June 2024 Summaries

Ditto has announced the beta release of its visionOS SDK as part of the DittoSwift package, designed to support Apple's Vision Pro platform by enabling seamless data synchronization and collaboration in environments with limited connectivity. The SDK allows Apple Vision Pro devices to connect with each other and other Apple devices like iPhones and iPads through peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, creating a distributed mesh network that functions without the need for internet or local servers. This functionality is particularly beneficial in settings such as warehouses, factory floors, hospitals, and airports, where connectivity issues can be costly. The visionOS SDK leverages P2P transports like Bluetooth Low Energy, LAN, and P2P Wi-Fi while supporting traditional Wi-Fi and cellular networks to ensure data consistency and reliability. By providing low-latency networking and automatic device discovery, the SDK enhances productivity and resilience for both developers and deskless workers, enabling applications to remain operational and synchronized regardless of network conditions.

Ditto's integration of React Native with its Rust core involved developing a React Native SDK using the JavaScript Interface (JSI) to enable efficient cross-platform extension. The team evaluated two architectural approaches: embedding current iOS and Android SDKs, which would have been faster but more cumbersome, and using React Native's New Architecture to create a platform-agnostic C++ layer that facilitates Rust interoperability. The latter was chosen for its efficiency and scalability, despite challenges like backward compatibility and a steep learning curve. Ditto opted for using JSI in conjunction with legacy Native Modules to maintain architectural compatibility while leveraging the advantages of the new architecture. Additionally, the team utilized existing JavaScript SDK implementations and WebAssembly to bridge Rust logic, minimizing code duplication. The process involved detailed steps for scaffolding the React Native SDK project, integrating JSI for iOS and Android, and creating a Rust library to demonstrate the capability of calling Rust functions from JavaScript. This strategic endeavor aligns with Ditto's mission to simplify backend complexities and extend its core product across multiple platforms.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has partnered with Ditto to enhance its onboard passenger experience by implementing Ditto's data sync and networking SDK in a new application for cabin crew collaboration and passenger services. This technology will be deployed on all international flights starting early summer, allowing flight attendants to efficiently manage passenger details and services even without internet connectivity. Ditto's system dynamically handles both online and offline connections, ensuring uninterrupted service and seamless data sharing among flight crew devices. ANA's Vice President of Digital Transformation & Innovation, Keiichi Ueda, highlighted the successful pilot project with Ditto, which demonstrated the technology's capability to maintain digital collaboration when offline. As a result, ANA has distributed 5,000 iPad minis across its fleet to enable flight attendants to manage inventory, communicate with colleagues, and track passenger information, thus enhancing onboard hospitality and service delivery.