The Fundamentals of iOS App Development for the Beginners

Do you want an iOS app for your business?

Well, you should concentrate over many things to get a successfully developed and well-created app.

iOS app development involves a multi-tiered process, where you have to start with choosing the right design platform and programming language to build a user-friendly native app. However, it is not that easier to build native iOS apps. Developers have to operate their work within the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) of Apple along with writing code using the Objective-C or Swift programming languages. They should also understand the basic abstraction layers that brief about the iOS and the way the app’s files are bundled.

An effective user-interface (UI) is the most important feature to be delivered by an iOS app developer for launching a successful app that further increases the user experience at all levels.

Xcode IDEThe iOS applications building can be tried out by the developers using cross-platform frameworks, but Xcode IDE from Apple is the most comprehensive and efficient iOS application development tool available for this purpose. The free-to-download Xcode only works on a Mac running OS X Yosemite or its later versions. Xcode involves all the features that a developer needs to develop, design and debug an iOS app. They can also create applications for Apple Watch (watchOS), Mac (OS X) and Apple TV (tvOS). Xcode provides the required features and editors to work with the interface elements, and code, files organizes that are used in the app and includes the templates to develop common app types. Xcode also facilitates with supplying tools like iOS Simulator that determines the look and behaviour of the app on different devices. The Auto Layout feature is used for app designing that adapts to different device sizes automatically. Storyboards are also used for creating visual representation of the interface of an app then using the outline view to see the objects’ hierarchical representation. Objective-C vs. SwiftEarlier to 2014, developers building Xcode based iOS app were using Objective-C programming language. Then Apple made its development shift to Swift, a language that is confirmed as easier to learn and better designed to handle and manage the ups and downs of iOS and iphone app development. During that era Mobile App Development professionals were given the opportunity to select one language over the other and they likely choose the one they know already, but many other factors are also there that they should consider. For example, if they are creating apps for an older iOS version or dealing with the C# libraries, they should choose Objective-C as their programming language. However, Swift is gaining huge popularity these days, so it is also taken into account by the developers. The iOS architecture According to leading iOS App Development Company, Kunsh Technologies, their developers have picturesque iOS in four abstraction layers that further defines its architecture:

• Cocoa Touch: Here, the basic app infrastructure is supported with delivering key application frameworks like multitasking, push notifications and touch-based input.
• Media: It enables the app in delivering video, audio and graphic capabilities.
• Core Services: Here the developers find basic systems services like Core Foundation and the Foundation Framework. Location and networking services features are also supported by this layer.
• Core OS: It provides the services like Local Authentication, Security and Core Bluetooth frameworks.

Apple recommends that the developers should write code to the highest layer of applicability whenever possible, and only the lower-level frameworks should be used for not exposing features at higher levels.

Something additional to just coding Although writing code is the most imperative part of creating an iOS app, at the same time it is quite difficult as well in the entire lifecycle of an application.

After the app created, developers have to verify the code and evaluate the entire application to fix if there is any problem. Debugger included in the Xcode allows the developers to locate the bugging issue and examine the flow of control and data structure, then the code is revised accordingly. The bundle of applicationEach iOS application comes in a bundle i.e. a file system directory containing the set of relevant resources. The core of this package contains the app executable file including the compiled code – the file name for the executable file is as same as the app’s name excluding the ‘.app extension’. The information property list file is also included in the bundle containing the metadata used by the OS to interact with the app along with the storyboard files that connect the interface to the screen. This package also includes the sound and video files, image and home screen icons and temporary images used while loading the app. Custom data files, localized resource files are some of the other file types that go into this package and they are placed in their own language-specific subdirectories. An optional bundle file can be used by the app developer that define the app preferences. This file is further used by the Settings app for assembling the UI elements of the app. UI design and UXAn iOS app is not just a package of files, but more than that. Before launching a successful app, application developer should prioritize the design for user interface and user experience every step of the way. Users can easily view, understand and interact with content without just exploring the app scrolling and zooming. Hence, legible text should be included. Users should also be allowed to touch the app features along with performing the tasks with minimum possible steps.

Author: Parth Bari is a Tech Addict, Software Geek, and Blogger. He loves to help people and found blogging the best way to help people out there so express his opinions through writing.