Twitter releases Mac app via Project Catalyst

Social network Twitter has released another app for MacOS. It is a Project Catalyst app, which developers can use to port iPad apps to the Mac. The interface differs from that of the iPad.

Being a Catalyst app, it relies on running UIKit on macOS. As a result, only users of the latest version of the operating system, 10.15 Catalina, can install it from the Mac App Store.

It is the first time in a year and a half that the social network has a native app on Apple’s desktop operating system. Twitter stopped supporting its macOS app last year, but has now brought it back with the Catalyst app. It is the most well-known company to have used Catalyst to date. Streaming service Netflix does not want to make an app for macOS.

Catalyst apps appeared on Monday as part of the release of macOS Catalina. 9to5Mac has put online a list of apps that have appeared. Project Catalyst makes it possible to convert apps for the iPad into programs for macOS. That’s possible because UIKit, the iOS app creation framework, now works on macOS. That traditionally works with AppKit for programs.