Ok, you’ve got a great idea for an iPhone or an iPad app. But, you’re clueless when it comes to turning your vision into a clickable app solution that people will love using.
The world of iOS development is quite daunting even for experienced developers. What with new features added every day and a whole set of guidelines and reviews, it can feel overwhelming.
This post aims to make it a bit less intimidating. So, if you want to turn the idea in your head into a working app, keep on reading.
Here are some expert tips from developers at a leading iPhone app development company to point you in the right direction.
Tip 1: It All Starts with an Apple ID
To upload your completed iPhone app to the Apple store, you require an Apple ID. This ID is what you use to sign your code with. This sign helps to identify the coder and developer of an app.
An Apple ID is free, but you need to pay a small annual fee (of around $100) to host your app on the iStore. Using a single Apple ID, you can add any number of apps to the Apple Store, provided you meet Apple’s Terms of Service.
It’s best to get this step sorted out before you begin the application development process. This way you can quickly upload your completed app to the store once it’s done.
Tip 2: Download the SDK (Software Development Kit)
Apple provides a free SDK. Consider the SDK as the dashboard for your app development. It contains all that you need to design, develop and launch an iPhone app. Some of the components of the SDK include simulators for testing, interface builders, performance analyzers, and the complete documentation of the reference libraries.
Tip 3: Make Use of Apple’s Official Starting Guide
Apple provides developers with a guide that helps them on each step of the app development journey. It has clear instructions, tutorials on everything a novice developer needs. There are extensive guides that right from setting up the Xcode, to creating a structure for the app, implementation and even submitting guidelines and help, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Tip 4: Check Out Development Videos from Apple
The company should encourage its new an iPhone application developers to make the most of videos from Apple. They serve as a great starting point to learn about industry tricks and to acquaint yourself with the toolset; you’ll be working with.
Tip 5: Acquaint yourself with Swift
This is a new programming language from Apple, exclusively developed for iOS. While you can build iPhone apps in several other languages, Apple states that Swift is easier to work with, especially for newbies.
Swift is similar to Objective C and works in conjunction with it. While it’s not necessary to master Swift, understanding the basics will give you a jump start.
Tip 6: Get the Layout Right
Ultimately, the success of your app depends on how user-friendly it is. Ensure that you get the layout right by following these three design principles.
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Clarity: Text must be large enough and fit the screen of all mobile devices. Font size and color too play a vital role.
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Deference: Your layout must be intuitive and fluid. Keep the design clean and clutter-free.
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Depth: As your users navigate through your app, they must be able to drill into it for detailed content.
Make use of an emulator to test your layout before you finalize it.
Tip 7: Be Aware of iStore Guidelines
Apple has an extensive guideline set that is incredibly specific. This explains what types of apps are allowed in the iStore and what types of apps aren’t allowed. iPhone application development companies should treat this like their bible. Before, you even begin building an app; it pays to spend some time understanding these rules and guidelines. If not, you could end up wasting your time on an app that will not be approved by Apple.
Tip 8: Don’t Forget Design Guidelines
Apart from the review guidelines, Apple has another set of instructions for app design. Apple wants to ensure that all the app in their store, have some form of consistency. This doesn’t mean all apps have to follow the same design structure. But, instead, Apple wants to verify that all apps have the essential UI elements.
To understand this, click here to check out Apple’s Interface Guidelines. It helps iPhone application development companies get an idea of the do’s and don’ts for designing an iPhone app.
Tip 9: Use Libraries, Frameworks, and Tools to Save Development Time
There are plenty of tools, libraries, and frameworks that help you save time. Instead of coding from scratch you can integrate these for common functionalities. Some of the popular ones include iUI, Dashcode, iWebKit, etc. Additionally, Apple provides specific kits like HealthKit, HomeKit, etc. to help with the development process.
Tip 10: Test, Test and Test
Before you can launch your app, you must ensure that you have tested it thoroughly to catch any bugs and other usability issues. An easy way to test your iPhone app is to use a simulator. Additionally, ensure that you verify the app the good old way – manually.
While the tips mentioned above will help you get started, no single article can give you all that you need. With that said, you should keep reading and continue learning.
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