When Apple unveiled iOS 26 and its sweeping new “Liquid Glass” UI design, many developers braced for impact. Major version jumps like this often send cross-platform frameworks scrambling to catch up, forcing developers to wait weeks or months for SDK updates, patches, and compatibility fixes. But for one framework — TiDev Titanium — iOS 26 support was ready on Day 0.
Native by Design
The reason is simple: Titanium was built differently from the start. Unlike many cross-platform systems that attempt to rebuild native controls inside their own rendering engines, Titanium takes a different approach. JavaScript code written in Titanium maps directly to the underlying native APIs provided by iOS and Android. A Titanium Button is not a simulated button — it’s a real UIButton on iOS, drawn by the operating system itself.
This design pays huge dividends when Apple releases major system updates like iOS 26. Because Titanium apps are calling the same native APIs that Apple updates internally, most apps built in Titanium just work. They automatically inherit a significant amount of the look, feel, and behaviors introduced by Apple. (And the same can be said for Titanium apps targeting Android as well!)
Glass Views? Already in Progress
One of iOS 26’s standout features is the new “Liquid Glass” design system — introducing new blurred, semi-translucent interface elements across Control Center, the lock screen, widgets, and system apps. For many cross-platform frameworks, exposing these new native effects will require significant engineering effort — assuming they support them at all.
For Titanium developers, support for these new glass views is already underway. According to Hans Knöchel, TiDev’s Lead iOS Engineer, the team is actively working to expose the new iOS 26 API calls directly into Titanium’s JavaScript layer. This allows developers to access cutting-edge system features almost as soon as Apple makes them available — without waiting for massive rewrites of rendering engines or bridging layers.
TiDev: Open Source, Non-Corporate, and Sustainable
Unlike many developer tools ruled by Silicon Valley venture capital, TiDev operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Alabama, supported by a worldwide community of contributors. The Titanium framework, originally built by Appcelerator (itself founded in Atlanta), continues today as a fully open-source project maintained by developers who actually use it to build real-world apps.
This community-first approach keeps Titanium nimble, developer-focused, and free from the shifting priorities of big tech investors. Updates like iOS 26 support aren’t beholden to product roadmaps or quarterly earnings — they’re driven by developers who want the framework to remain reliable, modern, and fully native.
Real Apps, Real Results
I’ve seen this firsthand – having developed a number of mobile applications for myself and clients across the United States. The Lightwave LINK, the official mobile application for Alabama Lightwave, an Alabama ISP, was built entirely in Titanium. Thanks to the TiDev Titanium framework upon which this app was built, my app won’t require substantial compatibility to run well on iOS 26. And with Hans and the iOS team actively working to expose even the newest APIs, I can start building on iOS 26’s latest features right away.
Of course, I’m not alone. Hans Knöchel, TiDev’s lead iOS engineer, is also the founder and CEO of Lambus, a collaborative travel planning platform leveraging the Titanium framework. Lambus helps travelers organize itineraries, documents, bookings, expenses, and notes all in one app. It’s available on iOS and Android, and has attracted users around the world. And yes — it’s fully live and in production today, powered by Titanium.
The Titanium Advantage
For developers tired of waiting months for cross-platform tools to catch up every time Apple drops a major update, Titanium offers a fundamentally better model:
- Day 0 OS support: no waiting on framework vendors to catch up.
- True native UI: not simulated or emulated widgets.
- Native performance: because it is native elements under the hood. No Chromium components or other nonsense rendering the UI.
- Fully open-source: Governed by developers, for developers, under guidance of a non-profit 501c3. No big-tech interests here!
Get Started
If you want to start building real mobile apps with native performance, there has never been a better time to explore Titanium:
- Learn more at TitaniumSDK.com
- Join the developer community on the TiDev Slack
Need Help Building An App?
With over a decade of hands-on experience, deep expertise in Titanium, and a strong command of the broader mobile development ecosystem, I can guide your project from initial concept all the way to a fully deployed, production-ready mobile app. Whether you’re starting from scratch or need expert support along the way, I’m here to help. Reach out and let’s start the conversation.
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