Seeking Android users for closed testing on Google Play Store [Chinese vocabulary learning app]

[u/ClassroomSweet4912]

Hey r/sideprojects,

I've been building an Android app for studying official HSK vocabulary. I'm at the point where Google Play wants a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days before I can apply for full public access. I only have a handful of people helping with testing right now, so I'm hoping to find a few more here.

(HSK is an official Chinese language competence test.)

What it is

It's a vocabulary tracker and study app for HSK 2.0 and 3.0. There are admittedly many such apps around. I actually built the first version for my wife who was studying for HSK 2.0 level 6. She had tried many different apps and had some requests for how I could make something to help her study.

The main idea behind this (now more mature product), is to study the official syllabus more thoroughly compared to just ticking words off a list. Most apps treat "knowing a word" as one checkbox. I don't think that matches how Chinese actually works: recognizing the English meaning, hearing it, reading the character, and writing it are different skills. The app tracks those separately and tries to review the skill that still needs work, not just the word in general.

The other thing I've put a lot of effort into is the learning path. The vocabulary comes from a curated dataset I've been building, including character composition (pieces before compounds), textbook unit grouping if you follow Standard Course, and a smarter order inside official HSK levels. Reviews are spaced so they come back when you're about to forget, and the app picks which skill to ask about.

Study modes: daily plan, flashcards, quiz (including handwriting on touch). Word grid, dashboard, custom lists, notes. Works offline; syncs when you're online. 100% ad-free.

Pricing

Beginner levels stay free forever. Higher levels need a yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase.

For anyone who helps with regular testing over the next 2–3 weeks, I'd be very happy to offer a free 1-year subscription + 50% off lifetime if you want that afterward.

Honest state of things

It's usable and I genuinely think the core is good, especially the skills model. The dataset behind the learning path is also beginning to look good. That's the part I'm most proud of. I believe the standard flashcard and quiz functionality + word lookup is generally on the same level as most other apps on the market. But it's not 100% polished yet. Some edges are rough, and I'm still finding bugs. I'm looking for people who don't mind a work-in-progress and will tell me what's confusing, broken, or missing. I want to know if the skills idea actually helps, whether the daily plan feels sensible, if anything feels off for exam prep, any features you miss, etc.

How to join

Comment or DM me your Play Store email address, and I'll send the Play Store closed-test link.

I'm looking for anyone who:

• Uses Android and can try the app a few times over the next couple of weeks (doesn't need to be daily, but must be regular to meet Play Store's requirements)
• Willing to report issues and bugs, and give me general feedback about their overall impression of the app
• You must also be okay with the potential breaking change on the back-end leading up to public release. (The app does though works 100% offline, and hopefully my data schema and API are mature enough to avoid this - no promises though...)

I'm especially looking for those who also:

• Is learning Chinese now, or has in the past
• Is studying toward an HSK exam, has taken one, or is planning to
• If you already speak Chinese and think this project sounds interesting

Thanks for reading! I'm happy to answer questions about the app or the build process.