Introduction

Abhijith Konnayil entered RevenueCat's Shipaton 2026 hackathon determined to build an app he would actually use long after judging ended. The result is Once Upon Today, a visual diary platform designed to capture, revisit, and illustrate the everyday moments that define our lives.

What Happened

Konnayil spent years keeping a handwritten diary, drawn back by the pleasure of revisiting old entries and remembering details long forgotten. Over time, the habit faltered not from lack of interest but because life got in the way, notebooks went missing, and ink faded until pages became illegible. The real revelation was that the format itself was working against the purpose of preserving memory.

Motivated by that insight, he set out to build an app that eliminates the timing gap, makes revisiting effortless, and turns each day into a durable visual record. Every component of Once Upon Today maps back to that core thesis.

Why This Matters

Traditional diaries demand uninterrupted time and safe storage conditions that rarely align with modern routines. Once Upon Today removes those barriers by letting users drop in voice notes, text, or photos the instant something happens. The app groups moments by day and, at days end, generates an illustrated comic page: a visual keepsake that survives where paper cannot.

The project also takes a firm stand on ethics: all recorded text remains permanently unlocked, never behind a paywall, because losing access to ones own memories defeats the entire purpose. By giving equal weight to difficult days and highlight reels, the app encourages a more honest, complete personal history.

Key Takeaways

  • Record moments in real time, voice notes, text, or photos, without waiting for a perfect opportunity.
  • Revisit any day instantly through a calendar browser, eliminating the need to dig through physical notebooks.
  • Every day ends as an illustrated comic page, creating a durable visual archive that wont fade or tear.
  • All recorded text stays permanently unlocked; no paywall can lock away your personal memories.
  • Built publicly for Shipaton 2026, the project invites feedback from others who've watched diary habits quietly fade.

Conclusion

Once Upon Today began as a way to preserve memories worth keeping and is now moving toward a public beta through Shipaton's build-in-public window. Whether you're a former diary keeper whose habit faded or someone seeking a better way to document life's small but meaningful moments, the app aims to make recording and revisiting as seamless as the moments themselves. More updates will follow as the build continues, and users can join the waiting list to be notified when the app becomes available.