PayCast v0.3.1-alpha: We're in Closed Testing!

Quick Summary

PayCast v0.3.1-alpha enters closed testing: a privacy-first budgeting and paycheck forecasting app, built publicly with AI assistance.

Introduction

Remember when I launched the $1.00 Challenge three weeks ago and said I'd document everything? Well, today marks a huge milestone: PayCast, my paycheck forecasting and budget planner app, just hit closed alpha testing at v0.3.1!

If you've been following my journey, you know I've had my share of AI coding disasters (looking at you, Kilo Code). But through all the deleted files, scope creep, and "why-won't-this-API-work" moments, PayCast has emerged from the ashes.

I've had many ideas. And began development on many of them. Then scrapped them. I was struggling to get anything finished or even to the MVP stage. So instead of pursuing one of my many more complex challenges, I decided to actually finish the budgeting app I've always wanted. This is all very exciting for me. And honestly? It's starting to look like a real app.

Main Content

What is PayCast?

PayCast is my answer to the budgeting apps that feel like they were designed by accountants for accountants. You know the ones—where adding a transaction takes seventeen taps and syncing your bank requires a PhD in fintech. Creating categories for income or expense was like pulling teeth. And the permissions some of these required were wild!

I wanted something different:

• Mobile-first design - Swipe through budget items with intuitive card, grid, or calendar views
• Paycheck forecasting - Not just tracking spending, but predicting future financial scenarios
• 100% offline & private - Your financial data stays on YOUR device, no servers, no tracking
• Smart categorization - Color-coded, organized budget items you can actually find
• No judgment zone - We all have that subscription we forgot to cancel

The Journey to v0.3.1-alpha

PayCast MVP

Following my own MVP definition guide, I ruthlessly cut features. Remember that MoSCoW method? Here's what made the cut:

Must Haves (All implemented before v0.3.1)

• Smart budget management with income/expense tracking
• Multiple view modes (card, grid, calendar) optimized for mobile
• Paycheck forecasting to predict future scenarios
• Recurring transaction support (monthly, bi-weekly, weekly, daily)
• Data export/import with backup functionality
• 100% offline functionality - no internet required

Should Haves (Coming in beta)

• PWA installation prompts
• Enhanced forecasting algorithms
• Budget templates for common scenarios
• Monthly spending analytics

Could Haves (On the roadmap)

• Budget sharing for couples/families
• Bill reminder notifications
• Savings goal tracking with visual progress
• Desktop companion app

After many more hours of grinding...

PayCast Current Build

Smart Budget Management

• Monthly Budget Tracking: Create and manage detailed monthly budgets with income and expense tracking
• Multiple View Modes: Switch between mobile-optimized card view, grid view, and calendar view
• Smart Categorization: Organize budget items by categories (Salary, Rent, Groceries, Entertainment, etc.)
• Visual Organization: Color-coded budget items for quick identification
• Recurring Transactions: Set frequency for recurring items (Monthly, Bi-Weekly, Weekly, Daily, One-Time)
• Auto-Calculations: Real-time calculation of monthly totals and budget summaries

Advanced Financial Tools

• Paycheck Forecasting: Predict future financial scenarios and plan ahead
• Month-by-Month Navigation: Seamlessly move between different budget periods
• Data Export/Import:
  • Backup your complete budget data
  • Export monthly data for external analysis
  • Restore from previous backups
• Offline-First: All data stored securely on your device - no internet required

Technical Stack & Lessons Learned

After my many adventures utilizing AI-assisted development, I've settled on this tech stack:

• React 18 & Zustand – Fast, responsive UI with reliable state management
• Capacitor – Single codebase for native-feeling Android & iOS builds
• TailwindCSS + DaisyUI – Ready-made, accessible components and utility-first styling
• Vite – Lightning-fast dev server and instant hot-reloads
• Service Workers (PWA) – Offline caching and “install on home screen” prompts

The biggest lesson? Choose popular, well-documented technology. Every time I tried to do something unique with some obscure framework, I'd hit a wall where even AI couldn't help because there wasn't enough training data. Stick with what has a massive community and documentation.

