At Alteon.io, our mission is to create a comprehensive, affordable and accessible platform that streamlines the creative process. To build tools for our new MacOS and iOS applications securely and efficiently, we decided to use SWIFT, which we believe was critical to developing and deploying our iOS app in a tight turnaround window of two months.
We started last year, when we built our workflow extension for Final Cut Pro using SWIFT. Our free and intuitive workflow extension connects FCP to the cloud, which saves production professionals time and allows them to work off media housed in the cloud without needing to toggle back and forth between multiple windows. Beginning with this application helped us establish a strong foundation and architecture for our forthcoming app.
Using the same codebase, in early 2023, we began building our iOS app by leveraging the native capabilities of SWIFT. We reused existing code to save time and money, which unlocked a rapid go-to-market strategy. Our team was already familiar with the programming language, which made for a smoother and more efficient collaborative process—not to mention fewer errors, as much of the code was previously tried and tested. The Alteon backend API calls within the MacOS FCP extension app, and the iOS app behaves exactly the same. This helped us verify and debug the Alteon backend calls in both apps easily. Additionally, SWIFT’s built-in error-handling mechanisms allowed us to catch and resolve issues before they became larger problems, resulting in a more stable and reliable application.
Our team appreciated having an extensive set of libraries and frameworks available, which similarly allowed us to work quickly and with confidence. These resources made it easier to develop complex features and functionalities, such as the ability to leave color-coded, time-stamped comments on video or audio files.
Underscoring all of these benefits, however, were SWIFT’s type safety features. Working in this language provided security and stability, reducing the risk of errors and crashes. The language’s strong typing system allowed us to detect errors early in the development process, leading to a more stable and reliable application.
Programming in SWIFT was largely the reason the Alteon team was able to provide our growing, tech-savvy community with a seamless, intuitive and user-friendly experience in record time without sacrificing quality or security. We anticipate relying on SWIFT in the future to continue delivering high-quality tools and updates in a fast, efficient and cost-effective manner.