Freeform Beta
With the macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 16.2, and iPadOS 16.2 betas provided to developers today, Apple has introduced the first version of the Freeform app that was first introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
This is not the type of app I would use, but it’s always interesting to look at how Apple designs a new app, which technologies it uses, and which components might eventually become APIs.
Multiple Freeform boards are supported, and Apple intends for Freeform to be used collaboratively. All of your boards can be shared with others, and all participants can update a board and add new features, with the changes shown in real-time. As of right now, the sharing features do not appear to be implemented.
In case you’re curious; Freeform on the Mac is an AppKit app built with ObjC/Swift (with NIBs) and some SwiftUI. Uses Metal rendering, and seems like a pretty meaty project.
Freeform has so many delightful hidden features. It’s so well considered. Bravo to the team behind it. It’s quite literally the opposite of stage manager on a new feature quality matrix.
I love when Apple creates software like this but I worry it’ll be instantly abandoned like Music Memos or utterly ignored like Clips.
Previously:
- Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.1
- macOS 13.0 Ventura
- Adobe to Acquire Figma
- iPadOS 16 Announced
- Apple Retiring Music Memos App
- Clips 1.0
3 Comments RSS · Twitter
Let's see if I understand.
It's built with some pretty solid (if deprecated) tech.
And "Juli Clover" says that it "is available cross-platform, but it works best on the iPad because..."
...I think that I'll just stop there.
"I love when Apple creates software like this but I worry it’ll be instantly abandoned like Music Memos or utterly ignored like Clips."
My thoughts exactly.
Built with ObjC/Swift and…Interface Builder (which apparently you can’t use on watchOS anymore). I haven’t used the Freeform app myself but I find it interesting that people are praising it. This kind of app is much more complex than building a new Settings app, which in contrast, was not well received.
Just curious, what’s the most complex app built with SwiftUI? What parts of Freeform was built in SwiftUI?
