What is iOS app development?

The process of creating mobile applications for Apple devices, such as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, is known as iOS application development. After being developed in Objective-C or Swift, the app is published to the App Store for people to download.

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If you create mobile apps, you may have been hesitant to work on iOS development. For instance, every developer need a Mac computer, despite the fact that Macs cost more than computers running Windows. Your software must also pass a rigorous quality assessment procedure when it is finished before it can be made available through the software Store.

However, you have compelling reasons to pursue iOS app development if any of your company’s partners, customers, or workers are among the hundreds of millions of Apple iPhone and iPad users worldwide. And even though there could be large entrance barriers, creating an iOS app might occasionally be just as simple as creating one for Android. You can become an iOS app developer if you have the correct resources and strategy.

Achieve the developer’s specifications

In order to construct an iOS app, you must have the following before writing any code at all:

a Mac machine running the most recent macOS version;

The Mac App Store offers Xcode, the integrated programming environment (IDE) for macOS, for free download; and

a current Apple Developer account, which costs USD 99 per year.

These three prerequisites complement one another: Apps may only be published to the Apple App Store by current members of the Apple Developer Program. Apps may only be submitted to the App Store if they have been signed and published by Xcode. Only macOS and Apple PCs are compatible with Xcode.

Fortunately, Xcode provides more features than merely signing and releasing your finished software. You can find almost all the tools you need to build iOS apps in the IDE, including a code editor, asset library, testing engine, and user interface designer.

Choose a programming language for iOS.

For creating iOS apps, there are now two programming languages available.

Early in the 1980s, Objective-C was created, and for many years, it served as the main programming language for all Apple devices. Object-C is an object-oriented programming language that is derived from C. Its main feature is the ability to transmit messages to other processes, unlike standard C programming which starts a process. Instead of incorporating their Objective-C-written legacy programs into the 2014 release of Swift, many developers opt to keep them running.

Swift: The new “official” programming language for iOS is called Swift. Despite sharing many features with Objective-C, Swift is intended to employ a more straightforward syntax and places a greater emphasis on security than its predecessor. Its same run time with Objective-C makes it simple to integrate legacy code into modern applications. Even for those who are just starting to program, Swift is simple to learn. Unless you have a strong reason to continue with Objective-C, you should intend to create your iOS app using Swift as it is quicker, more secure, and easier to use than Objective-C.

Use libraries and APIs

The vast array of developer resources at your disposal is one of the main benefits of creating iOS apps. Apple releases reliable, feature-rich, and user-friendly native APIs and libraries as kits because of the uniformity, functionality, and standardization of iOS app development. These iOS SDKs let you easily include your app into Apple’s pre-existing framework.

For instance, HomeKit may be used to standardize communication between the phone and the toaster when developing an app controller for a smart toaster oven. It is possible for users to schedule communication between their smart coffee machine and smart toaster oven. Apple’s virtual assistant, Siri, game creation tools (including SpriteKit, GameplayKit, and ReplayKit), health applications, maps, and cameras are among the available resources.

With the help of these comprehensive kits, you can easily integrate third-party applications and utilize the built-in iOS capabilities. You may create apps that link to social network, use the camera or native calendar app, or automatically capture replay videos of particularly exciting gaming moments.

Grow by entering the cloud

iPhones are strong gadgets. But think about giving the heavy lifting to the cloud to handle jobs requiring a lot of resources. Utilizing APIs, you may link your app to cloud-based services for database administration, storage, and even app caching. Additionally, you may enhance your app with cutting-edge services of the future.

Server-side Swift frameworks, such as Kitura, are supported by IBM Cloud® for developing web apps and iOS back ends. REST APIs may be launched from within the iOS application. You can link Kitura with several IBM Cloud services, including as databases, mobile analytics, and machine learning, in addition to push notifications.

Examine locally and globally

Not every developer writes flawless code the first time around, not even the most skilled ones. You must test your iOS app when you’ve finished developing it. Thankfully, testing mobile devices from several manufacturers won’t be necessary, unlike when building for Android. Only Apple iPhones may use iOS, Apple’s exclusive mobile operating system. There are still fewer devices to test on than with Android, even if you might wish to test your iOS app on various versions of iPhones (with several operating systems).

Xcode itself contains your initial line of testing. Apart from the typical unit tests you are used with, Xcode also offers automated user interface testing. In order to find any problems with your app, you may create tests that go around your user interface and interact with it like a user would. Instead of interacting with your code through APIs, UI testing mimics how a real user would interact with your application. You may automatically obtain UI testing that is frequently more comprehensive than what any human could do as long as you build tests that cover every facet of your application.

You should still utilize people to beta test your software, though, unless your tests cover every scenario a user may encounter with it. Although iOS apps can be sideloaded without being submitted to the tool Store, Apple’s TestFlight tool makes it simple for friends, relatives, or your user base to sample your software. Members of the Apple Developer Program can conduct internal testing on up to 30 devices with up to 25 team members using TestFlight. In order to submit your new iOS app to outside testers, you may allow your iOS app development team to test it in a small group setting and be ready for the Apple Beta review process.

It is possible to invite up to 10,000 customers to download a test version of your software if Apple authorizes it based on its software Store review rules. These people access your app using a special URL after downloading the TestFlight app. You may run A/B tests and examine how different groups of external testers react to different features by dividing them up into unique groups and sending customized builds to each group. In exchange, consumers may simply provide comments about any problems they run into and you instantly receive data about usage.

Add your application to the App Store.

After completing the development and testing phase of your iOS software, you must upload it to the software Store. Using Xcode, you may submit and sign your application straight away. Have patience: App reviews can take a long time, often including several rounds of rejection, revision, resubmission, and rejection before receiving ultimate approval.

After your app has received all necessary permissions, you can use an app called App Store Connect to design your App Store page and submit it to the App Store. If you intend to sell your app, keep in mind that Apple charges a 99 USD yearly membership fee to be a part of the Developer Program, in addition to taking 30 percent of your app sales.