April 2025 Summaries

In an article detailing the integration of Ditto's resilient mobile database with Expo Development Builds for React Native, the introduction of a new Expo plugin is highlighted as a significant advancement for developers. This plugin automates many manual setup steps typically required by React Native CLI users, such as updating Info.plist and AndroidManifest.xml with necessary permissions and configurations. By utilizing native modules, the plugin facilitates real-time, peer-to-peer synchronization in Expo apps without the need for manual configuration, thus streamlining the development process. The article emphasizes the benefits of this approach in saving developers time and effort while ensuring a clean and idempotent configuration, and it also acknowledges the support from the Expo team in enhancing the flexibility and compatibility of the plugin. Detailed setup instructions and a reference project, the RN Expo Quickstart app, are provided to help developers quickly integrate and test the SDK in a real device environment, allowing them to focus on building rich user experiences.

As of Ditto Flutter SDK v4.10.1, Flutter for Web has achieved General Availability, allowing developers to integrate Ditto's offline-first data synchronization capabilities into Flutter web applications with full confidence. This milestone, reached just months after the request was made by developers in October 2024, demonstrates Ditto's rapid adaptation to the web environment, overcoming challenges like WebAssembly integration and browser storage limitations. The update provides a unified Flutter package supporting iOS, Android, and Web, maintaining full feature parity across platforms through its robust Rust core. Key considerations for developers include the use of an in-memory data store on the web and the reliance on cloud-based rather than direct peer-to-peer sync due to browser constraints. Ditto has updated its documentation and resources to assist developers in transitioning to the web, emphasizing the consistent data layer across platforms and the spirit of Flutter's "one codebase, multiple platforms" promise.

Ditto has introduced Quickstart Applications, which are basic task list demos designed to demonstrate Ditto's offline-first syncing technology and can be set up in under 10 minutes. These applications are available across various platforms and programming languages, including Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android, Flutter for multiple platforms, and more, enabling developers to experience Ditto's real-time data synchronization and cross-platform offline capabilities without extensive setup or prior experience. Each Quickstart is a self-contained Todo app that allows users to create, complete, and delete tasks, with all apps synchronizing seamlessly across devices using Ditto's peer-to-peer sync, even offline or on a local network. For those who prefer visual guides, Ditto offers walkthrough videos for Flutter, Android (Kotlin), and Swift (iOS) Quickstarts, and the source code for all Quickstart apps is available in Ditto's GitHub repository, allowing customization and exploration.

Ditto has announced the general availability of its MongoDB Connector, a production-ready integration that enables native bidirectional sync between Ditto's Edge Sync Platform and MongoDB, following a successful public preview. This connector is recommended by MongoDB for organizations transitioning away from Atlas Device Sync, which is set to be discontinued in September. It allows developers to build applications that combine MongoDB's cloud capabilities with Ditto's peer-to-peer sync and offline-first architecture, facilitating real-time, resilient, and always-on application experiences across industries such as retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. The MongoDB Connector offers features like native JSON document sync, CRDT-based conflict resolution, and low-latency edge synchronization, with comprehensive SDK support across multiple programming languages. It is engineered to handle challenging network conditions and maintain device synchronization even when connectivity is intermittent or unavailable, making it suitable for mission-critical environments. The connector is available to Ditto customers and facilitates a smooth transition for those moving off Atlas Device Sync, aligning with the future of distributed edge applications.

Ditto and WeKan Enterprise Solutions have announced a partnership to support the migration from MongoDB's Atlas Device Sync to Ditto's real-time, offline-first sync technologies, as MongoDB phases out Atlas Device Sync. This collaboration is aimed at aiding companies in modernizing their edge applications by leveraging WeKan's expertise in cloud, mobile, and IoT solutions alongside Ditto's mobile database capabilities. WeKan, with its proven track record of working with Fortune 500 companies and close ties with MongoDB, will provide professional services to ensure a seamless transition for customers, including assessment, proof-of-concept services, and structured migration paths. The partnership underscores a shared vision of advancing resilient, edge-native applications and offers a comprehensive approach to application modernization, ensuring that businesses can maintain robust, synchronized mobile and edge systems.

Ditto has introduced a public preview of its Java Server SDK, expanding its real-time data synchronization platform into the enterprise Java ecosystem. This SDK, built on Kotlin Multiplatform, extends Ditto's capabilities into server and desktop environments, allowing Java developers to integrate offline-first, peer-to-peer data sync natively into backend services and cloud platforms. The Java-first API design aims to minimize the learning curve and integrate seamlessly with existing enterprise Java stacks such as Spring Boot and Jakarta EE. Although currently in a preview stage with major feature parity, the SDK is stable enough for early production use, with enterprise support available to facilitate smooth integration. Ditto plans to enhance the SDK with additional features like Kotlin Multiplatform support, API consistency improvements, JDK 11 support, and Linux x86_64 compatibility. Alongside comprehensive documentation and guides, Ditto offers a way to reduce application size by tailoring binary dependencies, making it suitable for production deployments. Feedback from early adopters is encouraged to refine the SDK before its final 4.11 release.

As MURTEC 2024 approaches, the integration of technology in the restaurant industry is highlighted as a crucial element for innovation and efficiency, with a focus on automation and artificial intelligence (AI) enhancing both operational processes and personalized customer experiences. The event will feature discussions on balancing technology with the human touch to maintain quality customer service, the evolution of Point of Sale (POS) systems beyond legacy models, and the importance of cloud-optional technology to mitigate internet dependency issues. Workshops will explore the implementation of mobile technology, particularly Apple devices, to streamline operations and improve customer service. Ditto will showcase its advancements, including a POS system that operates independently of internet connectivity, at their booth during the conference.