Building an iOS app solo with Swift: architecture, offline and gamification

Native Swift: why I turned down cross-platform

The architecture: isolated modules per feature

Livate/
├── Features/
│   ├── Flow/          # Goals and guided journey
│   ├── Task/          # Daily micro-habits
│   ├── Focus/         # Pomodoro timer + Dynamic Island
│   ├── Stats/         # Statistics and daily score
│   ├── BadgeReward/   # Gamification (5 badges/day)
│   ├── Home/          # Dashboard + Mood tracking
│   └── Authentication/
│
├── Core/
│   ├── Services/      # Network, Cache, Security, Sync
│   └── Components/    # Design System (LivateDesignTokens)
│
└── LivateWidgetExtension/  # Home + Lock Screen Widgets

The Flow: the heart of the app

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struct FlowLivate: Codable, Identifiable {
    let id: String
    var libelleAction: String          // Today's action
    var objectif: String?              // Related goal
    var etat: FlowEtat                 // created, in_progress, completed
    var energieRequise: Int?           // 1-5
    var tempsEstime: Int?              // Estimated minutes
    var tempsRealise: Double?          // Actual time spent
    var contexte: [String]?            // ["fitness", "productivity"]
    var streakDay: Int                 // Consecutive days
    var etape: [FlowLivateStep]        // Action steps
}

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Cache-first: the app works without internet

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@MainActor
class FlowLivateViewModel: ObservableObject {
    @Published var flows: [FlowLivate] = []

    func loadFlows(for date: String) async {
        // 1. Instant display from cache
        if let cached = await cacheManager.getCachedFlows(userId: userId) {
            self.flows = cached
        }

        // 2. Offline? We stop here. The app still works
        guard networkMonitor.isConnected else { return }

        // 3. Background API sync
        let freshFlows = try await repository.fetchFlows(date: date)
        self.flows = freshFlows
        await cacheManager.cacheFlows(freshFlows, userId: userId)
    }
}

• L1 (RAM): in-memory dictionary, ultra fast
• L2 (UserDefaults): persistent, survives restarts

Micro-habits: 3 states, that's it

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enum TaskState: String, Codable {
    case aFaire = "a_faire"       // Red
    case enCours = "en_cours"     // Orange
    case terminee = "terminee"    // Green
}

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Focus: Pomodoro in the Dynamic Island

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struct FocusTimerAttributes: ActivityAttributes {
    public struct ContentState: Codable, Hashable {
        var remainingSeconds: Int
        var totalSeconds: Int
        var isRunning: Bool

        var progress: Double {
            1.0 - (Double(remainingSeconds) / Double(totalSeconds))
        }
    }
}

Gamification: 5 badges per day

1. Morning check-in — log in before 10 AM
2. 3 actions completed — finish 3 tasks in the day
3. 15-minute focus — complete a focus session
4. Flow completed — finish a daily flow
5. Ultimate badge — earn all 4 previous badges

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Widgets: Livate on your home screen

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func updateFlowWidget(with flow: FlowLivate) {
    let encoded = try? JSONEncoder().encode(widgetData)
    let defaults = UserDefaults(suiteName: "group.com.livate.widgets")
    defaults?.set(encoded, forKey: "flowData")

    // Refresh the widget immediately
    WidgetCenter.shared.reloadTimelines(ofKind: "FlowWidget")
}

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The Design System: a decision that saved me

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enum LivateDesignTokens {
    // Colors
    static let accentPrimary = Color(red: 0, green: 0.6, blue: 0.76)

    // Typography (SF Pro Rounded)
    static let titleLarge: Font = .system(size: 34, weight: .bold, design: .rounded)
    static let body: Font = .system(size: 17, weight: .regular, design: .rounded)

    // 8pt grid
    static let spacingS: CGFloat = 16
    static let spacingM: CGFloat = 24

    // Standardized animations
    static let springStandard = Animation.spring(duration: 0.4, bounce: 0.3)

    // Haptic feedback
    static func hapticLight() {
        UIImpactFeedbackGenerator(style: .light).impactOccurred()
    }
}

The struggles I'll never forget

What I learned

What's next?