iOS App Development Best Practices
iOS app development is a detailed art where you need to be aware of a lot of nuts and bolts if you want a successful app. One of the benefits of iOS development is that the spending habit of Apple App Store users is quite high, more than double of Android users (as made clear by Tim Cook in the September event for iPhone 7).
Therefore, iOS app development is a profitable job. Also, there are great demands of iOS developers because Apple wants to scale up its market size by having innovative apps.
But, to be recognized and to make a good app, there are certain best practices you need to follow. So cut out some time, sit relaxed, and go through this article. You’ll learn a lot.
1. Using help and documentation
Getting community help and using official documentation are the two best practices good iOS app developers use first.
- It’s often a good idea to utilize professional communities and forums to get answers to your questions.
- More technical or coding-based advice is always freely handed out if you know where (and how) to ask for it. Internet is a large place.
- Always make sure you check the bible before starting to make an iOS app: Even if you have no experience to iOS development, this document here will enable you to make great looking iOS apps.
- The Futurice developers have created a great page on GitHub about iOS good coding practices. Be sure to read it for more advanced, coding-based tips.
2. Simplicity shouldn’t compromise features
There are countless examples where people go overboard with simplicity and make designs (app, website, software, anything) so simple that a lot of useful information is clearly missing. Users can benefit from simplicity, yes, but too much simplicity means they’re not getting a lot of information they require right on top.
A good example is Metro, or the Microsoft Design Language. The MDL hides a lot of information. Don’t design that way. It’s better if you replace the concept of “simplicity” with “clarity” in your head.
The message has to be clear, but the design shall not be overly simple or too minimalist.
3. Never skip the initial stages
A successful iOS application never skips on the initial stages of mobile app development. Being a good developer, it’s your job to make sure your users receive the highest possible functionality and greatest experience from your app.
For that, you need research. Never skip these three steps:
- Exploring your idea and starting with what your users will want, not you.
- Prototyping the interface.
- Making a blueprint of the architecture.
Gather feedback and improve. Invent easier and faster methods of achieving the same effect. Aim for as less clutter as possible. All these initial steps happen before actual coding.
4. Use Xcode if you’re a beginner
Don’t think of anything else if you’re a beginner. Xcode can get most stuff done for you, and it’s officially supported by Apple.
Making projects in Xcode is really easy. It’s just like any other software with a basic GUI. For example, say you want to make an expense management app.
Go to File > New > Project. Go to Application > Empty Application > Input name “Expense Manager” and there, you have your base to build up on.
5. Testing and maintenance
So you’ve coded your app, released it, promoted it, and now what?
- App testing is really important.
- Maintenance and providing support to users is needed for a healthy growth of your app.
- Updates, needless to say, keep you in business and make your app better over time.
Written by Genny Thomas. Genny is an iOS developer who lives in London. Genny's stint with iOS development began in the early days of iPad devices. She literally fell in love with Apple. She started developing apps for iPad, iPhones, and helped design many apps for other iProducts. Now she has many custom development projects concerning Apple Watch and TV. Her large area of experience makes sure his work is high quality. To know more about her work, visit:
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