Let me take you back to my early days as an aspiring iOS developer. I had my MacBook ready, Xcode installed, and a burning passion to build something amazing. But… where do you even start? The iOS ecosystem feels vast and sometimes overwhelming. The App Store is packed with apps, but the path to building one seemed shrouded in mystery.
Fast forward several months of trial, error, and hard-won lessons, and a few apps later, I want to share the 7 best resources that accelerated my journey from clueless to confident iOS developer. Whether you’re a total beginner or brushing up your skills, this guide will save you time, energy, and frustration.
Why these resources? Because they blend theory, practice, and community, everything you need to build real-world iOS apps.
1. Apple’s Official Swift and iOS Documentation: Your Developer Bible
Lesson learned: Nothing beats the source.
Apple’s official Swift and iOS Developer Documentation are incredibly detailed and regularly updated. When I first ignored these docs... I regretted it. They offer:
- Up-to-date language syntax and APIs.
- Code samples and guides for beginners and pros.
- Best practices on app architecture and UI development.
(Pro tip): Bookmark the Swift language guide and revisit it often. It’s a dense resource but invaluable.
Key takeaway: Prioritize the official docs for foundational knowledge and updates.
2. Hacking with Swift by Paul Hudson: Hands-On and Beginner-Friendly
When I needed beginner-friendly, project-based learning, Hacking with Swift was a lifesaver. Paul Hudson breaks down complex concepts with approachable tutorials and real app projects.
- Over 160+ free lessons covering Swift + UIKit + SwiftUI
- Projects that build your portfolio, like creating a weather app or a to-do list
- Engaged community forum to discuss challenges
This resource helped me move beyond theory to coding actual apps quickly.
(Solution): Start with the 100 Days of SwiftUI section to get a structured experience.
3. Ray Wenderlich’s Tutorials: Deep Dives for Intermediate to Advanced
Once I had the basics down, I craved deeper insights, especially around architecture patterns, animations, and debugging. Ray Wenderlich’s site offers premium tutorials that dive into:
- MVVM, VIPER, and Clean Swift architectures
- Manage memory and concurrency with GCD and Combine
- Core Data, networking, and unit testing
Their step-by-step style and downloadable sample projects made learning smarter, not just harder.
(Pro tip): Invest in their video courses if you budget for it; it’s a game changer.
4. Swift by Sundell: A Developer Podcast and Articles You’ll Actually Enjoy
Learning is easier when it’s conversational. John Sundell’s Swift by Sundell delivers regular podcasts and articles that unpack Swift language features and iOS development topics with real-world examples.
- Interview episodes with industry experts offering hot takes and career insights
- Deep dives on protocol-oriented programming and Swift concurrency
- Readable articles that feel less like a textbook, more like chatting with a mentor
Listening during coding or commutes made tough topics digestible.
5. Udemy’s iOS Bootcamp Courses: Structured and Affordable
If you want a guided path with lectures, exercises, and projects, I recommend Udemy courses like iOS & Swift - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp by Angela Yu.
- Step-by-step course for absolute beginners
- Covers Swift basics, UIKit, SwiftUI, and even app deployment
- Hands-on projects like chat apps and game development
You can often catch it on sale for under $15.
(Pro tip): Combine with supplemental reading to deepen understanding.
6. GitHub Open-Source Projects: Learn by Reading and Contributing
Reading code is as important as writing it. Exploring repositories like awesome-ios opened my eyes to:
- Industry-standard project structures
- How popular libraries like Alamofire or SnapKit are used
- Real issues and pull requests showing debugging and collaboration
Contributing to open-source, even with small fixes, boosts confidence and resumes.
7. Community and Mentorship: Forums, Slack Groups, and Pair Programming
Coding can get lonely. Joining communities like:
- iOS Dev Slack
- Stack Overflow
- Reddit’s r/iOSProgramming
helped me troubleshoot, get feedback, and keep motivation alive.
During my FAANG interview prep, mentoring juniors also refined my knowledge dramatically; teaching is learning twice!
Wrapping Up: Your iOS Learning Roadmap
- Start with official Apple docs to build core knowledge.
- Jump into Hacking with Swift for project-based practice.
- Deepen with Ray Wenderlich and Swift by Sundell as you progress.
- Use Udemy for guided courses if you want structured learning.
- Explore GitHub to read and contribute to real codebases.
- Stay socially connected with active iOS dev communities.
Learning iOS development is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll face bugs that make you want to scream... and breakthroughs that light up your day.
Remember, every expert was once a beginner staring at their first ViewController.swift. You’re closer than you think.
Bonus: Tools that Accelerate Learning and Development
- Xcode – Apple’s official IDE with built-in simulators.
- Educative.io – Great for interactive learning.
- Postman – For API testing with your apps.
- Charles Proxy – Debug network traffic, a lifesaver in real apps.
Final Words
Start coding today. Build something, even if it’s ugly. Break things. Fix them. Keep pushing. Your first app won’t be perfect, but that’s the point. It’s about growth, grit, and endless curiosity.
If you want more curated guides, real-world projects, and a sneak peek into FAANG interview prep, follow me on Medium or join the conversation below.
Happy coding, you got this! 🚀
Top comments (1)
I also like youtube.com/seanallen for the courses and tutorials and also the news.