Marco Arment
How the Watch-app rewrite is going…
Apr 6, 2025 at 11:46pmIvory for Mac
Show threadMarco ArmentApr 6, 2025

I'm mostly just recreating my existing Watch app with the new sync codebase and modern watchOS APIs, rather than making major changes or adding new features (for now, at least).

This has required literally a complete rewrite of the Watch app.

The result is MUCH faster and more reliable in every way, which dramatically improves launch speed, syncing, playback, and phone control.

And it prevents sync bugs on your iPhone (playlist ordering!) from the old Watch app syncing with the old protocol.

Show threadKevin DenteApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment take that, Spolsky
Show threadJason SnellApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment as one of those people, I am excited.
Show threadJoelApr 7, 2025
@jsnell @marcoarment same!
Show threadnot that coachmikeApr 8, 2025

@jsnell @marcoarment Because the sync was so unreliable, I had to give up on Overcast for watch playback (which is ~90% of my podcast listening) and go to iCatcher! (which has worked remarkably well and robustly).

Will new Watch app have audio features (voice boost, smart speed) of phone app?

Show threadJason SnellApr 8, 2025

@coachmike66 @marcoarment

Please take me out of this conversation, Coach Mike. I'm not the developer and sync works for me on the watch.

Show threadBrian MuellerApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment I think I’ve rewritten my watch app like 5 or 6 times now
Show threadMarco ArmentApr 7, 2025
@brianmueller Nice! I think I’m only on #4. Gotta catch up!
Show threadGreg PierceApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment @brianmueller WatchConnectivity actually works these days. That helps. At least for me, since I don’t have to pass anything more than a few KB around.
Show threadHendrikApr 7, 2025
@agiletortoise @marcoarment @brianmueller That’s great to hear (and surprising)
Show threadJan BiernackiApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment this is very exciting — your efforts and care for all these years keep Overcast as a reliable daily companion. Soon without the phone nearby!
Show threadMichael RoweApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment I am so excited by this..
Show threadJean @ ThinkByteStudioApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment I look forward to you discussing this rewrite on ATP
Show threadDr. Joe Sarsero, Ph.D.Apr 7, 2025
@marcoarment
🙏
It has been wanting for a while.
Show threadJack HallApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment looking forward to the improvements and happy that I now understand the smart playlist ordering issue I am having. I thought it was user error 😆
Show threadBill LloydApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment Does the updated app sync directly with the Overcast servers or with the iPhone? If the latter, curious why it’s still necessary?
Show threadTaraApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment that’s why the playlist reordering??? This has been driving me bonkers. I will literally delete the Watch app until the rewrite. I don’t use it often. I will use the native app or music to get me by.
Show threadDave StachowiakMay 3, 2025
@TeeeBear @marcoarment saw this right after you posted and did the same, but still having tons of issues with episodes regularly vanishing off playlists even without the watch app installed. Any luck on your end?
Show threadTaraMay 4, 2025
@davestachowiak @marcoarment yes, I definitely still have issues. I deleted all apps on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS except for primary phone (maybe still have it on the Mac??)
Show threadDave StachowiakMay 4, 2025
@TeeeBear @marcoarment yeah, same here. Tried removing from only essential devices and same issues. 😮‍💨
Show threadgabriel sóriaApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment I can’t wait to test it as I use it every single day 😅
Show threadchameleonmessiahApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment
>And it prevents sync bugs on your iPhone (playlist ordering!) from the old Watch app syncing with the old protocol.
Just to ask: this doesn’t sound like it covers High-Priority Ranking order being completely ignored when inserting episodes, would that be correct (I don’t have the watch app installed)?
A selection of recent examples, already also reported through TestFlight (even just an acknowledgment of known errors would be nice):
Show threadBoris YurkevichApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment Thank you. I just started to use your app again in the gym, leaving my iPhone at home. Really interested to try the rewrite.
Show threadMarc PuricelliApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment Awesome! That was OC's one weakness in my opinion. Otherwise it's one of my favorite apps of all time.
Show threadNathan KingApr 8, 2025
@marcoarment As a runner who uses the watch app all the time, this is wonderful!
Show threadTibo LoeteApr 8, 2025
@marcoarment Just got my first watch. Great timing looks like!
Show threadYeshApr 9, 2025
@marcoarment I’m happy to know to take the (seldom used) Watch app off until the update, to have (frequent) playlist problems stop.
Show threadAlexander FischerApr 9, 2025
@marcoarment great. will it be possible to stream pOdcasts on the Watch without an iPhone via mobile data?
Show threadKarl MagnusonApr 19, 2025
@marcoarment very excited to hear this and to finally be able to ditch my phone on runs 😅
Show threadTim ChatenApr 6, 2025
@marcoarment Happy to see the sole reason I use PocketCasts is because I primarily listen on the watch (day job makes it a better place to live) - and their standalone experience on the watch is incredible and can really get through an entire workday with no planning on the watch on cellular
Show threadkcǃApr 6, 2025
@marcoarment 🙌
Show threadCasey LissApr 6, 2025
@marcoarment 16k deletions is always a good feeling 🤩
Show threadDavid CohenApr 7, 2025
@caseyliss @marcoarment Siracusa would say that 16k space saving clones are better? ;-)
Show threadRandy LeaApr 6, 2025
@marcoarment Have you have you written or talked about how you're using AI in the dev process, if you are?
Show threadChris Huck  Apr 7, 2025
@marcoarment As a programmer that does not do it professionally, seeing 250 changed files seems like a lot. Hell, even my most complex CAD models don’t have that many components when I check them into the vault the first time, let alone make changes.
Show threadJoe Whitmarsh-BrownApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment really looking forward to it
Show threadPG&E Delenda EstApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment I hope for your emotional stability that Apple doesn't release a hardware developer cable for watchos at wwdc right after you finish what must be an ordeal of build & run.
Show threadOnlyMeApr 7, 2025
@marcoarment Oh no - that’s a big deficit you have there… 😬
Show thread CalebApr 8, 2025

@marcoarment I guess this means I’m the only one whose iOS app starts a seemingly random podcast from my downloads when I press play to resume the last podcast I was listening to.

Seems like it would be a high priority bug otherwise…