Merge Conflict

James and Frank break tradition by recording Merge Conflict together in person, sharing laughs about ferries, sea shanties, and their annual Seattle holiday meetup. The conversation dives deep into Swift Data versus Core Data, CloudKit syncing, and the quirks of building modern apps with AI assistance. Along the way, James reveals his new weight‑tracking app experiment, complete with charts, HealthKit integration, and lessons learned from coding on planes and trains.

Join us as James and Frank delve into the fascinating world of AI-driven UI design with Gemini 3.0, exploring its creative capabilities and potential to revolutionize aesthetics. Discover the latest AI model advancements, including GPT-5.1 and Codex, and gain insights into real-time trace debugging and distributed programming. Plus, we tackle the evolving landscape of Integrated Development Environments, AI tool integrations in Visual Studio Code, and cutting-edge developments in robotics and virtual reality. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, design, and technology.

In this episode, James and Frank explore the intersection of Apple's SwiftUI, SwiftData, and Apple Intelligence. They dive into Frank's inspiring work on the Clean Room app, discussing macOS and Windows UI similarities and the untapped power of modern computers. The conversation shifts to Apple's growing API ecosystem, highlighting how these tools enhance Mac capabilities without extra costs. From maximizing Mac performance to using AI for podcast automation, the episode is a deep dive into leveraging Apple's ecosystem for productivity and creativity. Don't miss this episode for insights on optimizing Mac usage and harnessing AI's potential in development and beyond.

In this year’s Octoverse, we uncover how AI, agents, and typed languages are driving the biggest shifts in software development in more than a decade.