Show HN: I built a simple, fast transit app for the Bay Area (opens in new tab)

(apps.apple.com)

11 pointsaryamansharda11mo ago5 comments

Hey HN,

I built Commuter because I was tired of switching between different apps to check arrival times for BART, Caltrain, Muni, ferries, and more. This app pulls directly from the official 511 API and aims to provide a fast, clean experience focused on real-time departures.

There’s no account creation, it’s free to use, and it supports every major transit provider in the Bay Area—from Napa down to San Jose. You can search, favorite lines/stops, and see live countdowns with minimal friction.

It’s built entirely in SwiftUI using native Apple frameworks.

Happy to answer questions about the API, SwiftUI quirks, or anything else. Feedback welcome!

5 comments

mdaniel11mo ago

So, if I understand correctly:

- you spent $99 on this (plus your own development time, naturally)

- it requires a bleeding edge iPhone and only works on M1 Macs ("Compatibility: iPhone: Requires iOS 17.0 or later; Mac: Requires macOS 14.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.")

- it foregoes the largest mobile operating system in the world

- it doesn't even make you money

I believe Apple changed their tune and now allows PWA submissions to the App Store, if you're just using it for a marketing avenue. Almost certainly the same for the Play Store

Since it's iOS/M1 only, I shall not ask how it's different from Transit, as that would make it apples to oranges

geoffpado11mo ago

> it requires a bleeding edge iPhone

Ah, yes, as bleeding edge as the iPhone XS that was released in 2018.

> and only works on M1 Macs

It's using the compatibility layer that allows users to run iOS apps on the Mac. Which only works on M1+ Macs. OP isn't even marketing this as a Mac app, they likely just left the "compatibility mode" checkbox checked (as it is by default).

> it doesn't even make you money

The app contains ads. Presumably this is intended to make money and not just because OP felt like ads made their app look cool.

> I believe Apple changed their tune and now allows PWA submissions to the App Store. Almost certainly the same for the Play Store

Both of these stores require wrapping PWAs in "native" shells, at the minimum.

Next time you feel the need to show up as the first comment in someone's Show HN just to shit on their work, a) maybe don't, and b) if you gotta anyway, make sure your criticisms are based in reality.

fragmede11mo ago

Who pissed in your cereal?

Shivani020211mo ago

Nice! UI looks super clean.

4d4m11mo ago

This is cool, nice work

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse