A user identified as Augie has reported a significant bug in an application associated with prominent app developer Nikita Bier, detailing instances where photo-attached posts failed to upload and disappeared without being saved as drafts, particularly when cellular signal was unstable. The report, directed to @nikitabier on social media, highlights a critical issue concerning data integrity and user experience.
Nikita Bier, known for developing viral social applications such as tbh (acquired by Facebook) and Gas (acquired by Discord), recently launched Explode, an iMessage app designed for sending disappearing photos and texts. This latest venture focuses on ephemeral media sharing, making reliable content upload and saving mechanisms crucial for its functionality.
According to Augie's detailed account, "3 separate posts all failed to post just now." Each of these attempts included "1-2 pictures attached" and took a considerable amount of time to process due to limited cellular signal. Despite the app indicating "sending," the content vanished entirely, neither posting nor appearing in the drafts folder.
The user emphasized the consistent nature of the problem, stating it occurred "3 times in a row." Augie also noted that "reposts are working fine tho" and "lightweight posts without pictures are working fine," suggesting the bug is specifically triggered by photo uploads under compromised network conditions. This issue presents a significant challenge for users attempting to share visual content in areas with unreliable connectivity.
The reported bug underscores potential vulnerabilities in the app's handling of network interruptions and content persistence. For a media-centric application, the loss of unsaved content can lead to considerable user frustration and impact the app's perceived reliability and utility.