Building ZoneCue

“Why did this matter?”

I wanted to find a simple cardio experience that my wife would enjoy. We couldn't find an app that solved this problem without requiring an account, extensive configuration, or frequent interruptions.

“How did you approach it?”

I created a website to market ZoneCue and am building out the app. I have tested it on my MacBook through a simulator, but I haven't tested it on a real device or with users yet.

“Describe a time when you embraced a new system, tool, or way of working that initially felt uncomfortable. What helped you adjust, and what did you learn about yourself through that transition?”

While building ZoneCue, I started learning how to build with Codex, an AI tool, and I also began working with Apple Xcode for the first time. Xcode has been interesting and works well, but I’ve had to work through many nuances that I wasn’t familiar with. As I’ve built the app, I’ve also realized that I may have over-engineered some of the tests and deployment steps. I’m now refining the product and trying to simplify the deployment process so future deployments are cleaner. This experience has taught me to look not only at whether something works, but also at whether the supporting process is more complicated than it needs to be. I’m still working through the implementation, with the goal of producing the best possible solution while learning how to avoid unnecessary complexity in future work.