Tag Archive for: Apple devices

The Ultimate Guide For iOS Mobile App Development Basics

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Over the years, Apple has made iOS mobile app development increasingly accessible, especially for beginners. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy for anyone to jump in and start developing apps for the iOS platform from the get-go.

Firstly, every developer, even a beginner, should have a basic understanding of programming fundamentals. These are the basic building blocks of any cohesive program, which allow developers to create all types of apps, regardless of programming language or paradigm. 

Secondly, Apple introduced iOS almost 16 years ago, meaning it’s wise to have a reasonable amount of background knowledge of the platform. There’s plenty of legacy code and features that are impossible to ignore, especially when updating or porting older iOS apps.

And thirdly, iOS is constantly evolving, so it’s crucial to stay current with the latest developments Apple announces. That doesn’t mean only following Apple’s exemplary keynote presentations but also keeping updated on the latest API references, developer documentation, and tutorials. Now, let’s review several iOS mobile app development basics in our handy guide below.

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iOS Mobile App Development Basic Requirements

To develop and deploy iOS apps, you should own or have access to an Apple MacBook laptop, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, or iMac (preferably with the ARM-based M1 or M2 chip). While it’s possible to develop iOS apps on a Windows or Linux-based system, deployment requires a Mac running a current version of macOS. 

Furthermore, you’ll need to enroll in the Apple Developer Program before publishing your apps on the App Store. Apple imposes specific rules and standards and expects developers to meet their criteria for a fruitful partnership.

The Devices Of The iOS Ecosystem

In addition to a Mac system, it’s necessary to have access to the devices that you’re targeting, which may include the following:

  • Apple Watch
  • Apple TV
  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Vehicle infotainment systems (via Apple CarPlay)

The devices you target will affect the type of frameworks and APIs you’ll use during development. For example, if you’re targeting infotainment systems, you’ll inevitably use the CarPlay framework. This framework will allow you to integrate features expected by car owners, such as audio, communication, EV charging, food ordering, navigation, and parking.

The iOS Mobile App Development Environment

For most iOS mobile app development purposes, Apple’s Xcode integrated development environment (IDE) should suffice. It’s pretty much the Swiss army knife of iOS development and probably the only IDE you’ll ever need for creating native apps.

However, if you’re developing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences, or mobile games, you may need a game engine as part of your toolchain. Unity and Unreal Engine are popular options, but you’ll need to download the Visual Studio, CLion, or Rider IDE too.

Programming Language Considerations

If you’re developing native iOS apps, Swift will be your go-to programming language. In addition, you’ll need to learn SwiftUI, which will allow you to create cohesive and modern user interfaces (UIs) across all Apple devices.

But we also recommend that you learn Objective-C, which is still in use today for iOS development. While we don’t recommend it (and neither does Apple) for developing modern iOS apps, you may need to update older apps developed with Objective-C, so familiarity with the language is a huge benefit. 

And if you use a game engine for your next iOS project, you’ll need to learn C# for Unity or C++ for Unreal Engine. Alternative game engines or frameworks may require that you have familiarity with other programming or scripting languages, such as Basic, GameMaker Language (GML), GDScript, Lua, JavaScript, Python, etc. Many game engines also offer a visual scripting component for beginners, but this often introduces a performance cost. 

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In Conclusion

If you’re new to iOS mobile app development, you may encounter difficulties and roadblocks along your app development journey. Even the initial stages of setting up your development environment could pose a challenge. That’s why it’s important to persevere and network with professionals in the industry to make headway. 

However, if you need to get your iOS app to users quickly and don’t have the confidence or skills to complete your project, it’s best to partner with a professional app development studio. Contact NS804 today to learn how we can help you transform your freshest ideas into a high-quality iOS app!   

What to Look for When Finding an iOS App Developer

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Apple’s iOS is one of the most complex operating systems, not only in terms of usability but equally in terms of design. So, finding an expert IOS developer should be on your priority list if you’re looking to develop an iOS app for personal or business purposes.

Here are some factors to look for when finding an iOS developer.

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1. In-depth Knowledge of Swift 3.0

Swift 3.0 is a powerful programming language for developing iOS apps, whether for Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac. Swift 3.0, an excellent programming language created to give developers total freedom and flexibility, has superb syntax and it’s easy to use. Swift 3.0 is considered an intuitive and robust language for developing different sorts of applications for Apple’s diverse platforms – MacOS, TVOS, and watchOS.

Swift is rich and reliable, thus allowing developers to develop feature-rich and vigorous mobile applications efficiently and quickly. So, when searching for an iOS developer, it’s advisable to look for one proficient with Swift 3.0 programming language.

2. XCode IDE

Another factor to consider when hiring an iOS developer is their knowledge and proficiency in XCode IDE. Versatility in XCode is one of the most important qualities to look out for when hiring a developer.

An integrated development environment (IDE) harbors the essential tools required for debugging, interpreting, and compiling codes to simplify the app development process from beginning to end.

So, a comprehensive knowledge of XCode IDE is essential for successful iOS development.

3. Core Data

Apple and iOS users are brand-centric. They trust and are fully loyal to Apple devices and iOS applications. Core Data is essentially a framework that simplifies the development of data-driven apps. Core data simplifies the management of model objects.

An in-depth knowledge of the Core Data framework relieves the developer of routine tasks associated with object lifecycle management. In addition, Core Data significantly reduces the amount of code a developer writes. iOS developers can save data for offline use, save temporary cache datasets, and undo functionality on a single device.

Comprehensive knowledge of Core Data management is a requisite when hiring an iOS developer.

4. Memory Management

Essentially, Apple’s devices are sensitive to storage. That primarily means that an iOS developer must have comprehensive knowledge of memory management. Apple devices’ short-term memories rely on integrated RAM to store and manage data.

Apple’s operating system, iOS, dynamically decides the amount of memory allocated to each application. Any superior or experienced IOS developer must know that an iOS app might stop functioning once the system reaches or exceeds the allotted storage limit. Thus, any experienced iOS developer must know how to fix memory issues when called upon to do so.

5. Unit Testing

Apple has a function that evaluates or assesses how well an app functions. Great ‘unit tests’ are fast, functional, and fully isolated. For instance, when you design a calculator app and want to test the effectiveness of a given function – division, addition, multiplication, or calculus function – you might want to create a unit test function to ensure each feature works as expected.

In addition to verifying the effectiveness of an app’s function, unit tests can help prevent bugs. The ‘unit test’ tests the functionality of a function by using inputs to ensure they generate the correct outputs.

So, it’s critical to contract or hire developers who’re well acquainted with these ‘unit test’ skills to sufficiently test an app’s overall functionality and performance.

Skills to Look Out for in an iOS App Developer

Critical skills and requirements to look out for when hiring an iOS app developer include:

  • Spatial reasoning ability. Spatial reasoning ability is required when hiring an iOS developer. Ensure that your developer has the mental capacity to understand objects at varying scales and manipulate them mentally.
  • UI and UX proficiency. User experience (UX) design experts specialize in the aesthetics of an app, including its overall appearance and feel. UX experts enhance an app’s overall feel, look, and navigation to improve the overall user experience. User interface (UI) experts specialize in the app’s overall usability and functionality. UI experts ensure that your app functions as expected without buffers or delays in processing inputs.

So, an in-depth knowledge of UI and UX elements is necessary when hiring an IOS developer.

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NS804 – Simplifying iOS Design and Deployment

Did you know that NS804 simplifies the process of designing, developing, and deploying iOS apps? At NS804, we pride ourselves in superior IOS development solutions tailored to your individual and business needs.