Exploring Tech Trends: A Developer Dad's Perspective

I came to software development later than most. I didn't grow up writing code or get a CS degree. I started my iOS development journey in June 2024 — as a grown man, a husband, a dad, former Software QA Lead/Manager and now a full-time Product Owner — and decided to build something anyway.

That late start actually gives me a unique lens on tech trends. I'm not a veteran who's seen every hype cycle. But I'm also not naive to it. I sit at an interesting intersection — someone who works in product strategy by day, builds iOS apps by night, and tries to be present for his family in between. Here's how I see what's happening in tech right now.

AI IS EVERYWHERE — AND THAT'S BOTH EXCITING AND EXHAUSTING

You can't escape AI in 2025. Every app, every platform, every product meeting I'm in has AI somewhere in the conversation. As a Product Owner, I'm constantly being asked "how does AI fit into this?"

My honest take: AI is genuinely useful when it solves a real problem, and genuinely annoying when it's bolted on just to say it's there.

Building DayOffPlanner has taught me this firsthand. I'm building a simple tool to help people reclaim their day with clarity and calm. The temptation is always to add AI features because it sounds impressive. But sometimes the most powerful product decision is knowing what not to build.

For everyday life though? AI has changed how I learn to code. Tools like Claude and ChatGPT have accelerated my Swift learning in ways that would have taken me years through traditional resources alone. For a self-taught developer with a full-time job and a family, that's not a small thing.

iOS DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES TO START BUILDING

I started building for iOS in June 2024 and the ecosystem has never been more accessible. SwiftUI has made building clean, native interfaces genuinely enjoyable — even for someone who started from scratch.

What excites me most right now:

• Swift continues to mature — it's becoming the language for Apple platforms and the community around it is incredibly supportive

• The App Store is still a real opportunity — yes it's competitive, but niche, well-designed apps that solve specific problems still break through

• Apple's focus on privacy resonates with me personally. Building apps that respect users is something I care about deeply as both a developer and a user

DayOffPlanner is my bet that there's still room for simple, calm, focused apps in a world full of feature-bloated productivity tools.

BEING A PRODUCT OWNER CHANGES HOW YOU SEE TECH TRENDS

Most developers see a new framework and think "can I build with this?" Most users see a new app and think "does this solve my problem?"

As a Product Owner, I see both — and I ask "does this actually matter to real people?"

That filter has been invaluable as I navigate the noise. Every week there's a new tool, a new model, a new platform claiming to change everything. My PO brain asks: who is this for? What problem does it solve? What does success look like in 6 months?

Apply that lens to any tech trend and you'll cut through the hype faster than any article can.

TAEKWONDO TAUGHT ME SOMETHING ABOUT TECH

This might sound like a stretch but hear me out. I train Taekwondo with my son. One of the core disciplines of martial arts is mastering fundamentals before chasing advanced techniques.

Tech is the same. I see a lot of new developers (and honestly, experienced ones too) chasing the newest framework before mastering the basics. I've been guilty of it.

The developers and POs who consistently deliver? They know their fundamentals cold. They understand why things work, not just how to copy the syntax. That foundation is what lets you evaluate new trends clearly instead of getting swept up in every wave.

CONCLUSION: Tech is moving fast. Faster than any one person can fully track. But you don't need to track all of it — you need to track what's relevant to what you're building and who you're serving.

For me that's iOS development, AI-assisted learning, and product thinking. Everything else is noise I filter out so I can be present for my family at the end of the day.

Stay curious. Stay focused. And know when to close the laptop.

— Wendell, Dellprime LLC