Crouton: Apple Design Award Winner Revolutionizes Home Cooking with Swift
A New Zealand developer’s elegantly simple app, Crouton, is transforming the kitchen experience, earning top honors at the 2024 Apple Design Awards. Built with Swift, this innovative tool streamlines recipe management and cooking, earning praise for its intuitive interaction and focus on efficiency.
Devin Davies, the creator of Crouton, is a self-described home cook, though his skills belie that modest assessment. But Davies is more than just a culinary enthusiast; he’s a seasoned developer who has crafted an app that addresses a common frustration: the chaos of cooking. Crouton isn’t merely a recipe manager; it’s a meticulously organized kitchen assistant designed to minimize distractions and maximize focus.
From Notes App to Apple Design Award
The genesis of Crouton was a personal need. Davies initially managed his recipes within the Notes app, a system that quickly became unwieldy. “It got a little out of hand,” he admits with a laugh. With a family history steeped in development – his father is also a programmer – Davies decided to leverage his iOS development skills to build a better solution. He found that programming became a powerful tool when focused on solving a tangible problem.
Learning Swift proved pivotal. Davies discovered the language resonated with his approach to problem-solving. “Swift worked the way I wanted a language to work,” he explains. “You can point Crouton at some text, import that text, and do something with it. The amount of steps you don’t have to think about is astounding.” This ease of use allowed him to rapidly prototype and iterate, bringing his vision to life.
The Power of Swift and Apple Technologies
<p><em>Crouton</em>’s functionality is deeply integrated with Apple’s ecosystem. The app seamlessly imports recipes from various sources – blogs, cookbooks, even handwritten notes – utilizing the Share Sheet and Camera APIs. Tasty ML models intelligently organize ingredients, while VisionKit powers accurate text recognition. Core ML models even differentiate between “roughly chopped” and “regular” onions, ensuring precise measurements.</p>
<div class="inline-article-image"><img src="https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/wwdc-services/articles/images/CA7842F8-0971-4A5F-B2C1-3F7D97A2B140/2048.jpeg" data-img-dark="https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/wwdc-services/articles/images/CA7842F8-0971-4A5F-B2C1-3F7D97A2B140/2048.jpeg" data-hires="false" alt="A Crouton screenshot that shows a recipe for butter chicken, with a photo of the dish above a list of ingredients."></div>
<p>But the app’s true strength lies in its simplicity. During the cooking process, <em>Crouton</em> displays only the current step, ingredients, and measurements, eliminating the need to constantly switch between apps. Conversions are handled automatically, and timers are integrated directly within the interface. Davies’s design philosophy prioritized minimizing friction and maximizing focus. “I spent a lot of time figuring out what to leave out rather than bring in,” he says.</p>
<div class="inline-article-image"><img src="https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/wwdc-services/articles/images/BFD811E1-23A0-42F9-A2BD-48FE8E2EFE80/2048.jpeg" data-img-dark="https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/wwdc-services/articles/images/BFD811E1-23A0-42F9-A2BD-48FE8E2EFE80/2048.jpeg" data-hires="false" alt="An Apple Vision Pro screenshot of Crouton, showing a window containing a chocolate chip cookie recipe floating over a gray marble kitchen counter."><div class="typography-caption"><p>Davies designed <em>Crouton</em> with simplicity in mind at all times. “I spent a lot of time figuring out what to leave out rather than bring in,” he says.</p></div></div>
<p><em>Crouton</em>’s journey wasn’t immediate. For a year, Davies and his mother were the primary users, a testament to the importance of building tools for personal use. This dedication ultimately paid off, culminating in the 2024 Apple Design Award for Interaction. Davies believes this recognition highlights his app’s core strength: a thoughtful and intuitive user experience.</p>
<div class="inline-article-image"><img src="https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/wwdc-services/articles/images/6E864044-37B3-4F94-8F9D-9B99A52A62C0/2048.jpeg" data-img-dark="https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/wwdc-services/articles/images/6E864044-37B3-4F94-8F9D-9B99A52A62C0/2048.jpeg" data-hires="false" alt="A *Crouton* screenshot that shows a grid of recipes, including burritos, butter chicken, and chocolate chip cookies. Each module includes a photo of the dish."><div class="typography-caption"><p><em>Crouton</em> recipes can be imported from blogs, cookbook, scraps of paper, or anywhere else they might be found.</p></div></div>
<p>Looking ahead, Davies plans to integrate Apple Intelligence, Live Activities on Apple Watch, and translation APIs into <em>Crouton</em>. He’s also working on <em>Plate Smash</em>, an Apple Vision Pro app offering a playful outlet for kitchen-related stress. However, he remains committed to preserving <em>Crouton</em>’s core principles. “I’m a big believer in starting out with core intentions and holding true to them,” he says.</p>
<blockquote class="article-quote"><p>My skillset is figuring out how the pieces of an app fit together, and how you move through them from point A to B to C.</p><cite><p>Devin Davies, <em>Crouton</em></p></cite></blockquote>
<p><em>Crouton</em>’s impact extends beyond mere convenience. It’s a personal companion in the kitchen, facilitating the creation of meals and fostering culinary exploration. Even when recipes don’t go as planned, the app’s users remain remarkably supportive. Davies recounts receiving feedback from a user who accidentally added too much cream cheese to a birthday cake, yet still praised the app’s functionality.</p>
<p>Do you find yourself overwhelmed by recipe management? What features would make your cooking experience even smoother?</p>Frequently Asked Questions About Crouton
What platforms is the Crouton app available on?
Crouton is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple Watch, offering a consistent experience across all your Apple devices.
How does Crouton handle importing recipes from different sources?
Crouton utilizes the Share Sheet and Camera APIs to import recipes from websites, blogs, cookbooks, and even handwritten notes. Its ML models then intelligently organize the ingredients.
Is Crouton a free app?
Crouton is available for download on the App Store with a subscription model. Details on pricing can be found on the Crouton website.
What makes Crouton stand out from other recipe management apps?
Crouton’s focus on simplicity and streamlined interaction, combined with its powerful use of Apple technologies, sets it apart. It prioritizes getting you back to cooking quickly and efficiently.
Will Crouton integrate with Apple Intelligence in the future?
Devin Davies has expressed interest in exploring integration with Apple Intelligence to further enhance Crouton’s capabilities.
Learn more about Crouton | Download Crouton from the App Store | Meet the 2024 Apple Design Award winners
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.
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