Which leads us to the state of the independent developer. It was possible to be an independent developer and make a decent living at it. Some developers, through a combination of skill and luck, found themselves doing more than just making a decent living. As the price tag of applications has trended towards zero, it’s been ever-harder for an independent developer to be only an independent developer. A good idea for an app, the skill to develop a great app, and a sprinkling of luck is no longer sufficient to make a decent living.
Source: the state of the independent developer | go ahead, mac my day