How To Build an iOS App in 7 Easy Steps?

iOS accounts for 27.6% of the world’s total operating system market share. Talking about the US alone, this market share has increased to 56.8%, and we can observe that more than half of the smartphone user population in the US is using iPhones or other iOS-operated devices. 

Having noted that there is no need to further define the vastness of the iOS operating system. However, devices running on this operating system can only deliver the purpose with the support of some software and apps. These are called iOS apps. Considering the large pool o iOS users, developing apps for iOS devices has become a significant business idea. Be it entertainment, education, lifestyle, communication, social media, or gaming, everything is accessed with apps only, and being a part of this digital journey brings fortune to those who take steps. 

There are millions of iOS steps wandering the app market, creating tough competition for newcomers. In such a scenario, it becomes important that the new apps being developed are built on strong fundamentals and deliver the purpose for the user. 

This blog will talk about the complete lifecycle of an iOS app development project. Let’s get started- 

What Is iOS? – A Brief Introduction

Steps to Build an iOS Mobile App 

Step 1: Choose the Right Development Tools

There is a number of integrated development environments that can be used for developing the iOS mobile application. Some famous names in the segment are Xcode, Appcode, Atom, Sublime Text 3, CodeRunner 2, etc. While Xcode dominates the IDE segment of developing iOS applications, all other names also have their own core competencies. Here are some brief about alternatives of Xcode that can be used for iOS app development- 

• Appcode- A smart IDE for iOS and macOS development, providing fast execution. 
• Atom- designed and developed by GitHub, it provides a slick programming environment to develop iOS apps. 
• SublimeText 3- A functional, clean, and fast code editor with a multi-edit mode that provides an exclusive programming environment to develop software with innovative features.

Xcode

Xcode is the best IDE that can be used to develop apps and software for iOS devices. It is Apple’s integrated development environment that assists in developing software for different Apple’s platforms which include iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS. One of the core benefits of using Xcode is that it supports multiple languages including Swift, Objective-C, Objective- C++, C, C++, Python, Java, and much more. Other benefits of using Xcode are its user-friendly interface, excellent support for code completion, high-end application testing, built-in developer tool, customization, and much more. However, in order to develop an app with Xcode IDE, one has to download and install it first. Let’s understand the steps for the same. 

Steps to Download and Install Xcode :

1. First of all, download Xcode from Apple Developer Website by signing in with your iTunes account id. Type the version you prefer and download Xcode_x_x_x.xip. Once the download has been completed, click on .xip to extract it. If you are using multiple versions, rename the file to “Xcode11.x.x” and drag the application to application folder. Now open the terminal and type sudo xcode-select -switch /Applications/Xcodex.x.x.app.  Replace x.x.x with version number. 

2. Download the command line tool .dmg. Once it has been downloaded, open the file. It is going to look something like this. 

Double-click the box and now follow the prompts to install the CLT. it might take a few minutes to complete. 

3. Open the application folder and open the new version of Xcode. It may prompt you to install the additional components. Take a few minutes to install the additional components. Once the components have been installed, Xcode will launch. 

Step 2: Plan the App 

Having a basic vision clear about the app is a good idea. The software or tool we plan to develop must belong to a genre and have a particular purpose to deliver to the users. Similarly, the segment of the target audience should also be known before starting the app development as it helps take a lot of huge decisions during the process. A wireframe should be prepared that can work as the blueprint of the overall app development journey. This blueprint should carry all information about the target audience, the vision, and purpose of the app, the features it should consist, genre it will belong to, and much more. 

Step 3: Design the User Interface 

The user interface says a lot about the application as it is the first impression to the user. Here are some tips for designing the user interface for iOS apps- 

Content formatting- the content layout must fit the screen of any device. Users must be able to see primary content without zooming in, zooming out, or scrolling through the screen. 

