This article is not about Parcel’s history; it’s about its design and development principles. I want to explain what matters to me — as the sole developer of the app — so you can have the right expectations for Parcel in the future.
Designed for Apple Platforms
As you might have noticed, Parcel is available exclusively on Apple platforms. It is not available for Windows or Android.
One reason for this is quite simple: I am an Apple customer myself, so I have a strong intuition for what feels right—and what feels wrong—on Apple platforms. I could have hired developers for other platforms, but without a deep understanding of those ecosystems, I wouldn’t be able to provide the same level of quality.
I want Parcel to look and feel as if it was designed by Apple designers. Well, ok — I’m writing this on macOS Tahoe, so let me rephrase: I want it to look and feel like it was designed by Apple in its prime years.
Adoption of Platform APIs
Since Parcel launched in 2010, it has consistently been one of the first apps in the App Store to adopt new Apple features. Over the years, the list of features adopted on day one has grown quite large. Here are a few highlights:
Sign in with Apple: MacStories
Widgets (mentioned in WWDC keynote): YouTube
Siri Commands: 9to5Mac
Adding new features to Parcel—and seeing customers use them—brings me genuine joy. There’s nothing better than receiving an email from a user saying, “You rock, thanks for updating Parcel!”.
KISS — Keep It Simple, Stupid
I firmly believe that the hardest part of indie software development is deciding which features not to add. This is where an indie developer must also become a product manager.
It’s important to understand who the end user is. In the case of Parcel, the user wants to add a tracking number and get tracking information. No extra steps. No navigation complexity. A plain and simple task.
Power features are great, but they must be:
a) discoverable
b) not in the way of the main goal
I have received hundreds of requests for folders, tags, and archives in Parcel. And I appreciate those requests. But while these features would benefit around 20% of users, I don’t see a way to introduce such complexity without negatively affecting the other 80%.
Respecting Privacy
Next time you create a new account on a third-party website or app using “Sign in with Apple,” notice that it often asks for your first and last name. You can change that name to something random (e.g., John Wick), but by default, your real name is shared.
When you register in Parcel using “Sign in with Apple,” the app doesn’t ask for your name. It only receives a unique account ID from Apple—nothing more.
Another example of respecting user privacy is email inbox access. Many of my competitors request this immediately after installation, and many users grant access for convenience. Please don’t do that. When you get pizza delivered, you don’t invite the delivery person to inspect your fridge. Keep your emails to yourself.
Be Affordable
I’ll be honest: I don’t believe an indie developer can offer a sustainable product without a subscription. Software that requires constant work and updates needs a steady stream of revenue.
That said, not every app needs to cost $50 per year. There is a fair price for everything.
Customer Support
I believe that any paid app should offer customer support. I almost always reply to support emails within 24 hours. The downside is that my replies may be less “formal” and more “straight to the point.”
One more thing - your emails is the primary feedback channel, so keep sending them!
—
Thank you for reading, and enjoy using Parcel! 🙂
Support Articles Click here to read other support articles related to Parcel.
Contact Us Please feel free to contact support through the app settings in case if you have any questions.