Less than a week to go until WWDC 2024 kicks off, so as is tradition here is my list of things I’ve like to see this year. These are in no particular order.
SwiftData
Yes, I know it’s already here, but I don’t consider the SwiftData that was released to be anything close to what I would like. So, in true obstinate fashion I’m keeping it on the list this year. I want a SQL-based, SQL-first, cloud-syncing, persistence layer that is to all intents and purposes GRDB, but native. Not going to happen, I know. I will accept a big improvement to the existing SwiftData then, such that I may want to consider using it this year!
AI
Since Apple invented AI with the launch of their latest iPads, it would be great to see how they can safely and privacy-focusedly introduce actually useful AI into their various operating systems. I would love to be able to easily chat to Dingus and have it understand a more conversational tone. I’m fed up of Dingus not being able to handle a couple of tasks – or more! – in one request. I would absolutely love this to extend to HomeKit so that I can control my home in a more This-Is-Like-Star-Trek type way.
I think there are some fantastic uses of AI out there. For example, both IceCubes and Soka use AI in clever ways that really help the apps.
This is what I am hoping to see from Apple – AI that improves the usefulness of their stack of OSes.
SwiftUI
I absolutely love SwiftUI. It reinvigorated my excitement for app development, and despite me not releasing anything of note yet, I am still plugging away. Without SwiftUI, I think I would have given up long ago and moved to a different platform.
This year I want to see more control being allowed over our interfaces, a sort of breaking of the shackles as it were. Now, I am aware what I am asking goes somewhat against the grain, in that SwiftUI is supposed to hide much of the detail from us. However, I feel like it’s a fairly mature framework now, and it wouldn’t hurt to let us customise a little more and get over some of the pain points people find.
Bonus points if there are no insufferable people on Mastodon wanging on about how rubbish SwiftUI is, how it’s not ready for production, how it’s not…It’s not as boring as you, it’s not that!
Home Screen customisation
For a couple of years now I’ve had no app icons on my Home Screen (dock not included!), instead replacing them with four widgets. I’d like there to be single-square widgets, including a Siri-suggestions app widget of that size, so as to allow me to further tweak my layout. It would be awesome if we could put the app icons/widgets wherever we wanted, including leaving spaces empty. I think I could achieve a neat, minimal(ish) Home Screen with this combo of customisation options.
Standby Mode
The best thing to happen at WWDC 2023 was Standby Mode. It’s so good, that it made me buy the Anker Cube to take advantage of it. I’ve had some issues with Standby in that it isn’t always easy to customise widgets, particularly the Apple HomeKit widget. Occasionally, Standby will forget which mode I was using the last time my phone was in Standby and I have to manually swipe to the correct screen. Minor irritations, but it would be nice if they were fixed.
Beyond that, being able to turn Standby into a HomeKit wall-pad would be awesome. Give us the ability to customise the screen like we are going to get with the Home Screen (hopefully!) and it would really make Standby move closer to its potential.
That’s my list for this year. See you in 12 months for the next list!