Why this project exist?

Short answer is, this is my final project during my university's life.

During 2017-2018, my last year at university (FE, RUPP), as a long term Android user, I switched to iOS (iPhone 5s). On Android, I used SwiftKey keyboard (later bought by Microsoft), the only QWERTY keyboard that has Khmer language with swipe gesture support.

After switching to iPhone, there's no Khmer keyboard that support swipe gesture with QWERTY keyboard layout, even worst, the SwiftKey keyboard also does not have Khmer language. We do have a lot of Khmer keyboard app, however most of them at that time (even till now) are so ugly (maybe just for me), just a square grids drop on top of each other.

After a lot of thought, I decided to built this project.

How I did it?

Just like other self-taught devs, I started a little bit above zero. I switched from my well-known language PHP to Swift. Watching YouTube just like other dev, and practice everyday (on a window machine, running MacOS as virtual, 8GB of RAM). Guess you know that feeling.

Here is what I've been through:

1. Learn Swift

2. Learn programmatic layout (Auto layout)

3. Learn how to use UI elements properly (UIButton, UIStackView, UICollectionView…etc)

4. Learn about how app extension work (custom keyboard is App Extension)

5. Learn about app database (Realm)

6. Learn how to share database between host app and app extension (App Group)

7. Learn how to sync local database (Realm) to cloud database (Firebase). We do have this feature before, user can sync their keyword suggestion from one device to their other devices using firebase account that they are signed in.

8. Learn how to use gesture (One finger swipe, two finger swipe, hold, 3D touch gesture, haptic….)

   
   

Combine above list together, with the help and guide from my senior, professor and my friends (as Tester, I have only iPhone 5s), I can finish this project perfectly. A huge thank to all of them 🙏.

What I have done?

Well, finally I've built a custom keyboard app that include:

• A rock solid, clean QWERTY keyboard layout app for Khmer language

• Predictive text that actually works (custom algorithm with experienced base suggestion, other keyboard use N-gram)

• Type faster with built-in predictions, the more user type, the faster they get

• Simply swipe based gesture, one finger swipe to shift, delete, two finger swipe to delete all, 3D touch, haptic press, cursor reposition and many more.

• Always learning your slang, nicknames and phrases

• Emoji keyboard, learns and predicts your favorite emoticons

• Sync your words across your devices with the same account

I really love this project so much personally. Not only because I'm the one building it, but also the suggestions working great for me, the layout is clean and robust. I've been using it since day one till now, 6 years, and still love using it.

There are many hidden features to explore.

To learn more, download it with above button and give it a try.

The app support both iPhone and iPad.

Your feedback always appreciated 🫶.

How to install and use.

Watch the video on how to install and use by one of our user from the first release.