The story of Tide Guide, a remarkably polished marine forecasting app for Apple platforms, reads like a screenplay. It’s a tale of a filmmaker turned self-taught developer, a childhood spent fishing with his grandfather, and a relentless pursuit of design excellence that culminated in an Apple Design Award nomination. Founder Tucker MacDonald’s journey, beginning with a need for a better director’s viewfinder app, demonstrates the power of individual passion and the accessibility of Apple’s development ecosystem.
MacDonald’s initial inspiration stemmed from those early mornings fishing with his grandfather off the coast of Cape Cod. “Every day, he’d look in the paper for the tide tables,” MacDonald recalls. “Then he’d call me up and say, ‘Alright Tucker, we’ve got a good tide and good weather. Let’s be at the dock by 5:30 a.m.’” This early exposure to the importance of tidal information laid the groundwork for what would become Tide Guide.
Launched in , Tide Guide has evolved from a personal project into an essential tool for a diverse range of users, from coast guard personnel in Scotland to kayak tour operators in Alaska and recreational boaters. The app delivers comprehensive forecasts, leveraging detailed data visualizations, customizable widgets, and Apple’s Live Activities feature, which integrates seamlessly with the Dynamic Island on recent iPhones. It’s a testament to the power of focused design and a deep understanding of user needs.
What’s particularly striking about Tide Guide is that it was created by a solo developer with no prior app-building experience. MacDonald, who initially aspired to be a Hollywood director, began coding as a means to solve a problem for himself – a desire for a more visually appealing and iOS-native director’s viewfinder app. “I wanted to be a Hollywood director since I was in the fifth grade,” he explained. He learned to code through online resources and experimentation, driven by a desire for a tool that felt truly integrated with the Apple ecosystem.
This initial foray into development led to a brief stint as a UI designer for a social app, a role that proved invaluable. “The app ended up failing, but the job taught me how a designer works with an engineer,” MacDonald said. “I also learned a lot about design best practices, because I had been creating apps that used crazy elements, non-standard navigation, stuff like that.” This experience helped him refine his approach and prioritize usability and clarity in Tide Guide.
The core functionality of Tide Guide is deceptively simple: to provide users with a clear and concise understanding of current and future tidal conditions. However, beneath the surface lies a sophisticated system capable of handling complex tidal anomalies. “On the East Coast of the United States, we have very predictable and normal tides,” MacDonald noted. “But it turns out a lot of locations around the world have tidal anomalies…” This realization drove him to build a robust and adaptable system capable of accurately forecasting tides in diverse environments.
The app’s design is equally impressive. MacDonald intentionally crafted a color palette that dynamically adjusts to reflect the time of day and the color of the sky, creating a visually immersive experience. The interface is designed to be both informative and intuitive, allowing users to quickly access the data they need, whether they’re planning a fishing trip, a beach outing, or simply hoping to catch a sunset. “My primary use cases were going fishing, heading to the beach, or trying to catch a sunset,” MacDonald stated. “I just needed to show current conditions.”
Tide Guide’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed. In , the app was recognized as a finalist for both the Apple Design Awards and the App Store Awards, a significant achievement for an independent developer. The app’s impact extends beyond individual users, with organizations like a Scottish national rescue service utilizing it and even contributing to its development through feature requests, such as a Siri shortcut integration.
MacDonald’s commitment to continuous improvement is evident in the app’s ongoing evolution. He continues to add new features and refine existing ones, driven by user feedback and his own passion for creating a truly exceptional experience. Today’s Tide Guide offers a wealth of data, including hour-by-hour 10-day forecasts, water temperatures, and swell height, catering to both casual users and experienced marine professionals. “I’d say my designs were way prettier than the code I wrote,” MacDonald admits with a laugh, highlighting the iterative process of learning and refining both his design and coding skills.
The story of Tide Guide is a compelling example of how a single individual, armed with passion, determination, and the tools provided by Apple’s developer ecosystem, can create a truly remarkable app. It’s a testament to the power of independent development and the enduring appeal of a well-crafted user experience. As MacDonald himself puts it, “I’m just happy that my passion for crafting an incredible experience comes through, because I really do have so much fun making it.”
