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How to start iOS app development?

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Do you know that there are billions of iPhone users and every day Apps Store makes millions of revenue with paid subscriptions across Apple services and iOS apps? The mobile application industry is being thriving over the years, especially when we talk about Apple and Google, they generate billions of dollars of revenue each year. And hence, by learning iOS application development, you can significantly increase your chance of getting better revenue for your iOS development company and your clients as well.

To grow your business or start your career in iOS development, it is important to know the ethics of the iOS development process.

 

What is iOS app development?

Let’s first discuss, what exactly is iOS app development. From a technical point of view, iOS app development is a process of making powerful applications for Apple’s iOS operating system. When it comes to security, Apple is known for the security provided by them, and building on top of that can reduce the risk of any threats or malware. 

Let’s see why you should invest in iOS mobile app development. Here is the list of key reasons:

  • Increased Revenue 

iOS has a significantly lower global market share than Android. If we study recent years, we can see that Android users can boost revenue by delivering exceptional apps to iOS users as well.

  • Better User Experience

Comparing it with websites, iOS applications perform better and are more reliable, can work offline, and offer a used interface that is designed for Apple smart devices. iOS applications also offers greater customization push notification capabilities, and are therefore more engaging than traditional platforms or you can say websites.

  • Conversions

If we talk about conversion, the conversions on mobile apps are higher than conversions on mobile browsers. The reason behind improved conversions is better performance, enhanced user experience, and engagement led by customised push notifications.

 

Types of iOS apps

Basically, there are three types of mobile applications that can be built for iOS devices. We have listed all three types of iOS apps that can be built. Take a closer look at each of the application types.

  • Native

These are specifically developed for the device’s operating system and they are typically accessed through icons on the home screen. You can work offline and take advantage of device features to perform ideally.

These apps work better than other apps and are more secure. At the same time, they also offer a better user experience and can also be used offline. But the only con is they can be expensive to build for individual operating systems.

  • Web

These are actual websites that are developed to look and feel like native apps. You can access them through the browser, and at the same time you can take advantage of device features through APIs, but with limited capacity.  

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These are quicker and more financially able to build, easier to maintain, and upgrade as well. You don’t need app store approval for publishing web applications. But these apps may not work offline and you might face slower performance that will adversely affect the user experience.

  • Hybrid

These are such kinds of applications that live in app stores but are actually browsers embedded within a native app shell. They can be downloaded locally on devices and enable users to access dynamic online content.

These apps translate to quicker development and lower production costs. But this can also lead to slower performance and inconsistent user experiences.

 

Fundamental tools for iOS app development

Let’s discuss some tools and software that are commonly used in iOS development:

  • Code Editor

The primary tool used for iOS development is Xcode, which comes with its own code editor. Moreover, some iOS developers prefer to use other code editors like Visual Studio Code, or Sublime Text.

  • Programming Language

Swift is the main programming language used for iOS development. Apple developed it for watchOS, macOS, and iOS apps. But you can also go for Objective-C, which is an old language that has been used for iOS development in the last few years. 

  • Interface Builder

It is a graphical UI editor that is part of Xcode. It also allows developers to create many UI elements like labels, buttons, and text fields by dropping them into a storyboard or XIB file. 

  • Package Manager

Swift Package Manager(SPM) is a tool that makes it easy to manage dependencies in iOS development. Another one is CocoPods, which is a well known third-party package manager that makes it easy for developers to add libraries from outside the project. 

  • Simulator 

It is a tool that comes along with Xcode and lets the iOS developers in any iOS development company test their apps without needing a real device. By using the iOS simulator tool you can simulate different iOS devices and at the same time, developers can test their apps on screens with different sizes and resolutions.

  • TestFlight

It is a tool developed by Apple that allows developers to provide beta versions of their apps to testers before publishing them to the audience. It allows developers to get feedback and find out the bugs before releasing it to the public. This makes the app development better. 

The use of various other tools and third-party services in your iOS app development depends on the requirement and scope of your project.

 

All about iOS development

We will have a step by step guide on how to create an iOS app development. So let’s get started with the process of iOS app development.

  • MAC for iOS app development

Apple always chooses a closed ecosystem over an open system i.e., in order to run iOS apps, it can be only run on Apple’s own devices that include iPhone and iPad.

Using VMWare we can run Mac in Windows or even we can use Hackintosh. So basically if we see, as an iOS developer, you always need a Mac for the development or testing of an iOS app. 

  • Editor for iOS application

At the start of the development of iOS apps, Xcode is the only tool that you need to download. It is an integrated development environment (IDE) provided by Apple. It also includes the iOS SDK (Software Development Kit), debugging tools, and many more.

All you need is an Apple ID to download Xcode and you can deploy your app to a real iPhone/iPad for testing, and download any other software from AppStore.

To install Xcode, go to the Mac App Store. Login here with your Apple ID. In the Mac App Store, search “Xcode” and click the “Get” button to download it. 

  • Create your iOS app

Now click and launch Xcode. Create a new Xcode project, then choose the single view app option as a type of the project and then move to next. It will be shown as one view controller and a storyboard that you can customize anytime. 

Name your project, select Swift as the language, click on next and you are ready to go with an empty app. You can navigate to files or folders from the code editor’s left panel. The right panel is called Utility Area, which will help you to deal with views or any other component in the storyboard.

On the top of the toolbar, you can find the Run and Stop Buttons. And the button of the coding area you can find the debug or console area with breakpoint and other runtime tools. 

Open the Main.storyboard in the project, the storyboard is a file that is designed to show and lay out all the components such as buttons, labels, lists, navigation bars, and many more layouts. You will find an object library in the button on the right part of the old version on Xcode, and in Xcode 10 or above you can click on the view menu in the menu bar, show library and drag the label to focused view.

  • Ready to Run

Select the device destination or select the simulator from the Xcode screen top on the left side near the Run /Stop button. Click on command ⌘ + R in order to run the application or you can also click on the run button.

Connect the device via cable to Mac in order to run the app on the real device. The device will automatically be shown in the list of device destinations. Select the device and the press command ⌘ + R.
That’s it, you are ready with your iOS application.

 

Conclusion

It’s never too late to begin honing your skills. Developing an iOS app is always easier than an Android application. And the main reason is coding in Swift requires less time than in Java as the language has high readability. Do you know that despite having fewer marker shares? iOS apps make more money because iPhones are popular in areas with high income like the United States, where people spend more on applications.

There is a lot to learn when it comes to iOS development. Always keep in mind that you should buy a Mac or borrow from someone before building an iOS application and installing Xcode. Before going all from scratch you need to understand the design and development guidelines of Apple. Cultivate a special and employable skill of iOS development, today.   

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