---
title: "About Tin Tran, creator of Unlockr"
source: https://unlockr.space/about
---

# Hi, I'm Tin! 👋
I'm Tin Tran, a software engineer and indie app developer based in Da Nang, Vietnam.
I love building simple, thoughtful products that solve real-life problems and make everyday life a little better.
## Why I built Unlockr
I'm the creator of Unlockr, an app built around a simple idea: technology should help us live better, not take control of our attention.
I believe that building healthier digital habits shouldn't be about forcing ourselves to stay away from our phones. It's about creating small, intentional moments that help us regain control.
Most blockers work by making apps annoying: a timer, a nag screen, a limit you can dismiss in one tap. Unlockr works differently. The apps you choose stay locked behind a short breathing exercise or a set of squats, push-ups, or a plank. You're not fighting the urge to open the app; you're just deciding whether it's worth sixty seconds of effort first. That's why I built Unlockr, to turn everyday distractions into opportunities to move, breathe, refocus, and build better habits.
## What's under the hood
Unlockr runs on Apple's Screen Time APIs (Family Controls, Managed Settings, and Device Activity) to shield the apps you choose. The rep counting for squats, push-ups, and planks uses Apple's Vision framework on-device: the camera feed is processed locally and never recorded, saved, or sent anywhere. I write about the research behind these choices, like which friction techniques actually hold up in controlled trials, on the blog, and I check every study I cite against its original source before it goes up.
## Built independently
As an independent developer, I'm constantly learning, experimenting, and improving Unlockr to make it more useful for everyone. I also build Litto, a quieter app for keeping track of the small things you do around the house.
- I live and work in Da Nang, Vietnam
- I design, build, and support Unlockr myself
- You can reach me directly at cvtrandinhtin@gmail.com
Thanks for supporting Unlockr and being part of this journey. It truly means a lot! ❤️
See why Unlockr is different