Why I'm Building hora Calendar
Every macOS user who relies on Google Calendar knows the pain. You either use the web app, deal with CalDAV sync issues in Apple Calendar, or install an Electron-based app that eats your RAM for breakfast.
I wanted something different — a native, fast, beautiful Google Calendar client that feels like it belongs on macOS.
The Problem with Existing Solutions
Apple Calendar + CalDAV works, but the sync is unreliable. Events appear late, recurring events break, and you lose Google-specific features like Google Meet integration and guest permissions.
Electron apps (Fantastical, Notion Calendar) are functional but heavy. They're essentially Chrome tabs pretending to be native apps. On a MacBook Air, you notice.
The web app is… fine. But it doesn't integrate with macOS notifications, keyboard shortcuts, or the menu bar. And switching between browser tabs to check your schedule gets old.
The hora Approach
hora talks directly to the Google Calendar REST API — no CalDAV middleware, no translation layer. What you see is exactly what's on Google's servers.
It's built with:
- Swift 6 + SwiftUI — truly native, truly fast
- SwiftData for local caching — your calendar works offline
- Incremental sync — only fetches what changed since last sync
- Optimistic UI — changes feel instant, syncs in the background
What's Next
I'm working toward an initial release on the Mac App Store and TestFlight. Read about what happened in the first 48 hours or follow the progress on X.
