iOS Ketchup 2.0: Where intention becomes interaction
300+ iOS developers, designers, and enthusiasts gathered for iOS Ketchup 2.0, hosted by Eternal, and it felt like a milestone moment for India’s Apple developer community. The entire day was dedicated to learning, sharing, and connecting over the latest in iOS development.
This edition went beyond a typical meetup, it showcased AI‑powered development workflows, server driven UI architectures, dynamic lock screen experiences, and inspiring indie app stories. Whether you were a seasoned engineer or just starting your journey, there was something here to take home.
And it wasn’t just about the tech, it was about actionable ideas, real-world solutions, and the motivation to build better. Here’s what stood out:
Deep dives into AI-assisted development, server-driven UI, and Live Activities, with lessons you can apply immediately.
Clear examples, working demos, and proven patterns ready to integrate into your own codebase.
Hearing from teams and indie builders who've achieved scale reminded us all why we love building for Apple platforms.
Setting the stage
The day started with a packed room, lively conversations, and lots of coffee. We opened with a reminder of why iOS Ketchup exists: to create a space where developers across India can exchange ideas openly, share what they’re building, and learn from one another’s wins and failures.
The schedule was packed, from deep technical dives by District, Blinkit, and Zomato, to personal stories from indie developers who’ve reached millions of users.
District: Personalizing the lock screen experience
District shared their journey of turning the lock screen into a live, personalized dashboard for customers. By combining App Groups, shared containers, and dynamic images, they made Live Activities reflect exactly what the customer cares about, whether it’s a dinner reservation, countdown or an event ticket reminder. They also explained how they implemented smart cleanup logic so these experiences stay performant.
The takeaway: when done right, Live Activities aren’t just widgets, they are ongoing conversations with your customers.
Blinkit: AI in the Dev Loop
Blinkit’s talk set the tone for the future of development, showing how AI can become a true development partner. They walked through their approach of embedding intelligence into every stage of the workflow, from generating UI code from screenshots, to answering natural‑language questions about the codebase, to performing contextual PR reviews that actually understand what changed. They even showcased automated UI and accessibility tests that run from plain-English instructions. The big idea: instead of spending hours on repetitive setup and review work, developers can focus on building better features faster.
Zomato: Server‑driven UI and AI‑powered testing
Zomato took us through how they rebuilt their interface layer to be modular, backend‑driven, and ready for the future. Their Snippet Handler architecture keeps ZUIKit lean, while protocol‑oriented SwiftUI components make it easy to roll out changes instantly, no app update required. On top of that, they’ve layered AI‑powered test automation to catch regressions early and ship with confidence.
The message was clear: modernization doesn’t mean throwing everything away, it means bridging UIKit and SwiftUI carefully and automating the painful parts of release.
Indie journeys that inspire
One of the most loved parts of the day was hearing from indie developers who turned passion projects into full‑blown businesses.
Kamal Kumar Lakshmanan: Passion to product
Kamal’s keynote was a powerful reminder that great products start with genuine curiosity and relentless iteration. He shared how Box Box Club – a Formula 1 fan app that he started as a hobby, grew to 2.5M+ users and opened doors to collaborations with Quadrant (Lando Norris’ brand), Almave by Lewis Hamilton, and even the BWT Alpine F1 team.
His message was clear: build something you care about, solve a real problem, and keep iterating fast. Kamal emphasised staying close to customers, respecting good design, adopting new technology early, and being persistent through the ups and downs of indie development. The highlight? The fact that Box Box Club was featured at Apple's iPhone 15 launch event proves that passion projects can go global.
Shubham Singh: Designing with Liquid Glass (iOS 26)
Shubham’s session 'Liquefying with SwiftUI', explored the Liquid Glass update in iOS 26 and how it redefines depth, layering, and fluidity in iOS apps. He demonstrated how to implement translucent, layered designs using the new .glassEffect() modifier, redesigned tab bars, scroll views, and toolbars. He also shared practical advice on accessibility, performance tuning, and when to dial back the effect for clarity.
His talk left the audience excited to try these new tools immediately, inspiring them to think about UI not just as static screens but as living, breathing experiences.
Learning points
After a day packed with deep dives, live demos, and inspiring stories, here are the three biggest takeaways that stood out:
The community energy
What really made iOS Ketchup 2.0 special wasn’t just the talks, it was the people. 300+ attendees, dozens of Q&As, and countless new connections. For many, it wasn’t just a conference, it was a chance to feel part of a growing, passionate iOS community. Attendees stayed back after the sessions, swapping stories and brainstorming features.
What’s next?
With the momentum of this edition, iOS Ketchup is becoming the flagship iOS developer event in India. The bar has been set high, and the community is already buzzing about what the third edition might bring.
If you missed it this time, make sure you’re there next time. Until then: keep building, keep sharing, and keep pushing the limits of what’s possible on Apple platforms. 🧑🏻💻