Maksym Babenko had the idea to develop a convenient tool for switching languages in macOS out of his own need. Having analyzed the shortcomings and opportunities for improvement of the existing applications, the IT specialist began to develop his own tool.
Maksym Babenko had the idea to develop a convenient tool for switching languages in macOS out of his own need. Having analyzed the shortcomings and opportunities for improvement of the existing applications, the IT specialist began to develop his own tool.
First, he designed the application in Figma and created the logo design. At this stage, he was helped by many years of experience as a UX/UI designer. Then Maksym moved on to development.
After analysis, the developer came to the following:
After initial testing, Maksym added a hotkey that allowed you to switch languages without the need to use a mouse, as well as sound and voice notifications to notify you of language changes.
«Since before that I had only developed a few projects for iOS and iWatch, developing a full-fledged application for macOS was a challenge for me,» noted Maksym in a blog on DOU.
First, it was necessary to solve the visualization of the button, which changed its color after each click, like a «disco ball at a corporate party in the 90s.» And also that this button should always be on top of all windows by default is the most difficult task.
«I also wasn’t sure if I could implement this idea at the code level, if it would violate the dogmas of hierarchy directly in macOS, and if the App Store would even allow me to publish such an application,» explained the developer.
In addition, it was necessary to adapt the interface so that it meets current Apple standards and remains intuitive for users.
All these questions were solved by the developer after several sleepless nights, as well as requests to the stackoverflow community and Claude 3.5 Sonnet.
«The project was liked not only by those who work with texts in several languages, but also by those who are engaged in programming, because the speed and convenience of switching languages is an important part of their work. So the developers finally found a shortcut to their own peace of mind,» Maksym said about the release of his application.
The positive feedback inspired the developer to further develop the application, including adaptation for different categories of users. There are plans to add new customization features so that everyone can customize the app for themselves.
«It became not just a tool for work, but also an example of how one simple idea can become a useful solution for many people. Thanks to an idea that comes from one’s own needs, it is possible to create a product that helps people in their everyday life,» concluded t the developer.
