I'm reading many people complaining about the app being abandoned, not being updated for a long time.
Have you tried contacting the developer with your issues?
They last replied to a review on Google Play on 13th Jan 2025. Someone else also mentioned that they received a response via DM. So the developer is definitely still alive.
The app is free to use. It's great if you chose to support the developer by paying for the ad-removal or subscription. Unfortunately, I don't believe the user base is large enough to allow the developer to work on it full-time, or even part time.
Personally, I think Sync is a passion project, hence the original Reddit version was so good. The downside with passion projects is that you work on them when you have time and inspiration to work on them.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that all the negativity won't help inspire the developer to dedicate more time to the project.
It would be more helpful to compile a list of bugs and issues, and forward them to the developer.
Sync for reddit grossed over 2 million British pounds - and that's current account balances, I didn't check withdrawals over time. See for yourself, company filings for UK Ltd.'s are public.
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08807876
So you might consider sync for Lemmy a passion project since it's not exactly cashing in on the same level, no doubt, but it's a far cry from a lone nerd trying to make ends meet.
Thanks for sharing the link to the dev's company.
I don't have a finance background. My understanding of the company filing (20 Dec 2024) is that the company income came from investing $719,683 which earned $22,147.
That's not enough to live comfortably in UK, especially if you have family to look after. The $2 million value of the company would not go very far if they start to spend it instead of investing it. I magine the developer would have to find other sources of income.
There was a withdrawal of almost 1M in 2023, and the company's entire equity is basically cash. What you don't find in the balance sheet are salaries paid, which would be to himself alone. The 22k in earnings from investments is merely interest on top.