The Beginning
As I wrote in the previous post (“The Idea”), the concept of MeowSnap began with a simple wish —
to remember the cats I met while traveling, by placing them on a map.
The next question was,
“How can I turn that image in my mind into something real?”
I had a vague vision, but no concrete experience.
It was a completely blank start.
The Start of Development
Once I began building, I quickly realized how difficult it would be.
Errors kept coming one after another, and some days I couldn’t move forward at all.
AI can now write parts of code automatically, but even in this new era, errors never seem to end.
My only prior experience was following a Udemy course to make a simple app.
My knowledge was limited, but step by step, as I fixed each problem,
photos I took began to appear as pins on a map.
Moments like that made me feel — it’s starting to take shape.
I kept trying, failing, and fixing again.
Before I knew it, those small steps had slowly turned into something real.
The Philosophy
With MeowSnap, I wanted to keep things as simple as possible —
an app that lets people focus quietly, without noise or distraction.
There’s no login, no social-network connection.
You just take a photo, and it appears on your map.
That’s all it needs to be.
I also cared deeply about data privacy.
All photos and location data are stored only on your iPhone,
never uploaded to any external server.
MeowSnap works with iCloud backup,
so your memories stay safe if you ever need to restore them.
It’s not made to show others.
It’s made for you — to quietly keep your own record of encounters.
Looking Ahead
I hope that in the future, cat lovers and travelers around the world
can each build their own “cat maps.”
From Japan’s Cat Islands, to narrow streets in Taiwan,
to beaches in Bali — cats are quietly there, everywhere.
If MeowSnap can help record those encounters, even in a small way,
I’ll be happy.
I’m also imagining an Adventure Mode someday —
a gentle “cat-spot quest” that encourages exploring new places.
A small, playful way to enjoy the world of cats while traveling.
In Closing
To me, MeowSnap is both a travel journal and a way to enjoy traveling more.
Walking around while looking for cats feels a bit like a quiet game —
a way to feel the air of each town, one step at a time.
Even a simple walk can become a little adventure.
That’s what I hope this app will be.
The release is coming soon.
If you happen to meet a cat on your journey,
try leaving a gentle pin on your own map.
A quiet record, one moment at a time.
