Hey everyone! In this episode, I'm sharing my journey of converting my iOS apps to Android using AI assistance—and honestly, I didn't expect it to work this well.
What I Covered:
I've been getting constant requests to bring my Job Finder Tracker and Sub Radar apps to Android, but learning Kotlin from scratch wasn't realistic with my limited time outside the day job. So I decided to try a different approach: using Claude Code AI to help convert my existing iOS apps.
The Process:
Working with Claude Code and an Android developer friend, I fed the AI my handcrafted iOS source code and asked it to analyze the architecture, technologies, and features. It came back with a solid five-phase plan:
Phase 1: Build data structures and database (replacing Core Data with Room)
Phase 2: Create UI with basic CRUD operations
Phase 3: Add advanced features like calendar and local notifications
Phase 4: Set up syncing capabilities
Phase 5: Testing and refined features like PDF importing
The Results:
In less than 12 hours of work time, I went from nothing to a fully functional Android app. About 90% of the conversion was handled by AI, with manual tweaking needed for specific features like customizable push notifications. The app now runs beautifully, even on my ancient test tablet.
Key Takeaway:
AI alone wouldn't have gotten this right, but by feeding it a well-architected project I'd built by hand, it got me most of the way there. This approach lets me learn Android development while getting apps to market quickly.
Moving forward, I'll be building all new apps for both platforms from the start, keeping me platform-independent and flexible for whatever trends come next.
Check out Job Finder Tracker at https://www.PeterWitham.com/jft
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