Thread: Do you want a better Reloading App / Log Book Software?

Hey all,

I write software as a career and have found that software/solutions other than spreadsheets or pen and paper for keeping loading data and speeding up the process of keeping records to be very bad.

Would any / how many of you would be interested in using such software? Would you pay for it? If so, how much?

Have started playing with designs etc., but before committing to building I thought I would see if it's something people would actually be interested in using to replace their pen and paper log books.

Let me know!

Actionable

I've tried various ones. After a working life in technology the first thing I want to do is find an app to do anything. But its a bit like recipe apps..I've been the family cook for a couple of decades now and used recipe apps for over 20 years. First on PDA (anyone remember what those were), on laptop, and then on smartphone. I lost my entire collection of recipes a couple of times because the app writer moved on, one day the app stopped working and I couldn't get into it. I came to value pen and paper very much.

What I have personally done for reloading is develop some Word templates for A5 Ringbinders. Some I just do with pen and paper. Some I type up and add photos..but I make sure and print hardcopy of everything. There is an immediacy to pen and paper not available to an electronic app no matter how hard wired it is to your hip.i came to value jottings in the margin reading old hand written cut'n'paste recipe collections for cooking. Same for reloading now.

I would give your app a go if:
- it was highly configurable beyond the basics. What most app writers seem to do is get everything into the app including the kitchen sink so it is unwieldy..or, they keep it simple but leave out the one thing that is compelling for me. If you can deliver the core and make the rest configurable I'd be interested

- it must work multi-platform. Not just Android and IOS but also Windows

- it must be able to use the Cloud so I can log in on any connected device from anywhere. But it also must have an offline synced presence so I am not relying on a data connection.

- it must be able to survive you. This is not about my dollar investment. Its about all the time and effort I've put into it.

- it must generate printed versions of everything. Not just reports.

- ideally it will have simple inventory functions for which I currently use spreadsheets. Not everyone will use this but I would

If my current templates would be useful to you you would be welcome to them. I suggest if you do this you collect a wide sample of what people actually use rather than try and imagining it all yourself. Most of as are pretty simple folk.

I would want a free fully functional limited record version to test and play with..if it was any good I'd pay $5-$10 for a smartphone license and an additional $20 for a Windows license. I WILL NOT buy a subscription. If it is not a app I can use forever at any particular update level then I would not be interested at all. Why? Because my access and use needs to be able to survive you and the death of your involvement.

Cheers

Like Jhon,
The required duration of use is 20-50 yr so the raw data needs to be portable and permanent across generations of operating systems. Export raw data to csv and txt files or at least standard spreadsheet format would be essential.

My reloading records are mostly QC, so reports with run charts of data like pre and post sizing cartridge headspace , cart length, case base to ogive,powder throw weights and their calibrators would be really handy. For example, over a few years the press wears or stretches and seating depth can increase, requiring readjustment to get back to the original target dimensions.

Another key feature which ive found very hard to xapture on paper is to record load development testing at the range.
I need to record the for each of 20 shots: powder charge,seating depth, case base diameter ( at .200" from the rim) before and after firing, chrony velocity, case inspection like bolt lift primer pocket and smears, plus which target they were shot on mean point of impact and group size for each trial load. Also some check or verification ive actually re orrded the data i intended in each box and shot the rounds i intended to ( i usually muck this up at least once each session). Capability to store photos of case bases and targets would be helpful. This makes for a very messy paper based record.

I would pay NZD50 to 100 for a combo that runs on phone and laptop. You might be be better to go for tablet for mat for a start. A free version that can just read and export data is a good idea. People will continue to keep paper records till they are familiar with an app.

The app must require no permissions like internet access , data sharing with other apps, but possibly the use of the camera when requested as suggested.
Unlike Jhon i dont want anything in the cloud; local storage only please. No advertisements or links to reloading gear supplier web sites in the paid version please.

Hard cover book and a pen my grandfather gave me years ago

@Bagheera always interesting to see how someone else does it - quite a different level to what I record. Hence the need for user customization ability of " free" fields.

My Cloud requirement is because of my experiences over several decades of both primary and backup data loss through local device storage failures or loss. But I found something else to be useful about the Cloud when I traveled for half a year 2019. The only thing I really needed with me to access "my stuff" was my password and secure internet access. The latter being the hardest part. But anyway, not hard to offer choice of local only or local and Cloud storage/access.

Hey guys,

Thanks for thoughtful replies and feedback. Am going to give it a think as I do some more research but will reach out as things progress if it seems viable.

I don't reload, so not sure what is required in a reloading log book, but for my other hobbies where I keep a log, I decided long ago that a generic database app is the way to go. Reasons, fully customisable. Specialist databases/logs tell you what information you should be recording rather than the information you want to store. Secondly, big database apps have longevity in terms of support and updates. Bespoke, specialist apps tend to come and go. I use Tap Forms.

I don't mean to piss on anyone's party and if the OP can build a good app, I hope it works out.

Originally Posted by MB

I don't reload, so not sure what is required in a reloading log book, but for my other hobbies where I keep a log, I decided long ago that a generic database app is the way to go. Reasons, fully customisable. Specialist databases/logs tell you what information you should be recording rather than the information you want to store. Secondly, big database apps have longevity in terms of support and updates. Bespoke, specialist apps tend to come and go. I use Tap Forms.

I don't mean to piss on anyone's party and if the OP can build a good app, I hope it works out.

Unfortunately Tap Forms is Apple IOS only. I'm an Apple free zone. Binders is a Android app recommended with similar functionality. Havn't used it myself tho.