I Hate App Stores (So I Built a PWA Instead)

Here is a list of things I enjoy:

1. Coffee.
2. Clean code.
3. Getting job offers.

Here is a list of things I do not enjoy:

1. Waiting 3 days for Apple to "review" a bug fix.
2. Giving Google 30% of... well, anything.
3. Downloading a 150MB app just to move a card from "Applied" to "rejected" (let's be real).

So when it came time to build the mobile version of Oplinque, I made a choice that might seem weird in 2025: I didn't build an app.

I built something better.

The "App" That Lives on the Web

Oplinque is now a Progressive Web App (PWA).

If you haven't heard of PWAs, it's basically tech-speak for "a website that learned how to be an app." It lives on your home screen. It works offline. It has push notifications (coming soon). It's full-screen.

But the best part? It updates the second I push code. No "Update Required" popups. No waiting.

How to Get It (It's ridiculously easy)

On iPhone / iPad:

1. Open app.oplinque.com in Safari.
2. Tap the "Share" button (the box with the arrow).
3. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen".

On Android:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Tap the menu dots -> "Install App".

That's it. You now have the full power of Oplinque in your pocket. Track applications while you're in line for coffee. Check your stats while you're... well, you have your phone in the bathroom, don't lie.

The Shortcut That Does Not Need an App Store

Oplinque keeps the useful shortcut in the product itself. Paste a public job-posting URL when you create an application and the app can draft the title, company, location, compensation, and description for your review.

That keeps the workflow available across desktop and mobile browsers without asking for browser-wide permissions. Manual entry remains available when a job board blocks automated fetching or the posting is private.

The Goal: Frictionless Hunting

The job market right now is a numbers game, but it's also a mental health game. Every barrier—every manual copy-paste, every app store download, every clunky interface—adds friction.

And friction makes you want to quit.

I built this workflow so you can focus on the important part: nailing the interview. Let the software handle the boring parts, then verify the result before you save it.

Go add it to your home screen. Your future self will thank you.

• The Developer