It has always been an issue to look for different tools and components to build an iOS application for your business. However, for the very first time, you can now develop an entire multi-platform application using SwiftUI. Yes, you heard it correctly. With XCode 12+ versions, building an application for iPhone users becomes pretty easy with minimal code replacement. All you need is an experienced and highly professional iPhone app development company that knows its way to work with iOS 14 techniques and SwiftUI resources.
This guide will help you create an app from scratch, keeping in mind new techniques used in iOS 14. Here you will learn about the Sidebar and Tab bar navigation design and patterns that work well with all the platforms and help you adjust for any type of content. The article also mentions the fundamental requirements you need to build an iOS app.
Why Swift UI?
SwiftUI needs no introduction. It helps you design tremendous applications for all the Apple devices, be it iPhone, iPad, macOS, or WatchOS. With the strength of Swift, you can present an enhanced user experience in code as little as possible. Swift UI will also convert the fonts, structure, navigation, and user controls with minimal coding according to the respective platforms you are running your app on. For instance, the Sidebar will appear different yet appropriate on the iPad versus the iPhone although when you use the exact code for both devices.
Requirements for this project
To develop an app for iOS 14, you need:
- A Mac device with Catalina and XCode 12 (or higher versions)
- In-depth knowledge about SwiftUI basics
- Hands-on HTML, CSS, or any other coding equivalent
- Upgraded OS Big Sur operating system (for macOS using SwiftUI)
Lazy Grid Layout
Lazy Grid is one of the most significant upgrades in SwiftUI. It helps make your design layout entirely adaptive to every screen size, irrespective of the Apple device. Moreover, it will lazy load (delaying loading for improved performance) the content for performance enhancement. You can spread lazy grids either vertically or horizontally, and these can be both adjustable and flexible (something like auto-fit in CSS Grid).
Matched Geometry Effect
This technique helps you design beautiful transitions between two outstanding views. Shared elements will enliven and evolve smoothly from one screen to another. It assists you in organizing animations much more quickly and enables you to develop magnificent application experiences without adding complications.
Sidebar
Making navigation in your application has become easier using sidebars on iOS devices. Sidebars help in maximizing the use of the overall space of the app’s screen. It will be helpful for the applications with profound, multi-level content as you can create supplementary menus for your users to navigate and interact with the application.
Widgets
So what do the widgets do in your iOS app? Well, they are like the interior designers of your iOS application that assist and allow you to put interactive and exciting elements on your users’ apps’ home screens if they choose. The implementation of a widget in SwiftUI is pretty simple, and you can split resources for it. In addition, there are three formats to choose from: small, medium, and large, and you have an option to update the content based on the time of the day.
Install Xcode 12
For Big Sur, Xcode came up with significant changes to its visual editing toolbar and tools such as the Inspector and Preview. The pre-built documentation for SwiftUI has also been enhanced notably.
Install SF Symbols
This year, Apple has introduced SF Symbols 2, packed with thousand more icons and several multi-colour icons. All these icons are open and free to use for all Apple’s platforms.
Download SF Fonts
Since you are designing for iOS, you need to download SF Fonts from Apple’s official portals. There are four types of fonts you can have:
- SF Pro for tvOS, iOS and iPadOS
- SF Compact for watchOS
- SF Mono for code highlighting. However, it is an optional font
- New York for a Serif typeface
Wrapping Up
And that’s it! With all the requirements and tools mentioned above, you are all set to design a top-class iOS application that would be both interactive and powerful. However, these are just the must-haves for your iOS app. They still need an expert to use and place them correctly to form a complete working application. Therefore, you need to hire a well-experienced iOS or iPhone app development agency to work on your project and develop a stunning application as per your requirements.