I started iOS development back when Objective-C ruled the world and the App Store was still young. Ten years later, after working with startups, enterprises, and my own projects, I’ve picked up a few lessons I wish I knew at the beginning.
If you’re just getting started or even if you’ve been in the game for a while, I hope these insights save you some time (and maybe a few headaches).
1. Code Architecture Matters More Than Code Cleverness
Early on, I wrote “smart” one-liners that were impossible to debug six months later.
Clean, predictable architecture (MVC → MVVM → now SwiftUI patterns) beats cleverness every time.
2. Auto Layout Will Test Your Patience — But It’s Worth Mastering
Don’t avoid Auto Layout — embrace it. Once you really understand constraints, stacks, and priorities, your UI work becomes far smoother.
3. The App Store Review Process Is a Skill in Itself
It’s not just about coding. Knowing Apple’s guidelines, preparing proper metadata, and handling rejections gracefully are all part of shipping apps.
4. Testing Saves More Than It Costs
Unit tests and UI tests feel slow at first, but they pay for themselves once projects grow. The first time a test catches a bug before your client does, you’ll be glad you invested the time.
5. Performance Is User Experience
It doesn’t matter how pretty your UI is if it stutters or lags. Profiling with Instruments should be part of your workflow, not a last-minute fix.
6. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Networking Code
I’ve seen entire apps grind to a halt because of poorly structured networking layers. A clean separation (think Combine or async/await patterns today) makes apps far more maintainable.
7. Apple’s Ecosystem Moves Fast — Stay Curious
From Objective-C → Swift → SwiftUI → async/await → VisionOS, change is the only constant. Continuous learning isn’t optional in iOS dev.
8. App Success ≠ App Store Release
Shipping to the App Store isn’t the finish line — it’s the starting line. Analytics, user feedback, crash reporting, and updates are what turn an app into a product.
9. Clients Don’t Care About Code — They Care About Outcomes
It took me years to realize this. Businesses don’t hire you for elegant view controllers. They hire you because their customers need a seamless, valuable experience. Speak their language.
10. Your Career Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Burnout is real. Pace yourself, keep learning, and build a network of peers. The iOS community is generous — contribute and connect.
Final Thoughts
If I could go back in time, I’d tell my younger self to:
- Focus on fundamentals, not shortcuts.
- See apps as products, not just projects.
- Balance technical depth with business awareness.
I’m still learning every day, but these lessons have made me a better developer — and hopefully, they’ll help you too.
✍️ I share more iOS development lessons and case studies on my website
. If you’re working on an app idea and need guidance, feel free to connect!
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