No Experience to First iOS Job for Absolute Beginners

Welcome to the world of iOS development! This learning path is designed for absolute beginners who want to get your first iOS developer job. Don’t worry if you’ve never coded before – we’ll start from the very basics and guide you step by step.

If your main goal is to publish your first iOS app in the app store, you should follow this learning path instead.

Goals
  • Understand the basics of programming and Swift language.
  • Learn how to use Xcode and its interface builder.
  • Develop a solid foundation in SwiftUI for building iOS apps.
  • Build and deploy a simple iOS app on a real device.
  • Prepare a portfolio with at least one polished project.
  • Start applying for entry-level iOS developer jobs.
Prerequisites
  • A Mac computer (you need this to develop iOS apps)
  • Curiosity and willingness to learn
  • No previous coding experience required – we’ll teach you everything!
Basic Terminology

Before we dive in, let’s clarify some terms you’ll often hear in iOS development:

  1. iOS: The operating system that runs on iPhones and iPads (like Windows for PCs or Android for some smartphones).
  2. Swift: Apple’s programming language used to write iOS apps. It’s the “language” you use to tell the iPhone or iPad what to do.
  3. Xcode: A program made by Apple that you use to write Swift code and design your app’s look. Think of it as a super-advanced text editor made specifically for creating apps.
  4. UIKit: A collection of tools provided by Apple to help you build the user interface (what the user sees and interacts with) of your app. It’s like a toolbox full of buttons, text fields, and other elements you can use.
  5. SwiftUI: A newer way to build user interfaces, introduced by Apple in 2019. It’s simpler to use than UIKit but works only on newer versions of iOS.
  6. API: Stands for Application Programming Interface. Think of it as a menu of tasks that iOS can perform for you, like showing alerts or playing sounds.
  7. Simulator: A program that acts like an iPhone or iPad on your Mac, so you can test your app without a real device.
  8. App Store: Apple’s digital store where you can publish your apps for others to download.

Should You Learn SwiftUI or UIKit

This learning path focus on SwiftUI. Check your local job board to know what you need to get a job in your local job market

Learning Path

In the following, I will give you the moduls with topics that you should cover. I listed all major key learnings. You can use these as a guide to get a rough overview. Try to learn what each tool is and why and where it is used. I added resources to each section that can help you get started. There is a lot to learn, so dont get caught up in one area too long. As a beginner, try to focus on the basics.

1. Get Familiar with Xcode

Xcode is the main tool you’ll use to build iOS apps. In this module, you’ll install Xcode, explore its interface, and understand the basics of creating a new project. You’ll also learn how to use Swift Playground, a handy tool for testing code quickly. This foundation will help you navigate Xcode with confidence as you start developing apps.

  • Install Xcode from the Mac App Store.
  • Explore the Xcode interface: learn about the navigator, editor, inspector, and debugger areas.
  • Create a new Xcode project and understand the project structure.
  • Learn what Swift Playground is and how to use it for quick testing
 Resources:
learn xcode to make ios apps

2. Learn the Basics of Swift  

Understanding Swift is crucial because it’s the language you’ll use to build iOS apps. This module covers key concepts like variables, constants, and data types, which are fundamental for coding. You’ll also learn how to manage data with arrays and dictionaries, control how your code runs with loops and conditions, and structure your code with functions, classes, and enums. You don´t have to learn them all to full detail.

Start by going through each point to get an overview. Come back later in your iOS developer journey to deeping your understanding. Some of these topics are quite complex. Dont worry when you dont get them the first time:

  • Variables and constants (var and let).
  • stored and computed properties
  • Data types (Int, String, Double, Bool).
  • Arrays and Dictionaries
  • Control flow (if, switch, for-in loops, while).
  • Functions and closures.
  • Classes, structures, and enumerations.
  • Instance methods
  • Type methods (static methods)
  • Inheritance and polymorphism
  • Protocols and extensions
  • Optionals and unwrapping.
  • Naming conventions and best practices, why it is important to write readable code
 Resources:

3. Understand SwiftUI Basics

SwiftUI simplifies creating iOS app interfaces with a declarative approach. This module teaches you to use Views, Modifiers, and Layouts to design your app’s UI. You’ll learn to build layouts with VStack, HStack, and ZStack, handle user inputs, and apply basic animations. Start learning SwiftUI with the basic components to get a sense of it:

  • Learn about Views, Modifiers, and Layouts.
  • Understand the declarative syntax of SwiftUI.
  • Create simple UIs using VStack, HStack, and ZStack. Learn about alignement and spacing.
  • Know about background and overlay
  • Explore basic components: Text, Image, system icons, Color etc.
  • Handle user input with Button, Menu, Textfield, Toggle, Picker, Slider etc.
  • Learn about gestures and touch target size
  • Work with List, ScrollView, ForEach loops and other container views.
  • Show UI element conditionally with if-else and Ternary Operators
  • Simple animations and transitions
 Resources:

4. SwiftUI App Essentials

Learning SwiftUI App Essentials is important because it helps you build well-organized and interactive apps. You’ll understand how to manage your app’s flow and how to navigate between screens. Knowing how to handle app states and user input makes sure everything works smoothly. With these skills, you’ll be able to create a more user-friendly and functional app.

