MacShip - Mac App Licensing & Distribution SDK Startup Idea
The Problem Developers distributing Mac apps outside the Mac App Store (MAS) face significant challenges: Licensing System: Serial key generation, validation, activation limits Auto Updates: Sparkle framework setup and update server management Payment Integration: Stripe, Paddle, or other gateway connections Code Signing & Notarization: Apple Notarization workflow automation Building all this from scratch takes 4-8 weeks of development time, plus ongoing maintenance burden. Market Analysis Aspect Details Target Market Global macOS indie developers TAM macOS developer tools market $2B+ Competition Status EMG (Emerging) Competitive Landscape Competitor Pricing Weakness Paddle 5%+$0.50 fee Generic payment platform, lacks Mac-specific features FastSpring 5.9%+ fee Complex setup, not developer-friendly DevMate Discontinued Service shutdown Gumroad 10% fee No licensing/update features Differentiation Opportunity: An all-in-one SDK specialized for Mac apps—integrate licensing, updates, and payments with just a few lines of code. ...