The iOS Weekly Brief – Issue #7
Learn how to optimize SwiftUI performance, structure your Xcode setups, and review your code with AI.
🆕 What’s New
Apple’s May Developer Update: A Pre-WWDC Treat
Apple’s May 2025 Developer Update is a treasure trove for developers gearing up for WWDC. The new Develop in Swift tutorials on integrating machine learning into apps are enlightening. Coupled with updates to the Human Interface Guidelines, especially in layout and accessibility, it’s a timely resource to refine app designs before the big event.
📚 Must Read
Controlling Access Within a Swift Package
While working on a modular Swift package, I encountered the need to share code between targets without exposing it publicly. The introduction of the package access modifier in Swift 5.9 was a game-changer. It allowed me to maintain encapsulation while facilitating internal sharing. This article provides a clear explanation and practical examples that help you implement it effectively.
Choosing between LazyVStack, List, and VStack in SwiftUI
In a recent project, I faced performance issues due to improper use of stack views. Donny Wals’ breakdown of VStack, LazyVStack, and List clarified the distinctions and optimal use cases. You must read it if you want to improve an app’s performance.
Formatting data inside SwiftUI Text views
Displaying formatted data like dates and measurements in SwiftUI can be tricky. Natalia Panferova’s guide on using FormatStyle within Text views was instrumental in enhancing the readability and localization of the app’s content.
Creating and managing multiple app environments in Xcode
If you’re juggling multiple app environments like development, staging, and production, setting up distinct build configurations in Xcode is essential. Tanaschita’s guide offers a clear, step-by-step approach to creating and managing these configurations using schemes and build settings.
🛠️ Toolbox
CodeRabbit: AI-Powered Code Reviews
While working on my pet projects, I’ve often missed the collaborative feedback that comes with a team. Integrating CodeRabbit into my GitHub workflow has been a game-changer. It provides AI-driven code reviews, offering insights and suggestions that help me catch issues I might overlook. It’s like having an experienced developer reviewing my pull requests, ensuring code quality and consistency.
🍬 One More Thing…
Understanding Xcode targets, schemes and build configurations
Understanding the distinctions between targets, schemes, and build configurations in Xcode is crucial, especially when managing multiple app environments or modularizing your project. Tanaschita’s article provides a clear explanation, helping to streamline project setup and avoid common pitfalls.
🗳️ Weekly Poll
👋 That’s it for this week
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Until next Friday — keep shipping 🍏