Multiple iOS Apps from a Single Codebase

David Phan from DoorDash reveals how they rebuilt two distinctly branded iOS apps from a single codebase after acquiring Caviar. The result? 90% shared code with completely different user experiences.

When DoorDash acquired Caviar in 2019, they faced a critical decision: maintain separate tech stacks or rebuild both apps on a unified platform. They chose the harder path, creating a scalable architecture that could support multiple branded experiences while maximizing code reuse and team velocity.

Key Takeaways

• 90% code sharing between DoorDash and Caviar apps with distinct branding
• Static library approach beat separate targets and build configurations
• Design Language System eliminated if-else theming with semantic UI abstractions
• Protocol-based dependency injection enables brand-specific feature customization
• Architecture now supports future business lines without codebase fragmentation

The article includes detailed code examples showing exactly how they abstracted colors, typography, and entire view controllers to work across brands without conditional logic.