Pedometer++ 8: Custom Mapping Engine for Apple Watch
Custom map rendering on watchOS can improve navigation UX.
Consider custom map engine for small‑screen devices if MapKit is insufficient.
Summary
David Smith details the development of a custom SwiftUI‑native map rendering engine for the Apple Watch, culminating in Pedometer++ 8. The engine supports tile‑based maps, overlays, and dark mode, overcoming limitations of MapKit on watchOS. Smith collaborated with cartographer Andy Allen to create a basemap optimized for Liquid Glass, increasing contrast and saturation for legibility. The design evolved through iterations, ultimately adopting a modal layout with a map screen and metrics screen, and a tap‑to‑browse mode for interactivity. The final release offers a legible, useful, and aesthetically pleasing mapping experience tailored to the small watch screen.
Key changes
- Built SwiftUI‑native map engine for watchOS
- Created custom basemap with Liquid Glass compatibility
- Implemented dark mode variant
- Avoided MapKit limitations on overlays and animations
- Designed modal layout with map and metrics screens
- Added tap‑to‑browse mode for interactivity
- Collaborated with cartographer Andy Allen
- Final design shipped in Pedometer++ 8