I released Qrafter 10 years ago today.
My journey with QR Codes goes back even further — nearly 15 years. The first time I did something semi-useful with them was in 2006, when I created a downloadable QR Code for an amateur theme I had made for my Nokia E70. I was fascinated with the possibilities even back then.
Over the years, QR Codes faced plenty of competition. Microsoft Tag, ShotCode, and others came and went, but none managed to go mainstream. QR Codes are easy to use, offer relatively high capacity, don't require a server backend, and don't expire. These advantages are what made them the best alternative in the end.
When I first wrote Qrafter, my reasoning was simple: I wasn't satisfied with any of the QR Code apps on the App Store. Unfortunately, not much has changed since then — apps still pop up from developers trying to make a quick buck, or from scammers pushing users into overpriced subscription plans.
Through all of that, Qrafter has endured. It has been downloaded by nearly 20 million users, loved by many, and continues to be used by people and institutions around the world.
Here's to another successful decade.