# James McKinney

> Product Builder · Operator · AI-Native Products. James finds problems worth solving, ships the solution, and sees if the market agrees. 10+ years in restaurant operations leading teams of 20+, then 12+ products shipped since 2024 across iOS, web, Shopify, and AI-native SaaS. Open to customer-facing product, solutions, deployment, and commercial roles. Based in the Midwest, USA. Remote or open to relocation.

Site: https://jamesmckinney.xyz
Contact: james@jamesmckinney.xyz
Resume: https://jamesmckinney.xyz/james-mckinney-resume.pdf
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mckinney-13480236/
X: https://x.com/_jamesmck
GitHub: https://github.com/jimripple
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/james-mckinney/id1855741871
Last updated: November 2026

## Start here

- [Home](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/): who James is, the shipped-work index, how he works, and how to reach him
- [About](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/about): key facts, career story, how he builds, the roles he wants, and FAQ
- [Staff Meal](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/off-the-clock): books, shows, apps, and travel outside of work

## Shipped products (case studies)

- [crawl](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/crawl): a game for iPhone you play by going out; check in at a real place, hold it, and lose it when someone walks in and takes it. Website: https://joincrawl.com
- [Ripple](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/ripple): personalized AI news app for iPhone that explains how a story could affect your job, location, and household
- [Echoes](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/echoes): AI voice notes journal for iPhone; notes are transcribed and filed on the device, then come back to you
- [Yapper](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/yapper): AI phone receptionist SaaS for trades and service businesses; 1,000+ leads tested
- [RentalFlow](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/rentalflow): rental management inside Shopify, live in the Shopify ecosystem
- [PromoMath](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/promomath): Shopify sale margin calculator; checks whether a proposed discount keeps each variant above a target gross margin; live on the Shopify App Store at https://apps.shopify.com/saleguard-2 . Support: https://jamesmckinney.xyz/promomath/support
- [Grove](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/grove): fiber tracker for iOS; idea to App Store in two days, moved from #92 to #19 for "fiber counter" with one subtitle change
- [Proof](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/proof): positive affirmations app for iPhone that rewrites a belief into one you can accept, then collects daily evidence
- [FILL](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/fill): NEC conduit-fill calculator built with a working IBEW electrician
- [Tip Out](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/tipout): tip pool calculator for restaurant and bar teams
- [takt.](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/takt): minimal pomodoro focus timer with no streaks or accounts; the first app shipped
- [The Nightly Reader](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/nightly-reader): nightly reading edition pairing a current article with a poem and a classic story or essay; built in one night, publishes itself daily
- [Shift Manager](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/shift-manager): shift companion for restaurant managers; paused
- [Mixtape](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/mixtape): send a friend songs like it is 1995; retired on purpose and no longer on the App Store
- [Wandering Bacon](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/wanderingbacon): product recommendations from restaurant work and travel

## Free calculators

- [Tip Out Calculator](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/tipout/calculator): split a tip pool by hours, by points, or evenly
- [Discount Margin Calculator](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/promomath/discount-calculator): profit, margin, and break-even on a sale
- [Shopify Profit Margin Calculator](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/promomath/shopify-profit-margin-calculator): profit per order after fees, shipping, and ads

## iOS apps on the App Store

All nine are free to download, with in-app purchases. Prices checked November 1, 2026. One page with every app and its App Store link: https://jamesmckinney.xyz/apps

- crawl • social nightlife game. Without a plan, 2 places a night and hold up to 3. crawl Pro $39.99/year with a 7-day free trial, or $6.99/week with no trial. Friends join a crew free. iOS 26+. 21 and over. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crawl-social-nightlife-game/id6819422582 . Website: https://joincrawl.com
- Ripple: Personalized AI News. Premium $9.99/month or $79.99/year. iOS 26+. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ripple-personalized-ai-news/id6758356024 . Website: https://getripplenews.com
- Echoes: Private AI Voice Notes. $5.99/week, $39.99/year, or $59.99 lifetime. iPhone 15 Pro or newer, iOS 26.1+. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/echoes-private-ai-voice-notes/id6755705948
- Fiber Tracker ◦ Grove. The whole app for 7 days with no card, then Grove+ $7.99/month or $49.99/year. iOS 18+. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fiber-tracker-grove/id6760088502 . Website: https://grovefiberapp.com
- FILL ◦ Conduit Fill Calculator. Five free calculations, then $7.99 once. iOS 15.1+. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fill-conduit-fill-calculator/id6760678246
- Tip Out: Tip Pool Calculator. $4.99 one-time full unlock. iOS 17+. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tip-out-tip-pool-calculator/id6759682320
- Proof: Positive Affirmations. Premium $6.99/week or $49.99/year. iOS 26+. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/proof-positive-affirmations/id6790618224
- takt. Aesthetic Focus Timer. takt. Pro $1.99/week or $24.99/year with a 3-day free trial, or $49.99 lifetime. iOS 18+. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/takt-aesthetic-focus-timer/id6756038807
- Sourced: Daily Fun Facts. Sourced Pro starts with a 7-day free trial of the yearly plan, then $29.99/year, or $5.99/month, or $59.99 once. iOS 18+. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sourced-daily-fun-facts/id6824324641 . Support: https://jamesmckinney.xyz/sourced/support

## Optional

- [llms-full.txt](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/llms-full.txt): the same information in more detail
- [Sitemap](https://jamesmckinney.xyz/sitemap.xml)