
29 Apr 9 BEST IOS APP development practices in 2023
There are best, most suited practices that one must adopt in order to be successful in the development of an ios application. As developers progress and work on various different apps, they begin to identify the tricks to make their work impeccable. However, this is wisdom that comes with years of practice or good advice!
Some people learn by observing other people’s shortcomings while others need to make their own mistakes. In both cases, it is best to keep work practices you must keep in mind before you embark on the journey of designing a brand new iOS app. Based on our knowledge and experience, we offer you an overview of the most effective practices to incorporate for an IOS app development.
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9 best IOS/Swift app development practices:
1. Research
Research is crucial before beginning to work on an app. As tempted as you may be to start writing the code immediately, it is essential to slow down and do your research. Developing an app is a complex and lengthy chore and it is important that the developer fully understands every phase. They must be familiar with the latest tools, techniques, and new developments in the app market. Researching the app market and especially studying the type of app you aim to build will open avenues for improvement. If you have thoroughly researched every phase of app development, you are likely to have a clearer vision and a better grasp of the development process. It will save you time while you are developing the app while eliminating disruptions in the progress. As a developer, you must bear in mind that you must research every aspect of the process, from the very beginning until it lands in the hands of your user.
2. Plan of action
It is important to develop an effective plan of action that guides you through the process of app development swiftly. To achieve a coherent plan of action, one must document the processes from the very beginning until the end. Once the entire process is documented and a plan of action is clearly identified, it is easy to assess each phase in greater depth and look out for any aspects that you may have overlooked. Documentation also allows you to segment your app in different phases, eventually allowing you to develop a timeline for your targets.
3. App store criteria
Before you begin the development process, it is important to understand the criteria your app must meet in order for it to be approved by the App Store. The developer must be fully aware of the guidelines provided by the App Store, especially for apps like yours. App Store offers guidelines pertinent to design, business, performance, safety, and legal issues. Developers often become so focused on the mobile app development phase that they often forget that publishing and distributing the app is an equally challenging task. In order to avoid revisiting your code over and over to make changes to fit the preset criteria for iOS apps, it is best that carefully read and incorporate the guidelines from the very beginning. This will not only make distributing your app to users easier but also will save you a lot of time. Think of it like knowing the traffic rules before setting out on a road trip.
4. Security
Security is a significant consideration when you design and develop an app. Apps, like all other software, are vulnerable to a number of cybercrimes. It is crucial to focus on the app’s cache, logging process, authorization and authentication processes, data storage and management, encryption layers, etc. An app that has been designed weakly, without taking into consideration the necessary measures for security is more prone to viruses and serves as a gateway for data theft, fraud, hacking the user device, etc. Security measures are pivotal for apps that serve as a platform for monetary transactions. In order to avoid any major mishap and legal troubles, it is important that you employ all necessary safety measures beforehand.
5. Design
Aim for an impressive design but while you are at it, remember, less is more! It is important to not get too excited and overdo any aspect of your app’s design. Going minimalistic will make your design appear neat and attractive. However, it is important to ensure that your design also makes your UI friendly and easy to navigate. In order to help aspiring app developers design the perfect app, Apple offers Human Interface Guidelines. It navigates developers through the process by explaining various dos and don’ts of the app design.
6. Accessibility
Making your app accessible to a wide range of users is a great way to impress. Greater accessibility allows developers to cater to users that may be differently abled. According to the Human Interface Guidelines provided by Apple, the accessibility of an app can be understood in two categories; Simplicity: It is the straightforwardness of the user interface of an app, that allows users to interact with the app in a familiar and easy manner. Permeability: It is the opportunity to access the app based on your preference, for instance, seeing text to read or simply listening to it, touch inputs, voice commands, etc. This allows users to simplify a task within the app according to their ease and comfort.
7. Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) version of your app means to launch your app on the App store with all of its basic features incorporated and fully functional. This is an effective method to launch an app in minimum resources, focusing mainly on the core objective of the app. It allows you to gain user feedback and record responses regarding the UI and UX of your app. You can carefully spend your resources and incorporate advanced features over time, based on user feedback. Working towards achieving the MVP version of your app can be an effective way to develop an app that performs its basic tasks efficiently, instead of designing an app that has a lot of cool features but with a lot of bugs! You will always have the time to make it better but you must start with the MVP and allow your users to navigate further progress. UI UX consultants can leverage the feedback of users and it plays a vital role in the app’s success.
8. Compatibility
Compatibility helps ensure that an app is compatible with various versions of iOS technology. Most apps are built to suit the latest, most advanced gadgets, however, it may limit the number of users that can access it. Backward compatibility allows apps to work well with not only the latest but also the older versions of iOS devices.
However, as a developer, you must understand that it may limit the number of advanced features you can incorporate into your app. Some of the advanced features include New Dark Mode, Apple ID logging, Augmented Reality, Voice commands, etc. Considering all of the latest features you can incorporate in your app and your desire to make it as contemporary as possible, you will need to assess the lengths you are willing to go to achieve backward compatibility. Backward compatibility may offer you a broader user base while also risking your app coming off as outdated to tech nerds. This is a decision you must align with the main objective of your app, carefully examining the pros and cons of backward compatibility pertinent to your app!
9. Xcode
Xcode provides a facilitating environment for developing iOS apps. It is a platform offered by Apple, therefore, most developers benefit from it to build a native iOS app. It is free of cost and comes with comprehensive documentation. It offers a number of advantages, such as an intuitive UI, 360’ navigation, quality assurance, bug-fixing, etc, and can be easily aligned with GitHub for team correspondence and control.
Concluding Note
The app market is constantly evolving and great developers must stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in their field. They must know how to incorporate the latest technological tools to assist them in the process of mobile application development. However, the general best practices remain constant, for instance, research, security, design, accessibility, etc. While you can always make your own mistakes and learn in the process, it is always wiser to take a closer look at the practices of the best developers and learn from them. Advice offered by experts regarding the best practices for developing a great iOS app serves as a guiding light to utilize your time, energy, and resources in the most mindful manner.