Nomen
Role: Solo Developer • Platforms: iOS
About
A private, on-device memory assistant that helps you capture and recall the details of your life—powered by Apple Intelligence, with all data staying on your device.
Tech Stack
A Digital Nomenclator
In ancient Rome, a nomenclator was a slave who accompanied their master to public events, whispering the names and relevant details of approaching people. Nomen (Latin for “name”) serves the same purpose—a tireless memory that helps you maintain the context of your relationships and experiences over time.
The Vision
In an age where personal data flows through cloud servers owned by tech giants, I wanted to build something different: a digital memory that stays entirely yours. Nomen is a chat-based “digital brain” that helps you capture, organize, and recall the details of your life—all processed on your device using Apple Intelligence.
How It Works
Talk to Nomen like you would a personal assistant. Mention that you had lunch with Sarah and discussed her new project, or jot down an idea that struck you during your commute. The app automatically:
- Classifies your input as a memory to store, a question to answer, or a command to execute
- Extracts named entities (people, places, organizations) using Apple’s NaturalLanguage framework
- Indexes everything for intelligent retrieval later
When you need to remember something—“What did Sarah say about that project?” or “When did I last meet with the design team?”—Nomen searches your memories and synthesizes an answer using context-aware AI, all without ever sending your data off-device.
Key Features
Chat Interface — Natural conversation-style input with message threading
Smart Classification — AI distinguishes memories from questions from commands
Contextual Retrieval — Finds relevant memories using keyword matching, entity recognition, and recency scoring
Memories Browser — Search, edit, and delete your stored memories
Export System — Generate daily journals or topic-based exports to iCloud Drive
Technical Approach
The app is built entirely in Swift and SwiftUI, with a clean layered architecture:
- Apple Foundation Models power the intelligence layer—message classification, contextual Q&A, and natural conversation threading
- Core Data + CloudKit handles persistence with seamless iCloud sync across your devices
- Rule-based fallbacks ensure the app works gracefully on devices without Apple Intelligence support
- Markdown exports to iCloud Drive let you browse your memories as plain text files
Privacy First
Every piece of data stays within Apple’s ecosystem:
- Memories stored locally in your app sandbox
- Synced via CloudKit to your private iCloud
- No third-party APIs, no analytics, no tracking
- Optional exports go directly to your iCloud Drive
Support
Contact Support
If you’re experiencing issues, have feedback, or want to request a feature, please reach out:
Email: gregmcinnescontact@gmail.com
When contacting support, please include:
- Your device model (e.g., iPhone 15 Pro)
- iOS version (found in Settings > General > About)
- A description of the issue or feedback
- Screenshots if applicable
I typically respond within 1-2 business days.
Privacy Policy
Last Updated: December 2025
Overview
Nomen is a personal memory assistant designed with privacy as a core principle. Your memories are yours—the developer does not collect, access, or share them.
Information We Collect
We do not collect any personal information.
Nomen is designed to operate entirely on your device and within your personal iCloud account. The developer has no access to your data.
Data Storage
On-Device Storage
All memories, messages, and entity profiles you create are stored locally on your device using Apple’s Core Data framework. This data remains in your app’s private sandbox and is not accessible to other apps or the developer.
iCloud Sync
If you have iCloud enabled on your device, your data may be synced to your personal iCloud account using Apple’s CloudKit framework. This sync occurs within your private CloudKit database, meaning:
- Only you can access this data
- The developer cannot access your iCloud data
- Data is encrypted in transit and at rest by Apple
iCloud Drive Exports
When you export memories, files are saved to your personal iCloud Drive in a folder called “Nomen.” These files are stored in your personal iCloud Drive account, accessible only by you, and not accessible to the developer.
Data Processing
On-Device AI
Nomen uses Apple’s on-device Foundation Models (Apple Intelligence) to:
- Classify your messages
- Answer questions about your memories
- Extract entities (people, places, organizations) from text
All AI processing occurs entirely on your device. Your data is never sent to external AI services, and the developer does not have access to any prompts, responses, or processing results.
Natural Language Processing
The app uses Apple’s NaturalLanguage framework for text analysis. This processing occurs entirely on your device.
Data We Do NOT Collect
- Personal identification information
- Email addresses or contact information
- Location data
- Usage analytics or telemetry
- Crash reports (unless you opt-in via Apple)
- Advertising identifiers
- Any content you store in the app
Third-Party Services
Nomen does not use any third-party services. The app does not integrate with:
- Third-party analytics platforms
- Advertising networks
- External AI or machine learning services
- Social media platforms
- Any external APIs
The only external service interaction is with Apple’s own services (iCloud/CloudKit), which is governed by Apple’s privacy policy.
Data Sharing
We do not share your data with anyone. Since we don’t collect any data, there is nothing to share.
Data Retention
Your data is stored on your device and in your personal iCloud account for as long as you choose to keep it. You have full control over your data:
- Edit: Modify any memory at any time
- Delete: Remove individual memories or entire conversations
- Export: Download your memories as files
- Uninstall: Removing the app deletes all local data
Data synced to iCloud can be managed through your device’s iCloud settings.
Security
Your data is protected by:
- Device Security: iOS sandboxing protects your app data
- Encryption: iCloud data is encrypted in transit and at rest
- On-Device Processing: AI processing never leaves your device
- No Network Transmission: Your memories are never sent to external servers
Your Rights
Since all data is stored locally on your device and in your personal iCloud account, you have complete control over your data:
- Access: View all your data within the app
- Correction: Edit any memory at any time
- Deletion: Delete any or all data from the Memories or Chat tabs
- Portability: Export your memories as markdown files
Children’s Privacy
Nomen does not knowingly collect any information from children under 13 years of age. The app does not collect information from any users.
Changes to This Policy
If this privacy policy is updated, the changes will be reflected on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.
Contact
If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact:
Email: gregmcinnescontact@gmail.com