iOS Developers are constantly learning, growing, and changing as they work in an ever-evolving industry. With new technologies and devices coming out every year, there’s no way to predict the exact skill sets needed in 5 years. However, it’s still essential to have an idea of where iOS Development is heading so you can prepare accordingly.

Many are looking to iOS App Development Company to build mobile apps. You should be in high demand if you’re already an experienced iOS developer. What kinds of new skills will iOS developers need to learn?

To help you prepare for the future, here are the top 8 skills that iOS developers should focus on developing today.

1) Using SwiftUI along with UIKit

UIKit is still supported, but SwiftUI is now Apple’s recommended way of building out UIs. This means that as a developer, you’ll be responsible for understanding how both of these technologies work so that you can build highly functional and polished apps using them. 

The good news is that they are not difficult to learn and use together, especially since Xcode will handle translating your code between UIKit and SwiftUI when necessary. Just make sure you practice extensively with both before trying your hand at creating large-scale apps or games.

2) App Architecture

Understanding and implementing app architecture is a significant undertaking for any developer. Still, to stay relevant in a fast-moving market, you must remain up-to-date with mobile app development trends. In late 2018, Google released Flutter, an open-source multi-platform mobile application framework. 

Building native apps with Flutter requires less code than traditional Android and iOS programming—and it also offers more flexibility since apps can be built entirely with Dart or just use its View layer (aka Fuchsia).

It’s an exciting new tool that many developers are currently working through; if you learn how to implement app architecture now, there’s a good chance you’ll still be ahead of most developers five years from now.

3) Design Guidelines

Design guidelines establish a standard style among apps and help you develop one your users will immediately recognize as yours. Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines are probably the most well-known example, but Google has its own style rules for Android. 

Keeping up with these protocols will not only make it easier for users to understand how your app works but can also help other designers use your code as a starting point for their projects. Make sure you stay current on best practices so that any designer can find a current path toward implementing new features or overhauling an interface from scratch.

4) Core Data

Core Data is a framework that allows an app developer to store data persistently without dealing with SQLite directly. Core Data is a way of abstracting away most of what you need to know about saving your objects, which means less code and better performance. 

It also features several ready-made object subclasses that provide an easy way of storing some common object types (i.e., NSDate and NSURL). If you’re doing mobile development, you can’t go wrong by picking up a good understanding of Core Data early and keeping it close at hand.

5) Networking

Get out there and meet people! Getting a job as an iOS developer may seem challenging, but it’s much easier if you already have some experience and contacts. Nearly two-thirds of entry-level developers found their current position through networking. 

Networking doesn’t always require formalizing relationships; networking also happens online. The more people who know your name and face, the better your chances of getting noticed when there’s an opening. Remember that reaching out is okay, too; don’t be afraid to reach out to software development leaders and ask for advice about how you can improve or for tips about places where new talent is needed.

6) User Interface Development

The user interface is still as crucial as when first created. Allowing a user to interact with your application or program has never been more critical. User Interface Development will be one of the most sought-after skillsets in 2022. If you aren’t already, you should consider becoming a User Interface Developer or hiring someone with experience.

7) Security Measures

As we continue through 2022, we must focus on security measures for Apple apps and services. After all, with our reliance on mobile devices and cellular internet connections, there are more opportunities for security breaches than ever before. Keeping apps secure requires constant attention. 

Mobile developers should keep up with news from Apple about potential vulnerabilities and take advantage of code libraries designed to thwart malicious intent (such as OpenSSL). Further, app developers should keep a close eye on data being used or shared within their apps; be careful when creating new features or accepting user input—these seemingly simple steps often cause security breaches. 

With cyber-crime at an all-time high, we must work together as an industry to protect users and their information.

8) Interoperability with Other Platforms

Apple’s iPhone has come a long way since its introduction 10 years ago, but it’s still worth remembering that your company might need apps for both Android and iPhone. To make sure your development is future-proof, learn how to create applications with cross-platform capabilities. 

Even if you have no intention of doing so now, knowing about these frameworks will give you an advantage when it comes time to hire or even consider changing strategies down the road. You may also discover that you’re missing out on potential customers who are looking for platforms other than Apple’s.

Become an iOS Developer in 8 Easy Steps!

Have you ever thought about becoming an iOS developer? There are many reasons why this might be the case, but one thing that can’t be denied is that iOS development has become incredibly popular. It seems like everyone wants to get into developing apps, so if you’re thinking about getting into iOS development, it’s essential to figure out how to get started in the right way. To help with this, you can follow eight easy steps to learn how to become an iOS developer!