  • Be able to extract functions and subviews
  • Learn about iOS app lifecycle, Scenes and windows
  • Know when to use onAppear, onDisappear and task view modifier
  • MVVM design pattern
  • Practice data flow and state management with @State, @Binding, @ObservedObject, and @EnvironmentObject.
  • New Observation Feature (Optional)
  • Implement navigation using NavigationStack, NavigationSplitView, NavigationLink, and TabView. 
  • Place buttons in the toolbar.
  • Allow user to search with seachable
  • secondary navigation like alerts, sheets and popovers
 Resources:
snippet sample project for swiftdata

 5. Work with Data and Networking

Knowing how to work with data is key to building apps that do more than just display information. In this module, you’ll learn to save and manage data on the device using UserDefaults and files. You’ll also see how to get data from the internet and show it in your app. Understanding how to handle errors and load images online will make your app more reliable. Plus, you’ll explore databases like Core Data or SwiftData to store and organize your app’s data. These skills help you create apps that interact with data effectively and provide a better user experience.

  • Understand how to work with local data. File system and UserDefaults 
  • Codable Protocol
  • Learn to fetch data from an API using URLSession.
  • Parse JSON data and display it in your app.
  • Error Handling
  • Swift Concurrency
  • Load images from the web with AsyncImage
  • Work with a database lik Core Data. (or SwiftData which is newer)
  • Data modeling
 Resources:
swiftui demo project to store user data as json with Codable.

 6. Advanced SwiftUI 

Advanced SwiftUI skills help you make your app look and work great on any device. You’ll learn how to create flexible layouts that adjust to different screen sizes using spacers and padding. Customizing Lists and using components like Form and Grid will help you manage and display data effectively.

You’ll also discover how to handle special cases like safe areas and keyboard interactions to keep important content visible. These skills are crucial for making your app responsive and user-friendly.

  • Get to know the SwiftUI Layout System
  • Learn about the importance of responsive design
  • Spacers, padding, flexible frames, and GeometryReader. 
  • ViewThatFits, containerRelativeFrame
  • customize Lists:  add, move and delete items, swipe gestures and selection
  • Form, Grid and Table
  • LazyVStack, LazyHStack, LazyVGrid and LazyHGrid
  • safeAreaInsets
  • Button style, border shape and control size
  • Adjust your view when the keyboard shows so that it does not hide imporant content
 Resources:

7. HIGS and UX Design Basics

Understanding HIGS (Human Interface Guidelines) and UX (User Experience) basics is crucial for making your app easy and enjoyable to use. You’ll learn about touch target size to ensure buttons and controls are easy to tap. Readability and accessibility ensure your app is clear and usable for everyone.

Following Apple’s design guidelines and using standard components helps create a smooth, familiar experience for users. As a developer, focusing on good UX makes your app more intuitive and appealing.

  • touch target size
  • readability
  • accessebility
  • Apple design guidelines
  • use apple standard components for better user experience
  • you are a developer but you should always keep an eye on good UX practice
 Resources:

8. Version Control

Version control is essential for managing your code and collaborating with others. You’ll start by learning Git basics to track changes in your code. Understanding branching and merging helps you work on different features without affecting the main project.

Creating a GitHub account and using it to share your code with a README file makes it easy to collaborate and showcase your work. These skills are important for keeping your code organized and working effectively with others.

  • Learn Git basics
  • Understand branching, merging, and pull requests
  • Create a GitHub account 
  • Practice using GitHub (include a readme file to share you code with others)
 Resources:
  • Source Control With Xcode https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBn01m5Vbs4B1tAyGNkiXCQKQiO9SaFGp

9. Debugging & Testing Basics (Optional)

Debugging and testing help ensure your app works correctly. You’ll learn to use Xcode’s debugger to find and fix issues in your code. Understanding common errors and how to solve them will make troubleshooting easier. Knowing about Unit and UI tests will help you check that your code and user interfaces work as expected. These skills are important for building reliable and bug-free apps.

  • Use the Xcode debugger to troubleshoot issues.
  • Understand common errors and how to fix them.
  • Know what Unit and UI tests are
 Resources:

10. Build and Share Your First App

In this module, you’ll build a portfolio app to showcase your skills. Focus on applying UI/UX design principles to make your app visually appealing and user-friendly. Enhance your app with icons, splash screens, and other design elements to improve its look.

Deploying your app to the App Store (also optional) lets you share it with a wider audience. Document your development process and publish your project to GitHub to create a polished portfolio that highlights your abilities.

  • Build a Portfolio App
  • Focus on UI/UX design principles.
  • Add icons, splash screens, and improve the overall app aesthetics.
  • Learn about provisioning profiles and certificates.
  • Understand how to use TestFlight for beta testing (optional)
  • Deploy your app to the App Store (optional)
  • Build at least one polished project that showcases your skills.
  • Document your development process and decisions.
  • Publish your portfolio app to GitHub
 Resources:
  • iOS Dev Portfolio Showcase & Reviews https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8seg1JPkqgHJ1X3vOutG8Md7vPdUAWle&si=NGSm3xFzn06CJYXn

11. Prepare for the Job Market

To get ready for job opportunities, start by updating your resume with your new skills and projects. Practice answering common iOS interview questions to build confidence. Research the job market to understand what employers are looking for and identify any additional skills you might need. This preparation will help you stand out and be ready for your next career move.

  • Update your resume with your new skills and projects.
  • Practice common iOS interview questions.
  • Check the job market and idenitfy requirements. Learn what you missed so far

Each step should be followed by hands-on practice. Build small projects or parts of apps as you learn new concepts. Remember, the key to becoming a proficient developer is to write code, make mistakes, learn from them, and persist through challenges. Good luck on your journey to becoming an iOS developer!

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