• Touch controls– the UI elements should be easy to touch and natural to feel when the user is using the app. 
• Hit targets– the touch points for the different functions must be at least 44 points x 44 points so users can tap accurately.
• Text Size- the text on the user interface must be at least 11 points so it is read from a legible distance without zooming in. 
• Contrast– the contrast between text color and background should be suitable so users don’t have to focus in order to read the text. 
• Spacing– text overlapping must be avoided at any cost. Texts having not sufficient space or too much space might drag the user away. 
• High resolution– images being used on UI must be of high resolution and should not appear blurry to users. 
• Distortion– the images should be used in perfect ratio to enhance the look. 
• Alignment– the alignment of information such as text, images, and buttons should be aligned so that users can find out how the data is related to each other. 

Step 4: Code the App

Now comes the part of core development in Xcode which consists of the front-end and back-end development. For the same, the first requirement is creating a new project in Xcode. One can take the following steps to create a new project in Xcode- 

• Download Xcode and launch it on an Apple platform. 
• Select “Create a new Xcode project” in the welcome window, or navigate to File > New > Project. 
• Choose the template (iOS, macOS, watchOS, Cross-platform).
• Fill out the required information. 
• Select your preferred language and user interface (e.g. Swift and SwiftUI).
• Once you have selected the preferred language, you can navigate to file or folder from the code editor’s left panel. The right panel also called the Uility Area is going to help you deal with views or components in the storyboard. Other than that, the top toolbar consists of run and stop buttons. The bottom of code areas carries tools like debug/console area, breakpoint, and runtime tools. 
• Now open Main.storyboard in the project directory. It is a file that helps you layout all the components including buttons, labels, tabs, lists, navigation bars, and much more. 
• Select the device destination from the Xcode screen’s top left near Run/Stop button. Press Command ⌘ + R to run the app or click the run button, as it will initiate iOS simulator and run your app. For running the app on other real devices, connect the device to Mac via cable. The device will automatically be displayed in list of device destinations, select the device and press Command ⌘ + R. 

Step 5: Test the App 

Developing the app might not be sufficient as long as the application is not functioning properly. For the same, it is important to test the app. Here are some benefits of conducting the app testing before deploying it for the use of the target audience- 

• Better UI/UX- during the testing phase, developers use the app from an end user’s perspective. So they can quickly identify if the UI/UX of the application is working as per the expectation of end users. 
• Proper functioning– testing helps ensure that all the application functions are working without any glitches or bugs. Moreover, it also helps analyze the app’s performance under different load conditions and changing networks. 
• Cost saving- app testing might demand some bucks during the development process, but it saves a lot of costs once the application has been deployed. One doesn’t have to introduce updates and fix the bugs every time user faces the new one. 
• Enhance user experience- when the app has passed multiple tests in terms of performance, the chances of the app carrying any bugs reduces. So, the overall experience of users enhances.

There are different types of app testing that are performed to make sure that the software can operate efficiently and deliver its purpose in various circumstances. Some of the major testing which are conducted for approximately every other app are- 

Step 6: App Deployment on the App Store 

Once the app has passed several testing phases and the performance of the app is satisfactory to developers, owners, and testers, the very next step is to deploy the application on Apple App Store. It helps make the application available to the target audience. Let’s understand the complete landscape of deploying applications on the app store. 

Best App Store Alternatives For iOS Users in 2023

Requirements for Submitting an App to The App Store 

• Create a developer account and access the app store connect. Getting a developer account is necessary to deploy the app. It costs $99 a year to get the account. Having created the account, you can access App Store Connect. 
• Now you fill in the product page, which carries information about the platform, name, primary language, bundle ID, SKU, and User Access of your app. 

