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David Barnard

Developer Advocate @ RevenueCat — Founder @ Contrast

David Barnard is a notable figure in the app development community, currently serving as a Growth Advocate at RevenueCat, a company focused on helping developers manage and optimize their subscription-based apps. He has been with RevenueCat since September 2019 and plays a multifaceted role that includes hosting the Sub Club podcast and representing the company at various industry conferences.123

Background and Career

Barnard founded his own company, Contrast, in 2008, where he has launched over 20 apps and sold three of them. His journey in app development began with the launch of his first app, Trip Cubby, shortly after the iPhone SDK was released. He has a diverse background, having previously worked as an audio engineer before transitioning into software development.1234

Contributions and Expertise

At RevenueCat, Barnard focuses on educating developers about app monetization strategies and sharing insights from his experiences in the industry. He emphasizes the importance of building effective subscription models and provides guidance on overcoming common challenges faced by app developers.34 His expertise has made him a sought-after speaker and commentator in the tech media, with features in prominent outlets like The New York Times and TechCrunch.23

Personal Insights

Barnard describes himself as an anomaly in the tech world—neither a designer nor a developer by traditional standards—yet he successfully manages various aspects of app creation, akin to how a music producer collaborates with artists to craft an album. This unique perspective allows him to bridge gaps between technical development and user experience.23

Overall, David Barnard's contributions to app development and his advocacy for developers make him a pivotal figure in the subscription app ecosystem.

Highlights

May 13 · twitter

Having Claude Code check Codex’s work and vice versa has been pretty helpful. I have them critique and then write plans the original then reads and implements (or pushes back on).

There are so many little things I’m doing these days that could be automated and other things that will just get better as Codex/Claude Code improve. I could see building an app similar to this taking me like 1/10th the time in a few months.

Having Claude Code check Codex’s work and vice versa has been pretty helpful. I have them critique a
May 13 · twitter

What are people doing these days for unlocking apps for beta testers? I think I’ve had a few that don’t understand that you can subscribe to a TestFlight app without actually paying.

I left the paywalls in there to get a little more stress testing, but I do want people to actually test the full app as well.

Jan 1 · mauvegas.com
David Barnard - MAU Vegas 2025
Jul 24 · revenuecat.com
David Barnard - RevenueCat
David Barnard - RevenueCat
Jul 24 · revenuecat.com
David Barnard - RevenueCat
Dec 8 · youtube.com
#43: App Subscriptions with David Barnard, Developer Advocate at ...
#43: App Subscriptions with David Barnard, Developer Advocate at ...
Sep 16 · CNET
Why People Don't Line Up for iPhones as Much Anymore - CNET
Why People Don't Line Up for iPhones as Much Anymore - CNET
Sep 16 · CNET
Why People Don't Line Up for iPhones as Much Anymore - CNET
Why People Don't Line Up for iPhones as Much Anymore - CNET
Nov 27 · davidbarnard.com
David Barnard - Blog

Related Questions

What are some of the apps David Barnard has developed?
How did David Barnard transition from app development to a role at RevenueCat?
What strategies does David Barnard recommend for growing subscription apps?
What are some common tactics developers use to game the App Store, according to David Barnard?
How has David Barnard's experience as an app developer influenced his work at RevenueCat?
David Barnard
David Barnard, photo 1
David Barnard, photo 2
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Location

San Marcos, Texas, United States