Saiyasoft — Blog
Building TimeCodeTracker: From Set to App Store
Every filmmaking project has that moment where someone yells "what timecode was that?" and nobody has a clean answer. After years of scribbling notes on call sheets and losing track of takes, I decided to build something purpose-built.
The Problem
On set, you need to log moments in real time. Existing apps were either too complex (full editing suites) or too simple (basic stopwatches with no timecode support). Nothing hit the sweet spot of frame-accurate timecodes with quick note-taking.
The Solution
TimeCodeTracker is built around one core interaction: tap to log a moment with the current timecode. It supports 24, 30, and 60 fps — the frame rates you actually encounter in production. Custom Quick Action buttons let you pre-define common notes ("Good Take", "Camera Issue", "VFX Note") so you can log without typing.
Key Technical Decisions
- SwiftUI for the interface — needed to iterate fast on the timeline view and full-screen timecode display
- Local-first data — everything stays on device. No accounts, no cloud sync, no privacy concerns
- CSV export — keeps it interoperable with spreadsheets, Notion, and editing tools
What I Learned
The hardest part was not the code — it was scoping. The temptation to add video playback, multi-camera sync, and team collaboration was strong. Shipping a focused tool that does one thing well was the right call.
TimeCodeTracker is available now on the App Store.