Long before getting into app development and computers, I was obsessed with making movies. When I was about 12 years old, my grandfather gave me a check, and I used that check to go out and buy the DJI Phantom. This was back when the Phantoms didn't have an intelligent flight battery and didn't come with cameras. I quickly upgraded to the Phantom 3 Standard, then to the Mavic Air, then to the Air 2S, and now I'm back, albeit with a smaller drone, the Mini 3.
Throughout every drone's journey, I found myself checking a number of services and apps to make sure it was the right time to fly and to remember my flights. As I've been getting back into drone flying more, I've wanted something a little more personal—something powerful, respectful of my data and privacy, and a little fun along the way. So rather than wait for somebody else to make it, I decided to make it myself.
Since releasing Cribbo to the world and working on Bit Buddy and Quick.Link, I've wanted to make an app that is a little more engaging and rewarding for users, but also doesn’t rely on the user to enter so much information.
I was browsing the App Store one day, and an app caught my eye that normally doesn’t: Tide Guide. Something about it immediately grabbed my attention, and when I downloaded it and started playing around with it, I realized why. The design is absolutely stunning, and it makes use of Liquid Glass in a way I had never seen before. I loved the community around it, and the niche it fit felt perfect.
After tinkering with Tide Guide, I decided to think of any of my weird niche hobbies that could be rewarding to build an app for, and to solve a problem, too. I went down many routes, thinking about:
- 3D printing
- Technology ownership
- Cars
- Gaming
- Notebooks
But the one thing I kept finding myself returning to was drone flying. It felt appropriate, because, as I said, it was one of my first hobbies.
I started imagining what an app designed around drone flying could be, then looked at the apps currently available on the App Store. None of them solved what I wanted, and none looked particularly nice, at least the way I like. So the question became: how does a drone pilot use the weather to their advantage? How does a drone pilot think about these things before going out and flying? What kind of features do they need? Having been a drone pilot for the last 15 plus years, I felt I could provide unique insights into these questions and offer an experience that was beneficial to both beginner pilots and experienced pilots alike, while also working to enhance and further my skills as an app developer.
So, Flyby became multiple projects wrapped up in one. It became a way to expand my drone‑flying process and how I create the videos and imagery when I’m flying. It became a way to develop enhanced, engaging experiences, and it also became a way to learn how to integrate deeper systems from Apple’s ecosystem into my projects, whether it be Game Center, MapKit, Core Location, or any of the other APIs that Apple provides to developers.
Next, I'll talk about how Flyby's Fly Score came to be and how the app juggles predictability with certainty. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, be sure to keep it locked on the One Thirteen website or subscribe to our updates page in your RSS reader of choice.
Until next time, Nick out.