Step 1) Get the Right Mindset

Unless you’re planning on working for a firm that gives you the freedom to develop as much or as little as you want, you’ll have to do some independent studying. You should always be learning, but your education will take on a more rigid structure when it’s part of your day job. 

If you’re new at the game or feeling incredibly rusty, online courses from sources like Treehouse or Lynda are great ways to keep your skills sharp without taking too much time away from work (which can affect how you get paid). For example, web developers can go through certification programs for the different languages they use and designers can make their portfolios a point of pride. This won’t hurt—and might help—your chances at promotion down the line.

Step 2) Learn Swift Language

Swift is a new programming language Apple made for iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS app development. Swift is a complete replacement for Objective-C and has one of the most flexible typing systems of any programming language. It’s built by Apple, runs on Apple hardware, and is completely free to use for any developer. 

If you want to get started with Swift, check out Swift 4 from Apple. This guide will help you learn how to program in Swift step-by-step starting with learning about Variables all of the way up to Classes and Generics, becoming familiar with each part of it as we go along.

Step 3) Learn Xcode

Xcode is free, but you’ll need a Mac. If you don’t have one already, pick up any of Apple’s MacBooks, and you’ll be all set. Xcode is one of those programs that pretty much has no end-user interface. Developers most often use it to write code, compile it, and then test it on an iPhone or iPad device. Start with Xcode first because that’s where you’ll spend most of your time as a new iOS developer. For example, if you want to learn how to build apps for mobile devices, start with Xcode and make sure it works on your Mac before worrying about anything else.

Step 4) Get Familiar with Cocoa and Cocoa Touch Frameworks

Familiarize yourself with Cocoa and Cocoa Touch, two frameworks that control most of what you see on your iPhone or iPad screen. Apple uses these frameworks to build its mobile operating system, so it’s essential to be familiar with them if you want to create apps for iPhones and iPads. 

Reading up on this framework is also helpful because it’ll provide insight into how Apple designs its products and software. It’ll get you thinking about user interface design and application design—two concepts integral parts of creating a successful app.

Step 5) Start Building Apps

There are many reasons why you should start building apps today. Firstly, Apple is developing its operating systems rapidly, pushing developers to be one step ahead of their competitors. Secondly, there’s no better time than now for independent developers to make it big with app development. 

In fact, according to Forbes Magazine, independent developers are making more money than ever before on App Store. Thirdly—and perhaps most importantly—app development skills will only become more in demand over time as mobile technology becomes more and more prominent across all aspects of our lives.

Step 6) Study for a Certificate

It’s tempting to skip study time, but it’s worth it if you want a career as a developer. In addition to knowing general coding skills, there are several specific mobile development skills that employers look for when hiring new developers. 

Certificates will help you develop those additional skills and show potential employers that you have a strong foundation in mobile app development. The most popular certificate programs are from Apple and IBM, but Google also offers a certification for Android app developers.

Step 7) Get Help From The Community

Before you start, it’s essential to learn everything you can about programming. The internet is full of great forums, tutorials, and communities where aspiring developers can go for help with any questions or concerns they have about starting. 

Reddit and Stack Overflow are excellent resources for asking (and answering) technical questions. Google’s documentation page on Android development is also a valuable resource for beginners because it gives straightforward examples of making apps using coding languages like Java and XML.

Step 8) Market Yourself

One of the biggest mistakes as a newbie developer is believing that your skill set will automatically be recognized. This just isn’t true. Most companies that hire developers don’t have time to work through resumes or applications, so your marketing efforts will likely be more valuable than your programming chops.

App developers are programmers, marketers, and salespeople. They have to promote their apps and entice users to buy them. To compete, you must be original and develop a catchy name for your app idea.

Conclusion

Mobile technology is developing at a rapid pace. What were once considered vital skills are now quickly becoming obsolete? Fortunately, more than enough lucrative opportunities are available for developers who know how to move fast and avoid falling behind. By focusing on what’s important today while keeping an eye out for promising new trends, you can ensure your career as an iOS developer stays strong far into the future.

Contact iPhone App Development Company and get new feature lists, announcements, and launch dates. If you think you should hire an iPhone App Development Company, they will give you a complete preview and update regarding how iOS app development is changing daily. They will help you make your applications faster and more user-friendly. Contact them today! Enjoy iOS technology!