120-Question Prelaunch Checklist: is this $5 stack worth it for Software Development?

You’ve built the app. The code compiles, the screens look decent, and you’ve tested the core loop on your own phone. But somewhere between “it works” and “it’s ready for the App Store,” the fog rolls in. You know there’s something missing, but you can’t name it until a beta tester or a one-star review points it out. That gap between “I think I’m done” and “I’m actually done” is exactly where first-time iOS developers lose the most time and confidence. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

Andrei Ilnitskii’s 120-Question Prelaunch Checklist is a $5 Notion page designed to close that gap. It doesn’t build the app for you, and it doesn’t replace user testing. Instead, it forces you to interrogate your own work across six distinct stages, from the initial product idea to post-launch strategy. It’s a low-cost, high-leverage tool for solo developers who need a structured way to spot weak points before the public does.

Quick answer

What you’re actually buying

At $5, you aren’t buying a course or a video library. You are buying a focused, linear audit. The 120-Question Prelaunch Checklist is delivered as a Notion page, which means you can open it in your browser, duplicate it to your own workspace, and start checking off items immediately without installing new software. The structure is the product. It breaks the chaotic process of launching an app into six logical stages: Product Idea & Validation, User Flow & Screen Structure, Interface Design, Building MVP, User Experience Testing, and Launch and Beyond.

This matters because most developers skip the early stages. They jump straight to “Building MVP” and forget to ask if the user flow actually makes sense or if the interface design supports the core task. By grouping the questions this way, the checklist forces you to slow down and look at the “why” behind the “what.” It’s not just about “did I test the login button?” It’s about “does the onboarding screen explain why the user should care?” The inclusion of a small set of useful tools to support you along the way adds a practical layer, but the real value is in the mental clarity that comes from answering 120 specific questions about your own product. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

Why it’s on our radar

This product is interesting because it targets a specific, high-stress moment in the indie development lifecycle: the pre-launch panic. Most resources for developers are either too broad (general “how to build an app” guides) or too technical (specific Swift tutorials). There is a gap for a pure process tool that helps you organize your thoughts when the code is mostly done but the release is looming. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

The specificity of the “120 questions” is also a selling point. It’s a finite task. You can’t just “review your app” for three days; you can go through 120 items in an afternoon. That tangible progress is psychologically useful when you’re staring at a blank App Store Connect form. It’s a low-risk way to add rigor to your launch process without spending hundreds of dollars on a consultant. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

What actually matters

Before you buy, consider the format. This is a Notion page, not a PDF or a spreadsheet. If you are a developer who lives in Notion, this is perfect. If you prefer to keep your launch checklist in a physical notebook or a specific project management tool like Jira, you’ll have to copy-paste the questions, which defeats the purpose of the seamless workflow. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

The second thing to check is the scope. This is explicitly for iOS developers. If you are building a cross-platform app with Flutter or React Native, some of the questions about App Store specificities or iOS design patterns will be irrelevant. The checklist is tailored to the iOS ecosystem, so it’s most valuable if you are shipping to the App Store specifically. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

Finally, remember that a checklist is only as good as the person answering it. The 120-Question Prelaunch Checklist will only help if you are honest with yourself. If you skim the questions or mark them as “done” without actually verifying the user flow, you won’t get the benefit. It’s a tool for introspection, not a magic fix.

Mid-check

If you’re in the final weeks of development and feeling the pre-launch fog, this is a cheap way to get clarity. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

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FAQ

Is this checklist only for iOS? Yes, the questions are tailored for iOS developers preparing for the App Store. If you are building for Android or web, the relevance will be lower. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

Do I need a paid Notion account to use this? No. You can use the free version of Notion to duplicate and use the page. You just need to have a Notion account. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

Is this a replacement for user testing? No. The checklist helps you prepare for user testing and spot obvious issues, but it does not replace actual feedback from real users. It’s a pre-test audit. (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

Can I use this for subsequent app updates? You can, but it’s designed for the first release. For updates, you might only need to revisit specific sections like “User Experience Testing” or “Launch and Beyond.” (120-Question Prelaunch Checklist)

Bottom line

If you are a solo iOS developer and your app is close to being ready, the 120-Question Prelaunch Checklist is a no-brainer. For $5, you get a structured way to find your own mistakes before your users do. It’s not a solution to bad code or a weak idea, but it is a solution to the “I don’t know what I’m missing” feeling that plagues most first-time launchers. If you want to feel more confident before you hit “Submit for Review,” this is the tool for it.