Current State of the Alpha

Here's the honest truth about v0.3.1-alpha:

What's Working:

• Core budget management with multiple view modes is smooth
• Paycheck forecasting gives real insights into future finances
• Offline-first approach means zero server issues or data sync problems
• Monthly navigation and recurring transactions work flawlessly
• Data export/import for easy backups

What's Still Rough:

• PWA install prompts need refinement
• Some edge cases with complex recurring patterns
• The onboarding could use more hand-holding
• Calendar view performance with 50+ items needs optimization

Who's in the Closed Testing Group?

As of this morning, there are 5 brave souls testing PayCast! A few more have started by the time this posts. But here's the thing: I need 12 testers for 14 days to meet the app store requirements for production release.

Current testers include:

• Some folks from Reddit's r/AndroidClosedTesting
• Fellow build-in-public community members
• A couple of friends who've endured my "I'm building an app" rants

Want early access to shape PayCast’s future? Join the closed testing group! Your feedback directly impacts the app’s development, and you’ll get exclusive perks like lifetime pro access once PayCast launches. Interested? Join Here

Future Features in the Pipeline

Based on tester feedback and my own vision for PayCast, here's what's coming:

Near-term (Beta Release)

• Enhanced forecasting with "what-if" scenarios
• Budget templates (Student, Family, Freelancer presets)
• Improved onboarding with interactive tutorials
• Performance optimizations for large budgets

Medium-term (v1.0)

• Desktop companion app for power users
• Advanced analytics and spending insights
• Multi-currency support

Long-term Vision

• Family budget sharing (still keeping it local-first)
• Financial goal tracking and recommendations

The future will also have an opt-in for folks who want to have cloud backups and other services that would go beyond the simple budget app functionality. These features would be services that will be provided, and the only stuff behind a cheap paywall to cover costs. This is tied to my original goal to make a dollar The official strategy is to be defined.

Conclusion

PayCast v0.3.1-alpha isn't perfect. It's not even close. But it works, real people are using it.

This closed testing phase is teaching me more about building software than two years of tutorials ever could. Every bug fix is a lesson. Every confused user is highlighting a UX failure I was blind to. Every "this would be cool if..." that I hear tells me that people actually care enough to imagine a future with PayCast.

Next Steps

1. Iterate based on tester feedback
2. Prepare for public beta
3. Start the monetization experiment - Remember the $1.00 Challenge? Time to test pricing

FAQ

What is PayCast?

PayCast is a personal finance planner and paycheck forecasting app that prioritizes privacy and simplicity. It works 100% offline on your device with no data tracking.

How can I join the PayCast closed testing?

First: Join our Google Group: https://groups.google.com/g/paycast-closed-alpha-test-group Then download on Android or Web:

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stackjunkie.paycast
• Web: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.stackjunkie.paycast

What is the best offline budgeting app?

PayCast works 100% offline—no servers, no tracking—making it one of the top choices for privacy-conscious users.

How does PayCast compare to Mint or YNAB?

Complete privacy (no bank connections), paycheck forecasting features, and mobile-first design. Simpler data entry and more customization.

Why choose a privacy-first finance app?

With PayCast, your data never leaves your device—no logins, no cloud sync, no analytics.

When can I expect the public beta?

Once we hit 12 testers for 14 days (target: late August 2025), we’ll open up public beta.

Will PayCast be free?

The basic version will always be free. Premium features will be part of a paid tier that makes sense.

TL;DR

• PayCast v0.3.1-alpha is in closed testing with 5 users (need 7 more!)
• Built publicly with popular tech: React, Capacitor, TailwindCSS, Vite, Service Workers
• Core features work: offline budgeting, paycheck forecasting, multiple mobile views
• 100% private—your data stays on your device
• Part of my $1.00 Challenge—actual users using actual software!