TLDR: yappstore.ai is a digital marketplace for desktop applications. It does this buy providing a easy developer experience

TLDR 2: we're looking for developers to be early adopters to the marketplace

Site:

• https://yappstore.ai
• https://docs.yappstore.ai
• https://developer.yappstore.ai
• https://waitlist.yappstore.ai

Other Links:

• Twitter
• Github

The Story Behind Yappstore.ai

Back when OpenAI opened their custom GPT store, it had a less than satisfactory start. They announced the store, and then when it's released they dropped the little disclaimer that only builders in the US can get paid for the usage of their custom GPT. So you lost the interest of a lot of people who are able to create interesting apps. Secondly, the way the store is structured with it being only a small curated list of GPT's that actually get shown on the main page - if your GPT isn't there (and you aren't already somewhat of an internet microcelebrity) then goodluck getting your work out there. Rather than waiting for a platform to be built, i decided i would do it myself - with the focus on not screwing over the developer or the end user.

Let's take a look at some of the monetization offerings for all the major application marketplaces today, and how much of a cut they take from developers:

• Apple: 30%
• Google Play: 30%
• Steam: 30%
• Poe: Developers only get paid per message sent by the users, which relies on the user a $20 per monthly subscription or $100 per annual subscription
• OpenAI GPT Store: (it's a secret)

Subscriptions are a barrier to entry for users, and for developers they are a barrier to getting paid

Firstly, Yapp store is and always will be FREE. No subscriptions, no paywalls, no BS. As a user, you will be able to download free applications and use them as you please. As developers you can choose to release your application for free, or set a price. The platform takes a modest cut of any sales (< 10%) and the developer pockets the rest.

Moving on from the motivations, here is a types of applications that will be available:

1. Daemons are background applications that operate without a direct user interface. They are designed to perform tasks automatically and continuously in the background of a user's device.
2. UI Applications require user interaction and come with a graphical user interface (GUI).

Lastly, another motivator behind this project is introduce AI driven applications to the average non-technical user. There are many user interfaces that allow you to interface with AI models in some way. The issue is that they often require you to have some technical background, thrawl through a long README document or tinker around with installations. A core principle behind The Yapp Store is to abstract away technical information from the user. The desktop application offers a "simple stupid" user interface, which can be run by pretty much anyone.

Why should users care?

• It's Free: As a user, you have access to a catalog of free AI applications that you can download with the touch of a button.
• BYOP - Bring your own provider: Many businesses involving some use of large language models try to push their own API as a service, which tends to include a wrapper around some model like GPT-4, with the additional cut that platform wants to take for themselves. With the Yapp store we aren't trying to make a GPT wrapper - if you want to use your own API keys, you can do that. If you want to use your own local models, you can do that.
• Cross platform: You use Windows? cool no problem. Oh, You are running Linux? we have you covered! The Yapp store runs on MacOS, Linux and Windows.

Why Should Developers Care?

• SDK: The Yapp Store will provide a developer SDK that offers a convenient method to bundle your application code for MacOS, Linux and Window in a lightweight plugin which can be installed and run on the Yapp store. As a developer, you will have the opportunity to create a developer account. The SDK will provide utilities that you can plug into your applications to interact with the users machine (Submissions to the store require a tiered security approach, depending on the what level of access you want the application to have. See the security section for more details) You will be able to test your application using your own local instance of the yapp store desktop application. Once you are ready for submitting your application to the store, you will have the ability to sync your github repository with the developer portal.
• Variety for Developers: You can create useful applications that may not need a fully fledged UI, or should you need it, you can integrate any UI library such as React, Vue, Angular etc.
• Visibility: By deploying your AI applications in one centralized marketplace you get increased visibility with the added benefit of making your applications available across all of the major operating systems.
• Monetization: Developers have the opportunity to monetize their applications through direct sales or ad revenue models:
  • Free (Community): Allow developers to submit their applications for free on the app store, allowing for possibility of in app purchases or advertising. No fee is taken from the developer.
  • Paid (Community): This method allows for developers to submit their applications. Profitability is the focus of the developer, therefore they should make applications that draw users in. The model here is to take a percentage of application sales (ex: 8%) and the developer gets the rest. The actual service fee is still being worked out, as we would need to figure out what is financially feasible.

Security

• Sandbox Environment: By default all applications will be run in a sandboxed environment, meaning no code can be used to interfere or compromise your machine. The application contains it's own file system for everything it needs to run.
• User machine permissions: For AI Agents to perform certain tasks, they may need the ability to read or write to the users machine - using the SDK we will offer convenient methods to to plug into the code for performing these actions. These permissions are only available on review basis, and must be opted into by the user.
• Review and Audit Process: In order for your applications to be accessible to others it will need to go through a review process. This will include providing information such as description, permissions, code review and other security measures to ensure safety and security for users.