starting framework and thanks for that work! Now go chillax!

[–] Pekka@feddit.nl 6 points 1 year ago

Thanks for all your work. Unfortunately some people can be very demanding to volunteers. I hope you will have a better time working on your other projects and won’t stop enjoying programming because of other people’s actions.

[–] Discoslugs@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Thank you for your time!

[–] Kernel@beehaw.org 5 points 1 year ago

It's been a good run, and best of luck with future endeavors. Mlem established a good standard of design and usability for others to strive to attain.

[–] Kronusdark@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I don't know what to say. Take care of yourself. ❤️

[–] minkshaman@lemmy.perthchat.org 5 points 1 year ago

Thank you for you work. This app has the feeling that Apollo does, it’s clean and sharp.

Thank you so much for that!

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Thank you for everything you've done.

[–] limboapp@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Oh this is so unexpected. The excitement I felt at seeing Mlem move forward so quickly with so much support from its users was one of the things that inspired me to believe in Lemmy and to start working on Limbo. Thank you for your incredible work, and well done for having the insight and courage to step back when you needed to do so. Please take some time to look after yourself.

[–] desmondjones@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

That you for your work!

[–] Senseibu@feddit.uk 3 points 1 year ago

This is why I made my repos private till major releases

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