Core Principles

Every app I build follows these fundamental beliefs about what technology should be, and more importantly, what it shouldn't be.

Privacy First

Your data stays on your device. No tracking, no analytics, no third-party services. What you do with my apps is between you and your phone.

Offline by Design

Apps that work without internet. No cloud dependencies, no account requirements. Your tools should work everywhere, always.

Human-Centered

Built for real people facing real challenges. Every feature exists to genuinely improve someone's daily life, not to drive engagement metrics.

No Dark Patterns

Transparent interfaces that respect your attention. No manipulation, no addiction mechanics, no artificial urgency. Just honest, helpful software.

Simple & Fast

Lightweight apps that launch instantly and do one thing well. No feature bloat, no unnecessary complexity. Pure functionality.

Inclusive Access

Apps that work for everyone, regardless of technical skill, economic status, or connectivity. Technology should serve all people equally.

Ethical Development

Built by someone who uses these apps daily. No venture capital, no growth-at-all-costs mentality. Just sustainable, caring craftsmanship.

Sustainable Design

Built for longevity, not planned obsolescence. Apps that improve over time without forced upgrades or artificial limitations. Technology that lasts.

Open & Transparent

Clear about how apps work, what they do, and why they do it. No hidden algorithms, no mysterious data processing. Complete transparency in purpose and function.

Community Focused

Building for collective benefit, not individual profit. Apps that strengthen communities and support mutual aid rather than extracting value from social connections.

Data Ownership

You own and control your information completely. Export anytime, delete everything, or keep it forever. Your data belongs to you, not to any corporation.

Mindful Technology

Designed to support mental well-being and healthy relationships with technology. No attention hijacking, no compulsive usage patterns. Calm by design.

"Technology should amplify human capability and dignity, not exploit our psychology for profit. These principles guide every line of code I write."

— Matthew Kerr

Apps for Real Life

Each app addresses overlooked aspects of human experience, built with care for the people who need them most.

The Vibrant Radiant

Art for your emotional now

Available

Experience your current mood as radiant, with radiant art with no tracking and no pressure. Your energy and emotions, reflected as beautiful motion.

Key Features

  • Radiant visual reflections of your mood
  • Feelings captured in motion, not metrics
  • Designed for presence, not performance
  • A gentle space to witness your inner world
Emotional ReflectionMood in ColorDaily Radiance

Sober Balance

Recovery support, privately

Coming Soon

Sobriety tracking and reflection tools built with dignity and privacy. Support your recovery journey without sharing personal details with corporations.

Key Features

  • Anonymous tracking
  • Reflection journaling
  • No account needed
  • Support at your fingertips
RecoverySupportPrivacy-First

Each app is a small rebellion against surveillance capitalism, designed to empower individuals and communities. They embody my belief that technology can enhance human connection and well-being, while respecting privacy and autonomy.

Why I Build This Way

A personal reflection on technology, humanity, and the overlooked lives that inspire my work.

I didn't set out to build privacy-first apps. I set out to build apps for people who felt invisible to the tech industry, people whose needs didn't fit neatly into engagement metrics or user acquisition funnels.

The person tracking their weight without wanting to be bombarded with diet culture messaging. The individual in recovery who needs support tools that don't require sharing their story with a corporation. The overwhelmed parent trying to maintain friendships without social media's performative pressure. People trying to take care of their pets without being sold a subscription service. A loved one who just wants to remember their family history without being tracked by algorithms. There are so many eampmles of people who need technology that respects their humanity, not exploits it.

These aren't edge cases, they're the majority of us. But when I looked at the app ecosystem, I saw tools built for idealized users living idealized lives, designed primarily to extract value rather than provide it.

So I started building differently. Apps that work offline because internet access isn't universal. No tracking because your personal data shouldn't be a business model. No dark patterns because your attention is precious and finite.

Every app I build is a small act of resistance against the assumption that software must be extractive to be valuable. They're proof that you can create genuinely helpful tools without surveillance, manipulation, or venture capital.

This isn't about being anti-technology. It's about being pro-human. It's about building the tools I wish existed when I needed them most—and hoping they'll be there for others who need them too.

Built by a user

I use every app I build daily. They solve my own problems first, which means they're designed for real human needs, not imaginary market opportunities.

Sustainable pace

No venture capital, no growth-at-all-costs pressure. Just sustainable development that prioritizes long-term value over short-term metrics.

Human-first

Every feature exists to genuinely improve someone's life. If it doesn't serve human flourishing, it doesn't belong in the app.

If this resonates with you, or if you're working on similar ideas, I'd love to hear from you.

Start a conversation

Matthew Kerr

Building privacy-first mobile apps for real human needs. No tracking, no ads, no manipulation.

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© 2025 Matthew Kerr. Building technology that serves human dignity.