IOS

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.

Each developer, for instance, requires a Mac computer, and Macs are often more expensive than their Windows-based counterparts. Your software must also pass a rigorous quality assessment procedure when it has finished development before being made available through the App Store.

However, you have clear reasons to get involved in iOS app development if any of your company’s staff, clients, or partners are among the hundreds of millions of Apple iPhone and iPad users worldwide. And despite potentially high entry barriers, creating an iOS app may be just as simple—and in some situations, much simpler—than creating one for Android. You can become an iOS app developer if you have the correct preparation and resources.

Are you prepared to give iOS mobile app development a try? For creating an iOS app with cloud-based push alerts and performance monitoring, IBM provides simple, hands-on instruction.

Meet the specifications of the developer

To create an iOS app, you must have the following before writing a single line of code:

• A Mac machine running the most recent macOS release.
• The integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS is called Xcode, and it can be downloaded for free from the Mac App Store.
• A current Apple Developer account costs $99 yearly.

Together, these three conditions: An app may only be published to the Apple App Store by active members of the Apple Developer Program. The App Store only accepts programmes that have been signed and published by Xcode, and only Apple machines can run macOS and Xcode.

The good news is that Xcode provides a lot more features than only the ability to sign and publish your finished software. A user interface designer is part of the IDE. The majority of the tools you need to build iOS apps are included, including a code editor, testing engine, asset library, and more.

Choose a programming language for iOS.

Currently, there are just two programming languages available for creating iOS apps.

• Objective-C: Created in the early 1980s, this programming language served as the foundation for all Apple products for many years. The object-oriented programming language Objective-C, which is derived from C, is focused on conveying messages to various processes (as opposed to invoking a process in traditional C programming). Instead of converting their older Objective-C programmes to the 2014-introduced Swift framework, many developers want to preserve them.
• Swift: The new “official” programming language for iOS is Swift. Because it and Objective-C share a run time, updating apps with legacy code is simple. Even for those who are just learning to programme, Swift is simple to learn. Unless you have a compelling reason to continue with Objective-C, you should aim to utilise Swift to create your iOS app since it is quicker, more secure, and simpler 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. owing to the uniformity and standardisation of iOS app development. Apple may provide native APIs and libraries as dependable kits, packed with features, and simple to use.

With the aid of these iOS SDKs, you may easily include your app in Apple’s current system.

For instance, you may utilise Homekit to standardise communication between the toaster and the phone if you’re developing an app controller for a smart toaster oven. In addition to Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, there are developer kits for health applications, maps, cameras, and video cameras (such as SpriteKit, GameplayKit, and ReplayKit).

With the aid of these comprehensive kits, you can easily utilise iOS’s built-in capabilities and include third-party applications when developing apps that link to social networking.

Extend into the cloud

iPhones are capable gadgets. However, if a task requires a lot of resources, think about outsourcing it to the cloud. Your app may leverage the cloud for storage, database administration, and even app caching by connecting to cloud-based services via APIs.

Test regionally and globally

Even the finest programmers don’t always produce flawless code the first time. You must test your iOS app when you’ve finished developing it. Fortunately, unlike when building for Android, you won’t need to test mobile devices from several manufacturers. Only Apple iPhones may use iOS, Apple’s exclusive mobile operating system. There are still fewer devices to test with iOS than there are with Android, even if you might wish to test your iOS app on several iPhone models (with different operating systems).

You should start testing in Xcode itself. Xcode offers automated UI testing in addition to the usual unit tests you’re familiar with. To find any problems, you may create tests that move about your UI and utilise your app as a user would. The UI testing replicates a genuine user’s interaction with your app rather than interacting with your code via APIs. You can automatically receive Ul testing that is frequently more extensive than any person can do as long as you build tests that cover every area of your app.

You should still allow people to beta test your programme, even if your tests cover every interaction a user may have with it. Apple makes it simple for friends, relatives, or your customer base to evaluate your app using its TestFlight tool, even though you may sideload programmes to iOS devices without submitting them to the App Store. Apple Developer Program participants can conduct internal testing using TestFlight with up to 25 team members and up to 30 devices apiece. To release your new iOS app to outside testers, you may offer your iOS app development team the chance to try it out in a small group and be ready for the Apple Beta review.

You can invite up to 10,000 people to download a test version of your app after Apple has approved it following its App Store review rules. These users download the TestFlight app and then access your app using a special URL. You may do A/B testing and compare user reactions to features by dividing your external testers into unique groups and pushing different releases to each group. In exchange, you receive utilisation statistics instantly, and customers may quickly provide feedback on any problems they run into.

Are you prepared to give iOS app development a try? Want to see iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices all around the world using your iOS app? For creating an iOS app with cloud-based push alerts and performance monitoring, IBM provides simple, hands-on instruction.

At Future Finders, take the Introduction to Mobile Foundation course, which is a part of the IBM Cloud Professional Developer programme, to learn more about the functions and features of the IBM Mobile Foundation as well as IBM Push Notifications.