My First iOS App: Endless A-440

Every developer remembers their first app. Mine was called Endless A-440, and it's still quietly out there on the App Store doing exactly what it was built to do: play a perfect tuning pitch.

The Simplicity

This app is one of the simplest things I've ever written:

• Built in UIKit.
• No Auto Layout.
• No storyboards.
• No menus, themes, or customization.

It was my way of learning the entire app development process from start to finish, all on my own.

What It Does

It does just one thing: it plays a steady pitch at A-440 Hz for tuning instruments. You choose which instrument sound you want:

• Piano
• Violin
• French Horn
• Or a pure sine wave

And, yes, I know. I didn't even include the traditional tuning instrument—the oboe. (An oboe player somewhere is still sighing about this.)

Features (If You Can Call Them That)

You can:

• Tap a button to toggle the pitch on or off.
• Long press the button so the pitch plays only while your finger is on it.

That second option is borrowed from guitar effects pedals, which let you either toggle an effect or hold it temporarily. It felt natural to bring that idea here.

Why I Keep It Up

The app doesn't make me any money anymore. But it's still surprisingly popular. It's fun to know that this simple little app—my very first iOS app—is solving a real-world problem for people every single day.

For me, Endless A-440 is a reminder that you don't need something complex or flashy to create value. Sometimes, one pitch is enough.