Building SayHi: An Ephemeral Proximity Discovery iOS App with SwiftUI & MapKit
Introduction: Why Another Nearby Discovery App? Traditional social networks are optimized for permanent connections and algorithmic feeds, while modern dating apps rely heavily on endless swipe decks. When you travel to a new city, work out of a local cafe, or attend a tech conference, you often don't want a heavy social network—you just want to know who is nearby, what vibe they share, and have…
In today's digital landscape, where permanent connections and algorithmic feeds dominate social networks, a new iOS app aims to provide a refreshing change. SayHi: Wave Nearby, an application built entirely in Swift and SwiftUI, focuses on proximity discovery and low-pressure interaction. Created in response to the growing need for a casual way to connect with people nearby, SayHi emerged from the desire to have a zero-friction method to break the ice when traveling to new cities, working from local cafes, or attending tech conferences.
Key architectural decisions shaped SayHi's development. First, MapKit's latest SwiftUI declarative Map APIs enable interactive proximity without performance issues. Clustering ensures that in dense urban areas, rendering dozens of avatar pins does not cause performance hitches. Additionally, dynamic camera framing provides seamless zoom transitions between local neighborhoods and broader discovery regions.
Privacy is another critical aspect of SayHi. The app ensures user privacy by not storing or broadcasting precise GPS coordinates. Instead, user locations are fuzzed into randomized grid sectors with a 200-meter radius, allowing for approximate proximity calculations without exposing exact buildings or residences.
Instead of traditional methods like cold messaging or forced matching, SayHi employs a unique "Wave" mechanism. Users simply tap to send a wave, which triggers a smooth, hardware-accelerated spring animation using SwiftUI's PhaseAnimator. When both users wave at each other, an ephemeral chat opens, allowing for casual communication.
SayHi's vibe-based intent filters enable users to set explicit intentions in real time. Filters include options for grabbing coffee, exploring the city, working out at a gym, or simply having a casual conversation. This feature allows users to express their intentions and find compatible connections more easily.
The app is currently available worldwide on the App Store, downloadable as "SayHi: Wave Nearby." Built with 100% Swift, SwiftUI, MapKit, CoreLocation, and Combine/Async-Await, SayHi represents an innovative approach to location-based social interaction on iOS devices. The developer community is invited to provide feedback on location clustering, privacy design, and the overall SwiftUI experience.
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