Friction reads app store reviews every week and turns the repeated complaints into things you could make.
See the 25 challenges
Notion
the app is really really laggy on iPhone
Build itAn editor that keeps your text when the app stops responding.
Start itA recovery layer that editors could license rather than build.
Study itHow much writing is actually lost, and does anyone notice at the time?
Write itWhy the little saved indicator lies.
Widely reported
Ten thousand a week, from both app stores.
The same struggle, told by several different people.
Build it, start it, study it, write it.
Microsoft Teams
extremely slow, you can't search anything you send
Build itA message list that renders only what is on screen.
Start itA lighter client for people who only need to read and reply.
Study itDoes message latency change what people write?
Write itThe app everyone must use and nobody can scroll.
Reported repeatedly
Strava
the program keeps stopping in the middle of my hike
Build itA recorder that writes each location fix to disk as it arrives.
Start itA recorder whose only job is not to stop.
Study itHow often does a consumer tracker lose part of a session?
Write itThe run that did not happen because the app stopped.
Reported repeatedly
Duolingo
it also won't load kana or other character / writing lessons
Build itA lesson that is fully on the device before it starts.
Start itOffline-first practice for people with unreliable connections.
Study itDoes an outage break a learning habit, or only pause it?
Write itGamified learning that punishes you for its own outage.
Reported repeatedly
