The journey of becoming an Apple platform developer begins with learning the basics and progresses to using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for writing code. This involves working with designs, leveraging open-source projects to save time, troubleshooting your app, and conducting thorough testing before releasing it. To make this process easier, this blog provides you with a list of essential tools that can greatly benefit you as an iOS app developer in 2023.
IDEs and editors
Developers of app platforms require an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to write their code effectively. The top pick is usually Xcode since it’s developed by Apple and includes everything necessary. However, there are a few other options worth exploring.
Xcode– Xcode is an IDE designed by Apple specifically for creating applications for various Apple devices such as Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. It’s a popular choice among developers because it comes directly from Apple, the company behind these platforms, and it seamlessly integrates with the Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks.
App code- An alternative to Xcode is AppCode by JetBrains. This tool is marketed as an intelligent and intuitive IDE for iOS and macOS development. It provides convenient integration with XCTest, Quick, Kiwi, Catch, and Boost98.Test, and Google Test frameworks, making embedded testing a breeze.
Design
During ios application development, you collaborate with your team’s designers or create your own apps. You might utilize software like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD to obtain design ideas from designers.
Zeplin- To aid in this process, there is a handy tool called Zeplin that takes designs from your preferred design software and exports them to create various create ios app assets, design specifications, and code snippets. This allows developers to work with a finalized design while designers can still make adjustments in future updates. Zeplin greatly assists in generating assets, design specifications, and code snippets based on designs.
Dribbble- Although Dribble primarily focuses on design, it can still serve as a valuable resource for inspiration. You can explore numerous designs to gather ideas and stay up-to-date with the latest design trends. As an example, a popular trend called neumorphism emerged about a year ago on Dribbble.
Open source projects
You can use these open-source projects in your own applications to simplify the iOS development process.
Sourcery- Sourcery is a powerful tool that generates code for Swift ios programming language by leveraging Apple’s SwiftSyntax. With Sourcery, you can simplify your development process by automatically generating boilerplate code, saving you time and effort.
SwiftUIX- For developers working with Apple’s SwiftUI framework, SwiftUIX is a valuable library to consider. It enhances the functionality of SwiftUI by filling in the gaps and providing additional features. With hundreds of extensions and views, SwiftUIX allows you to easily create apps that align with Apple’s design principles and seamlessly integrate with the standard SwiftUI library.
Debugging- Debugging plays a crucial role in software development, allowing you to identify and resolve issues in your code. Whether it’s troubleshooting bugs, optimizing performance, or fixing user interface glitches, debugging tools are essential. These design tools streamline each step of the debugging process and contribute to an enhanced overall user experience for your application.
Apple Instruments Help
By integrating development tools early in the application development process, you can save time by identifying problems sooner. The following tools can help you:
FLEX- FLEX, short for Flipboard Explorer, provides debugging and exploration for iOS app development tools. When activated, FLEX displays a toolbar above your app, enabling you to view and modify various aspects of your running application.
Charles- Charles is an HTTP proxy, monitor, and reverse proxy that allows you to examine all the HTTP and SSL/HTTPS traffic between your computer and the Internet, including requests, responses, and HTTP headers containing cookies and caching details. To properly transmit and examine requests and responses, the simulator or actual device needs to be appropriately configured.
Documentation
By properly documenting your code, you’re setting up a valuable asset for your future. This documentation will benefit not just you but also your future colleagues, as it ensures easy comprehension even years down the line. To aid you in this endeavor, here are a few helpful ios app development tools specifically designed to assist you in creating excellent documentation.
Jazzy- jazzy – Its very name hints at its purpose: generating comprehensive documentation in a user-friendly manner. This handy command line utility is specifically tailored for Swift or Objective-C codebases. If you aim to have your source code documentation align with Apple’s official help documentation, then Jazzy is the ideal tool for you.
DocC- Apple introduced DocC, or documentation compiler, at their WWDC’21 event. DocC simplifies the process of creating documentation for your frameworks and Swift packages. With DocC, you’ll find it a breeze to generate well-structured and informative documentation.
User testing
Once you have finished working on your amazing application, it’s important to gather feedback and uncover any potential issues that might cause it to malfunction. Conducting user testing plays a vital role in this process, and there are two useful tools that can assist you.
Test flight- TestFlight by Apple makes it easier to invite users and gather their feedback for testing your app prior to its release on the App Store. You can invite a maximum of 10,000 testers via email or a given link. These testers can conveniently share their thoughts by taking a screenshot of the screen and promptly explaining any further details about the issues they come across.
TestFairy- TestFairy is a mobile testing platform that helps businesses streamline their app development process and deliver higher-quality apps in shorter development cycles. You can obtain the API from Fastlane to distribute your app. One notable feature of TestFairy is its ability to record videos, showcasing the actions performed by the user during testing as well as any issues that arose along the way.
Conclusion
Besides the tools discussed here, there are numerous additional ones available to simplify your life as a developer for Apple platforms. It’s vital to stay informed about the latest tools as technology progresses in order to stay competitive. Whether you’re engaged in app creation, streamlining the build process, or conducting user tests, being an app developer is an individual journey filled with excitement! If you’re ready to take your iOS app development to the next level, consider partnering with Wama Technology – a leading provider of innovative iOS app development services. Contact Wama Technology today and let their expertise and experience elevate your app development endeavors.
