Introduction
Hey there! I'm excited to join the dev.to community. I'm a developer passionate about creating elegant, user-focused applications, particularly in the Apple ecosystem. You can find more about my work at wanyi.dev.
My Development Journey
My coding journey began in the backend world, working extensively with Java, Python, and JavaScript/TypeScript. I spent years building robust server-side applications, APIs, and full-stack solutions. But something was always calling me toward creating more direct, tangible user experiences.
That's when I discovered Swift and SwiftUI. The elegance of Swift's syntax, combined with SwiftUI's declarative approach to UI development, completely changed my perspective on app development. I fell in love with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and the philosophy of creating intuitive, beautiful user experiences.
The Birth of ZinFlow
The Problem That Started It All
Like many developers, I'm an avid reader. I often found myself wanting to save long articles from the web to read later on my Kindle. The existing solutions were either clunky, didn't format content well, or required complex workflows. I thought, "There has to be a better way."
Building the Solution
That's how ZinFlow was born - a macOS and iOS app that transforms web content into beautifully formatted EPUB e-books.
The Technical Challenge
The core challenge wasn't just extracting content from web pages (though that's complex enough!). It was about:
- Intelligent Content Extraction: Building a Smart Distillation Engine that could identify the main content while filtering out ads, navigation, and other noise
- Cross-Platform Architecture: Ensuring seamless experience across macOS and iOS using SwiftUI
- Data Synchronization: Implementing iCloud sync so users could save articles on one device and access them on another
- Format Conversion: Converting extracted content into clean, readable EPUB files
The Evolution
ZinFlow started as a simple URL-to-EPUB converter, but user feedback drove exciting new features:
v1.3 Breakthrough: The Library Feature
- Users wanted a "read it later" experience
- Added a personal library where users can collect articles
- Implemented batch export - select multiple articles and create a single EPUB with custom chapter ordering
- Built an in-app browser for accessing content behind paywalls
Technical Stack Highlights
- SwiftUI for cross-platform UI
- SwiftData for local data management and iCloud sync
- Swift 6 concurrency for smooth background processing
- Share Extensions (iOS) for seamless integration with other apps
- Backend Processing for intelligent content extraction
What I'm Learning Now
Currently exploring:
- Advanced SwiftUI animations and SF Symbols 6 integration
- Swift 6 concurrency patterns for better user experiences
- App Store optimization and ASO strategies
- Building sustainable indie app businesses
The Philosophy Behind My Work
What drives me is the intersection of technology and accessibility. There's something deeply satisfying about taking messy, cluttered web content and transforming it into clean, readable material. It's not just about the code - it's about respecting the reader's time and attention.
I believe great apps should feel invisible - they solve problems so elegantly that users don't think about the complexity underneath.
What's Next
I'm always working on making ZinFlow better, but the journey is far from over. My biggest focus right now is continuously refining the Smart Distillation Engine.
Content extraction from the wild web is fascinatingly complex - every website has its own structure, some use dynamic loading, others hide content behind overlays or within complex DOM hierarchies. It's an ongoing algorithmic challenge that keeps me engaged. I'm constantly analyzing extraction failures, studying new website patterns, and fine-tuning the engine to handle edge cases better.
This isn't a "set it and forget it" kind of problem - it's a living system that needs to evolve with the ever-changing web landscape. Each improvement makes the reading experience smoother for users, and there's something deeply satisfying about turning a cluttered, ad-heavy webpage into clean, focused content.
Beyond ZinFlow, I'm exploring new ideas in the productivity and content space. The Apple ecosystem offers incredible opportunities for developers who care about craftsmanship and user experience.
Let's Connect!
I'm excited to be part of this community and looking forward to:
- Sharing insights about SwiftUI development
- Discussing App Store strategies and indie app development
- Learning from your experiences and perspectives
- Collaborating on interesting projects
Especially keen to connect with fellow reading enthusiasts! If you're a Kindle lover, iPad reader, or just someone who's passionate about digital reading experiences, I'd love to hear from you. What's your ideal reading setup? How do you manage your digital library? What frustrations do you have with current reading tools?
These conversations often spark the best feature ideas and help me understand what readers actually need versus what I think they need.
Feel free to reach out if you want to chat about Swift development, app design decisions, reading workflows, or just share what you're building. You can find me here on dev.to or check out my work at wanyi.dev.
What brought you to iOS/macOS development? And what's your favorite way to read digital content? I'd love to hear your story!
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