Manifesto

Here’s to the ones who still wince at a clunky invoice. Who refuse to believe that just because something is mundane, it has to be joyless. Who see no reason ugly should be the default.

Who’d rather own their data than rent access to it. Who feel at home on a Mac, and expect their software to do the same. Who just need one tool that does one thing properly.

Billy is for you.

1. Privacy

Your data is yours, and should stay that way. Everything in Billy is stored locally on your machine. If you want to store something in the cloud, that’s fine—you can choose the one you trust.

2. Control

As it’s your data—it shouldn’t be the place of an app to hold it hostage. Nothing is stored in a library or database—but in individual files that can also be edited outside the app.

3. Longevity

Software and data formats change over time—of course, I hope that Billy will be there for many years to come, but you should never be at the mercy of some app maker. Therefore, all your data in Billy is stored in an open, non-proprietary format that will be readable decades later.

4. Built for Mac

Software lives in context and is only as good as its integration in its habitat—in this case: the Mac. I’m trying my best to provide an experience that is both distinct with its own identity and serves Mac-specific conventions and navigational patterns.

5. Fun

I believe that even dry, mundane tasks can and should be fun. The process of writing invoices should not only be effective but can include small moments of delight.