KLYRO Open Sources SwiftCache: Enterprise-Grade Image Caching for iOS

The Challenge

While building multiple production iOS apps serving millions of users, we encountered a recurring problem: existing image caching solutions were either too heavy or lacked the fine-grained control our clients needed.

The trade-offs we faced:

• Kingfisher: Excellent but adds 500KB+ to binary size
• SDWebImage: Proven but 800KB+ footprint
• Rolling our own: Time-consuming and risky

For startups counting every KB in App Store optimization and enterprises managing complex caching requirements, neither option was ideal.

The KLYRO Approach

We believe in building tools that solve real problems efficiently. SwiftCache emerged from this philosophy:

Technical Excellence

Architecture

SwiftCache implements a three-tier caching strategy we've refined across dozens of client projects:

┌─────────────────┐
│  Memory Cache   │  NSCache (1-5ms)
│   (NSCache)     │  
└────────┬────────┘
         │ miss
         ↓
┌─────────────────┐
│   Disk Cache    │  FileManager (10-15ms)
│  (FileManager)  │
└────────┬────────┘
         │ miss
         ↓
┌─────────────────┐
│    Network      │  URLSession (100-500ms)
│  (URLSession)   │
└─────────────────┘

Key Features for Production Apps

1. TTL-First Design

Unlike bolt-on TTL implementations, SwiftCache treats cache expiration as a first-class concern:

SwiftCache.shared.configure { config in
    config.defaultTTL = 3600 // 1 hour default
}

// Per-image TTL override
imageView.sc.setImage(with: url, ttl: 600) // 10 minutes

Why this matters: Social media apps, news feeds, and dynamic content require fine-grained cache control. SwiftCache delivers.

2. Swift 6 Ready

We build for the future. SwiftCache compiles without warnings in Swift 6's strict concurrency mode:

await MainActor.run {
    imageView.image = cachedImage
}

Impact: Eliminates entire classes of race conditions before they reach production.

3. Zero Dependencies

Built entirely on Apple native APIs:

• NSCache for memory management
• FileManager for disk persistence
• URLSession for networking
• CryptoKit for secure hashing

Client benefit: No version conflicts, no security audits for third-party code, predictable behavior.

4. Production Monitoring

Built-in analytics for performance tracking:

let metrics = SwiftCache.shared.getMetrics()
print("Hit rate: \(metrics.hitRate * 100)%")
print("Avg load: \(metrics.averageLoadTime)ms")

Use case: Monitor cache effectiveness in production, optimize configurations based on real data.

Real-World Performance

We've deployed SwiftCache in production apps serving millions of users. The numbers:

*Data from production deployment across 3 iOS apps, 2M+ monthly active users combined.

Enterprise-Ready

For Startups (0→1)

• Fast integration: Drop-in replacement for existing solutions
• Small footprint: Critical for App Store optimization
• MIT licensed: Use freely in commercial projects

For Scale-ups (1→100)

• TTL control: Handle dynamic content elegantly
• Analytics: Monitor and optimize cache performance
• Battle-tested: Proven at scale with millions of users

For Enterprises

• Zero dependencies: Reduced security surface area
• Swift 6 ready: Future-proof architecture
• LRU eviction: Intelligent disk space management

How We Use It

At KLYRO, SwiftCache powers image loading in:

• Social feed apps: User avatars, posts, stories
• E-commerce platforms: Product catalogs, thumbnails
• Content apps: News images, photo galleries
• Messaging apps: Profile pictures, media previews

Integration Example

UIKit (5 lines)

import SwiftCache

imageView.sc.setImage(
    with: url,
    placeholder: UIImage(systemName: "photo")
)

SwiftUI (Even simpler)

import SwiftCache

CachedImage(url: imageURL) {
    ProgressView()
}

Async/Await

Task {
    let image = try await imageView.sc.setImage(with: url)
}

Open Source Philosophy

Why open source? At KLYRO, we believe in giving back to the community that helped us build successful products for millions of users.

SwiftCache represents 11+ years of mobile development experience, distilled into 150KB of production-ready code.

Get Started

GitHub: github.com/SudhirGadhvi/SwiftCache-SDK

Installation: Swift Package Manager

dependencies: [
    .package(
        url: "https://github.com/SudhirGadhvi/SwiftCache-SDK",
        from: "1.0.0"
    )
]

Documentation: Complete guides for migration, advanced usage, and API reference included.

Roadmap

Based on client needs, v1.1.0 will include:

• Combine support
• GIF animation caching
• WebP format support
• Custom image processors
• Network reachability awareness