Under the Radar

Revisiting the decision to go iOS 13-only with Overcast, and the pros and cons of potentially re-adding support for iOS 12.

Time-saving tips and tricks, and the value of test-harness mini-apps during development.

If you ship a major update, but don't announce it anywhere, does it make a sound?

A huge update to the computer that most of you are probably using.

Energy logs, API-misuse terminations, and other unexpected ways our apps crash due to system policy enforcement.

Gather around the campfire as Uncle Dave tells the tale of how the conditions formed for today's App Store subscription scams.

David's new app, Moon++, and experiences working with SwiftUI and the standalone App Store on the Apple Watch.

New possibilities for users and developers opened up by the always-on screen of the Apple Watch Series 5.

Our summers turned out very differently than we had planned.

We didn't think we had anything to talk about, but then we discovered unit testing and version control.

Recognizing three groups that only partially overlap, and how to prioritize the feedback we get from them.

How we'd improve the Apple Watch by "spending" the power-efficiency gains likely to come in the next hardware update.

Facing the tough decisions when you know, in your heart, that it's time.

Our makeshift travel-work setups, and managing expectations about how much and what types of work you'll get done while traveling.

As the dust settles on an overwhelming WWDC 2019, we figure out what we should tackle first.

What we hope to see at WWDC 2019 in Apple's APIs and developer tools.

As WWDC 2019 approaches, we review the major changes announced in WWDC 2018 and how they've actually played out over the past year.

The advantages of switching from semantic versioning to a sequential calendar-based system with no semantic implications, and the different marketing mindset it brings.

Launch day for David's new app, CalZones!

Using David's upcoming app as an example, we take a journey through curiosity, excitement, productivity, despair, polishing, and shipping.

The design challenge of a podcast app's now-playing screen, how Overcast's design has progressed over the years, and the unexpected usability failures along the way.

Taking vacations or staycations to get a lot of work done in a short time and take full advantage of being in the zone.

Creating a new app as a fun exercise, and making choices that minimize its ongoing maintenance needs.

Including large or small databases and other data files with your app.

Producing and embedding content in your app that changes continuously, such as monthly challenges, directories, and user-generated content.

Running servers is easy the vast majority of the time. But sometimes, something goes wrong at the worst possible time.

Tracking down hard-to-find, hard-to-reproduce bugs that don't show up in your own usage.

When, why, and how it's OK to ship updates to your app with known bugs.

Good and bad fears of embarking on major code changes to our apps.

Exercising atrophied programming muscles by experimenting with languages, technologies, and environments that lack the safety and convenience of our usual work.

Small design features, flourishes, and other indulgences to satisfy ourselves and make our apps feel more delightful.

Budgeting our time for ongoing commitments vs. exploratory and hobby projects, and an update on iOS device statistics.

The challenge of writing complex algorithms, and the joy of finding a simpler way.

Accepting that our motivation and productivity are cyclical, with periods of very little work getting done.

Developer-relevant analysis of this week's Apple releases and how we can use them in our work.

App Store subscription scams, and considering the ethics of how our apps make money.

Why the Apple Watch needs third-party faces, tools to make them for yourself today, and overcoming the reasons why Apple may not want to offer them.

Long-term career planning, predicting where Apple is going, betting on the right technologies, and wondering whether we'll still be doing this in ten years.

Answering the surprisingly difficult question of "How many steps did you take today?"

The value of making apps only for yourself that you never release.

Concepts and considerations for implementing full-text search in your app, with examples from Overcast 5.

Finalizing our iOS 12 and watchOS 5 updates, and updating our apps for the new iPhones and Apple Watches before we can actually buy them.

Setting up your business for extended times away, and how to start working again when you get back.

The huge gifts we were given in watchOS 5, and today's environment for building Apple Watch apps.

How we're affected by the iOS 12 changes and revised App Store review guidelines.

The first things we do after WWDC every year, and why this year might be different.

Live interviews at Social Policy in San Jose, with first impressions from Curtis Hurbert, Joe Cieplinski, and Kaya Thomas.

Packing, preparation, and logistical tips for a happy, healthy, and productive WWDC.

The challenge of trying to form a union or other collective action group for developers.

Considering accessibility as part of usability, and testing with the most common iOS accessibility APIs.