• Set Roles, Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles. For the same, developers need permission to create certificates and provisioning profiles. After getting the necessary permission, developers can now sign their app and specify the identifier along with the app’s capabilities in the certificates, identifiers & profile section. 
• Now, the developer will assemble the app’s build and upload it. To do the same, Open your app in Xcode, enter in Signing and Capabilities section, select the right account, proceed to the General section, and set the build’s version to upload. Set your app version to 1.0.0 if you are publishing a new app, or increment the build version if you are publishing an update.
• Once you have entered all the required information, proceed to the “Product” menu and select “Archive” to package your app. After the packaging process is complete, the “Archives” window will appear, where you can manage all the archives created by Xcode. Next, click on the “Distribute App” button and upload your build to App Store Connect. Xcode will automatically generate all the necessary certificates and notify you if any errors occur.
• Having performed the above tasks, fill in the version information such as uploading the screenshots, app previews, promotional text, description, keywords, marketing URL, icons, etc. 
• Choose the release date for your app, set the age rating, and submit your app for the review. 

How To Submit An App To App Store

Step 7: Promoting the App 

Apple App Store is flooded with thousands of apps every now and then. So, uploading an app and attracting a vast audience base is not that easy. For the same, promotional activities for the app plays a core role in bringing the application to users’ attention. Marketing strategies help inform the audience about the availability and capabilities of the app. Some of the best promotional strategies that can be used post-deployment are- 

• Customer research 
• Influencer marketing 
• Using the existing website to promote the app 
• Email marketing 
• Teaser video 
• Consider alternative app store 
• Applying for the awards 
• SEO tactics 
• Promote on right social media platforms 
• Create eye-catching icons 
• App store optimization 
• Build an excellent landing page 
• Social media marketing 
• Featuring on mobile app review sites 

Tools Required to Build an iOS

There are a number of tools and technologies that makes iOS app development even sleeker and more advanced. The tools are- 

Tips for Building a Successful iOS App

While coding and everything can help you develop the app, users must remain at the center during the overall development process. So, here are some tips that will help ensure the app you are developing meets the user’s expectations and requirements. 

1. Keep It Simple and User-Friendly

While we don’t suggest you to compromise with features in your app, one thing that you must ensure is to keep the app simple and user-friendly. Don’t complicate things by overlapping the components. Instead, keep it more spacious and easy for the target audience. 

2. Focus on User Experience 

Make sure the end user enjoys using the app. For the same, perform testing multiple times so there are no bugs left in the application, which can spoil the user experience. Moreover, every feature and functionality should be running seamlessly in the app. 

3. Stay Up-To-Date with The Latest Technology 

In the competitive landscape, the best method to achieve competitive advantages is syncing steps with everchanging trends. Make sure you are providing the latest features and updates in your app so your target audience doesn’t have to look for a substitute. 

4. Market the App Effectively 

As we learned in the previous section, telling your audience about your app is crucial to bring them in the fence. Market the app efficiently via different mediums. Highlight your app’s features and functionalities and how it benefits the target audience.

How Can Emizentech Help You? 

Being a leading app development company, Emizentech has achieved several milestone in IT landscape. We carry an experience of more than a decade in this niche with a team of more than 200 innovative and experienced developers. In this journey, we have delivered ample number of successful iOS apps to our client, helping them take a digital turn. Moreover, our experience in the industry has allowed us to confront various challenges that comes in path and thus we know the mitigations as well. We have explored the areas where one can save the cost without compromising with the features and functionalities of the app. 

Moreover, at Emizentech, you get everything under one roof. So, be it iOS, android, eCommerce, mobile app, website or any tech stack, you need not to look any further.

Conclusion  

Apple App Store is the second biggest app market after Google Play Store. With a huge market share in the smartphone market, iOS devices are ruling the gadget market in terms of preferences. Developing the apps and software for these devices has emerged as one of the best digital business ideas, bringing fortune to the one who comes up with innovative ideas and serves them to the users. However, developing a successful app is not that easy as many things are needed to consider. So, ensuring certain things during the project lifecycle helps bring the best outcomes. 

Answers to Common Questions About Building iOS Apps