Want to create the next big iPhone app and publish it on the Apple App Store? With over 1.8 million iOS apps in the App Store, the market for great apps is huge.
Whether you’re an experienced developer or a complete newbie, this guide will take you through the process of how to make an iOS app from start to finish.
The iOS App Development Landscape
Before we get into the meat of iOS app development we need to understand the landscape.
The App Store and iOS
The App Store is a crowded marketplace but it’s also a huge opportunity for developers. With millions of users across all Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV your iOS app can reach a massive audience.
To ensure your app stands out among nearly 2 million apps in the iOS App Store, it is crucial to have a structured marketing plan before the app’s launch and employ various strategies to enhance its discoverability.
iOS Tools and Resources
To start developing iOS apps, you’ll need to get to know the essential tools and environments required:
- iOS SDK (Software Development Kit): This is the base of iOS development, the tools and interfaces.
- Xcode: Apple’s integrated development environment (IDE) for building iOS apps.
- Swift or Objective-C: The programming languages for iOS development.
Planning and Research
Planning and research are crucial stages in the development of a successful iOS app. Before diving into the development process, it’s essential to validate your idea, conduct market research, and create a solid plan for your app.
How to Make an iOS App
Step 1: App Idea
Every app starts with a great iOS app idea, and it’s crucial to validate and refine your concept before proceeding. Consider:
- What problem will your app solve
- Research existing apps in the same space
- Who is your target audience
- What will make your app unique
Validate Your Idea
Validating your idea is the first step in the planning process. This involves researching your target audience, analyzing your competition, and determining the feasibility of your app. You can use tools like SensorTower, Apptopia, and Appfigures to gather data on your competitors and identify gaps in the market.
To validate your idea, ask yourself the following questions:
- What problem does my app solve?
- Who is my target audience?
- What are the key features of my app?
- How will I monetize my app?
- What is the unique value proposition of my app?
By answering these questions, you can determine whether your app idea is viable and worth pursuing.
Design and Prototyping
Design and prototyping are critical stages in the development of an iOS app. A well-designed app can make a significant difference in user engagement and retention.
Create a Wireframe and Mockup of Your App
Creating a wireframe and mockup of your app is an essential step in the design process. A wireframe is a low-fidelity sketch of your app’s layout and user interface, while a mockup is a high-fidelity visual representation of your app.
You can use tools like Sketch, Figma, and Justinmind to create wireframes and mockups of your app. These tools allow you to create interactive prototypes that can be tested with real users.
When creating a wireframe and mockup of your app, consider the following:
- User flow: How will users navigate through your app?
- User interface: What will the layout and design of your app look like?
- Features: What features will you include in your app?
- Branding: How will you incorporate your brand’s identity into your app?
By creating a wireframe and mockup of your app, you can test your idea with real users and gather feedback before investing in development.
Step 2: Learn the Basics
If you’re new to becoming an iOS developer, start by understanding the essentials:
- Downloading Xcode onto your Mac
- Learning Swift or Objective-C
- Getting to know the iOS SDK and development tools
There are many online resources, tutorials, and courses to learn iOS development from scratch.
Step 3: App Architecture
Before you write any code plan out your app’s structure:
- Create wireframes and mockups of your UI
- Design your data model
- Plan the navigation flow
Step 4: Get Set Up
To develop iOS apps:
- Download Xcode from the Mac App Store
- Create an Apple ID if you don’t have one
- Sign up for the Apple Developer Program (required to submit to the App Store)
Step 5: Build Your App
Now let’s get started to build iOS apps using various development tools and methodologies:
- Open Xcode and create a new project
- Choose a template
- Start building your app’s features using Swift or Objective-C
- Test your app on the iOS Simulator
Advanced iOS Development Techniques
In-App Purchases
In-app purchases can be a great way to monetize your iOS app. Learn how to add them to your app’s UI.
Universal Apps
Design your app to work on multiple iOS devices, iPhone, iPad and even Apple TV apps. That’s more users.
iOS Features
Use iOS features like:
- Face ID / Touch ID for authentication
- ARKit for AR experiences
- HealthKit for health and fitness apps
Testing and Debugging
iOS Simulator
The iOS Simulator, included with Xcode, lets you test your app on multiple virtual iOS devices without the hardware.
TestFlight
Before you launch use TestFlight to distribute beta versions of your app to testers for feedback and bug reports.
Xcode Debugging Tools
Get to know Xcode’s debugging tools to debug your code quickly.
Submitting to the App Store
App Store Optimization (ASO)
Optimize your app’s metadata, title, description and keywords to get more visibility in the App Store.
App Landing Page
Create an app landing page to show off your app’s features and get downloads.
Required Assets
Gather all your App Store assets:
- App icon in different sizes
- Screenshots for different devices
- App preview video (optional but recommended)
Prepare Your App for Launch
Preparing your app for launch involves several steps, including testing, optimization, and submission to the App Store.
To prepare your app for launch, consider the following:
- Testing: Test your app thoroughly to ensure that it is stable and free of bugs.
- Optimization: Optimize your app’s performance and battery life to ensure that it runs smoothly on a variety of devices.
- Submission: Submit your app to the App Store and ensure that it meets Apple’s guidelines and review process.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your app is ready for launch and set yourself up for success in the App Store.
Submit to the App Store
App Store Review Guidelines
Read Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines to make sure your app meets all the requirements.
Submit for Review
Use App Store Connect to submit your app for review. Be prepared for feedback or changes from the review team.
Respond to User Feedback
Once your app is live, monitor and respond to reviews and ratings. This is key to your app’s success and future updates.
Other Ways to Develop iOS Apps
No-Code App Builders
If you don’t know how to code, no-code app builders are a way to create and personalize your own iOS apps effortlessly without writing code. While they have limitations, they can be a good starting point for simple apps.
App Templates
App templates can speed up your development process by providing a basic structure that allows you to create your own apps, emphasizing the importance of personalized applications tailored to specific user or market needs.
Updating Your iOS App
Regular Updates and Bug Fixes
Plan for regular updates to keep your iOS mobile app relevant and fix bugs.
App Performance
Use analytics to monitor your app’s performance and user engagement.
Done!
Building an iOS app is a fun journey that takes time, creativity and continuous learning.
Follow this guide and the many resources available to iOS developers and you’ll be on your way to bringing your app to life and becoming one of the many successful app creators in the App Store.
It’s not over after you launch. Successful apps need ongoing maintenance, updates and user feedback. Keep at it and you might just have a hit in your hands in the iOS app world.
