Swift Around the Web
Introducing Swift Testing. Parameterized Tests
Swift Testing's parameterized tests make testing easier with multiple inputs. You can define different inputs and run your tests with various combinations.
Parameterized tests simplify debugging and ensure comprehensive test coverage, which is a powerful tool for writing efficient and reliable tests.
MainActor usage in Swift explained to dispatch to the main thread
MainActor simplifies UI updates in Swift. It automatically handles running code on the main thread, eliminating the need for manual dispatching. This improves performance and reduces the risk of UI errors.
Use @MainActor on properties, methods, and closures that interact with the UI to ensure thread safety and a smooth user experience.
Coding
Mastering Data Tracking and Notifications in Core Data and SwiftData
Core Data and SwiftData offer multiple ways to track data changes and trigger notifications. Each method has its advantages and limitations.
Choose the best method for your project:
- Custom Notifications: Flexible but requires manual setup.
- Managed Object Extensions: Precise but limited to object types.
- Context Notifications: Centralized but process-bound.
- PHT/SwiftData History: Comprehensive but has performance and storage overhead.
How to identify data in Lists and ForEach in SwiftUI
SwiftUI lists need unique identifiers for smooth updates and animations. For custom data types, make them conform to Identifiable with a unique id (like a UUID). For simple types, use .self as the identifier, but be careful of duplicates.
For extra stability, consider wrapping simple values in a struct with a unique ID to ensure smooth rendering and allow you to add more data later.
visionOS
Detecting faces in images with the Vision framework
Learn to detect faces from images using Vision and overlay them with rectangles in SwiftUI. Use DetectFaceRectanglesRequest to identify faces, FaceObservation to extract bounding boxes, and create a custom shape to draw the rectangles.
This approach combines Vision's power with SwiftUI's UI capabilities for a robust and visually appealing solution.
Apple News
New Broadcast Push Notification Metrics Now Available in the Push Notifications Console
Apple's Push Notification console now offers metrics for broadcast push notifications. You can track the number of notifications accepted by APNs, devices receiving them, and the maximum number of subscribers. This helps you monitor the performance and reach of your broadcast messages.
Design
SwiftUI: Customize Text with TextRenderer
Explore TextRenderer to customize text rendering in SwiftUI. By understanding the Text.Layout structure and utilizing GraphicsContext, you can manipulate text at various levels, including lines, runs, and slices.
Learn to create dynamic effects like color cycling and character-by-character animations to enhance your app's visual appeal.
Other Cool Stuff
Automatic Trait Tracking
iOS 18 simplifies app development with automatic trait tracking. UIKit now automatically detects changes in traits like text size and display mode, triggering updates as needed.
This automatic trait tracking eliminates manual registration, simplifies code, and improves performance, ensuring your app adapts seamlessly to different devices and user preferences.
Create a Stunning Animated Background in SwiftUI with Metal
Explore Metal shaders to create a visually striking, animated gradient background for your SwiftUI app. This tutorial guides you through the process, utilizing Hermite interpolation for smooth color transitions and a Metal shader for a unique grainy texture.
By integrating the Metal shader into SwiftUI, you can effortlessly enhance the appearance of your app and showcase the potential of Metal shaders for captivating animations and visuals.
In Case You Missed It
Proper Navigation in SwiftUI with Coordinators
The Coordinators framework offers a structured approach to manage navigation in SwiftUI apps. This pattern separates navigation logic from views and promotes cleaner, more reusable code.
Coordinators handle various navigation types, including stacks, sheets, and tabs, while simplifying dependency injection and deep linking. This centralized approach enhances the maintainability and scalability of SwiftUI applications.
Videos
iOS Dev's Thoughts on Coding with AI
AI can make developers more productive but also lead to laziness. It can automate tasks and suggest improvements, but it requires a strong foundation in development to use effectively.
While AI won't replace developers entirely, it may impact the job market. Junior developers should focus on honing their skills and building a strong portfolio to navigate this changing landscape.
GitHub Co-Pilot for Xcode, Cursor, Swift Performance, SwiftUI Animations & More
iOS 18.1 introduces App Intents, while AI tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor are transforming development. The Swift Student Challenge 2025 is open. To optimize apps, consider techniques like identifying bottlenecks and using actors.
The video also discusses the pros and cons of working at startups vs. large companies and highlights a UserDefaults bug. Finally, it recommends using Squarespace for developer portfolios.