Are you curious about how a web app differs from a standard website? Have you ever wondered which one might be best suited for your specific needs or business goals?

This post is designed to clarify those mystifying questions and help you make informed decisions. We’ll explore the key differences between a web app and a website, their unique features, benefits, and more. Let’s get going.

The Key Distinctions Between Websites and Web Applications

Interactivity

When it comes to the interactivity  of websites and web applications, there’s a stark difference that sets them apart.

Engagement Level in Websites

Websites primarily serve as an information hub. They are often static, meaning users can read or view the content but have limited interaction. For instance, a restaurant website might provide information about its menu, location, and hours of operation. Users can browse through this information, but they can’t directly order food from the website.

While some websites incorporate interactive elements like contact forms or comment sections, the level of user engagement is relatively low compared to web apps. 

Interaction Levels in Web Applications

In contrast, custom web applications are built for interaction. These are dynamic, software-like entities that allow users to perform tasks, make decisions, and input information. Examples of web applications include online banking platforms, e-commerce sites, and social media networks.

For instance, on an e-commerce site like Amazon, users can search for products, add items to their cart, make a purchase, and write reviews — all interactive actions that go beyond the static consumption of information. Similarly, on a social media platform like Facebook, users can post status updates, react to others’ posts, send messages, and more.

To sum up, while websites are more passive, providing information for users to consume, web applications are interactive, allowing users to actively engage and perform tasks.

User Experience

User experience (UX) is another crucial factor that differentiates websites from web applications. The UX design of a website or a web application can greatly influence how users interact with it and their overall satisfaction.

User Experience with Websites

Websites are generally designed for straightforward information retrieval. They follow a linear approach where users navigate through different pages to find the information they need. For instance, a university website might have separate pages for admissions, academic programs, faculty, and contact information.

The UX design of a website focuses on simplicity, readability, and ease of navigation. However, the user experience on websites can be quite passive as interaction is typically limited to clicking links and scrolling through pages. There’s less personalization involved as the content is the same for all visitors.

User Experience with Web Applications

Web applications, on the other hand, provide a dynamic and interactive user experience. They are designed to perform specific tasks and often require user input and decision-making.

Consider an email client like Gmail. Users can compose emails, attach files, organize emails into folders, set up filters, and more. The UX design in web applications focuses on usability, efficiency, and functionality.

Web applications often provide personalized experiences based on user preferences and behavior. For example, a music streaming app like Spotify recommends songs and playlists based on what you’ve listened to in the past.

In conclusion, while websites provide a simpler, more informational user experience, web applications offer a more interactive, task-oriented, and personalized user experience.

Functionality

Common Functionalities of Websites

Websites primarily serve as digital storefronts or online brochures, providing visitors with information about the business, its products, or services. The majority of websites have a static nature, meaning their content doesn’t change unless manually updated by the site owner.

A typical website might include the following functionalities:

1. Informational Pages: These pages provide details about the company, its history, mission, and the team.
2. Product/Service Pages: These pages display the offerings of the business. Amazon, for instance, has thousands of product pages with descriptions, images, and customer reviews.
3. Contact Forms: Most websites have a “Contact Us” page that allows visitors to send inquiries or requests directly to the business.
4. Blog Section: Many websites feature a blog section where they publish articles, news, or updates related to their industry or business. A great example is the Google News blog, which keeps users updated on the latest developments in the world of news.

Common Functionalities of Web Applications

Web applications, on the other hand, are interactive platforms that allow users to perform specific tasks or actions. They’re dynamic and can respond to user input, providing a more engaging experience.

Key functionalities of web applications include:

1. User Registration and Authentication: Web apps often require users to create an account and log in to access certain features. For instance, LinkedIn requires user registration to connect with professionals and apply for jobs.
2. Data Manipulation: Web apps allow users to create, read, update, and delete data. For example, in a web app like Google Docs, users can create a document, edit it, save changes, and delete it when no longer needed.
3. Real-time Updates: Web applications often provide real-time updates and notifications. For instance, Facebook notifies users of new messages, likes, and comments in real time.
4. Integration with other Services: Many web apps integrate with other services to enhance functionality. For instance, Airbnb integrates with Google Maps to display the location of rental properties.
5. E-commerce Features: Web apps like Etsy or eBay allow users to browse products, add them to a cart, and make a purchase, all within the same platform..

Development Complexity

Complexity in Developing Websites

Website development is generally less complex compared to web application development. The complexity of a website can vary based on its design, the number of pages, and the amount of interactivity. However, most websites primarily involve the presentation of static content, which is straightforward to implement.

Here are some aspects that contribute to the complexity of website development:

1. Design and Layout: The complexity of the design can significantly impact the development process. A simple website with a few pages and a basic design can be developed quickly using a website builder like Wix or Squarespace. On the other hand, a custom-designed website with unique layouts and animations will require more expertise and time.
2. Content Creation: This includes writing text, creating images, videos, or any other type of media that will be displayed on the site. While not technically part of the development process, it can add to the overall project complexity.
3. SEO Considerations: Implementing SEO-friendly structures and tags can increase the complexity of website development. However, it’s essential for improving the website’s visibility on search engines like Google.

Complexity in Developing Web Applications

Web application development is typically more complex due to the interactive nature of apps. They require more sophisticated coding and technologies to ensure smooth user interactions, security, and performance.

Here are some factors that contribute to the complexity of web app development:

1. User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX): Web apps require a more complex UI/UX design to ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience. This involves creating interactive elements, animations, and transitions that respond to user inputs.
2. Backend Development: Unlike websites, web apps often require a backend that processes user data, handles business logic, and communicates with databases. This adds another layer of complexity to the development process.
3. Security: Web applications often deal with sensitive user data, making security a critical concern. Implementing robust security measures like encryption, secure user authentication, and protection against cyber threats increases the complexity of development.
4. Performance Optimization: Web apps need to be optimized for performance to handle potentially large amounts of data and high traffic volumes. This involves complex tasks like database optimization, efficient memory management, and caching strategies.
5. Integration with Other Services: Many web applications integrate with third-party services, such as payment gateways, social media platforms, or map services. These integrations add another layer of complexity to the development process.

Thus, while website development can be relatively straightforward, web application development involves more complex processes and technologies. However, this complexity often results in a more powerful and interactive platform that can provide significant value to users and businesses alike.

Offline Accessibility

Offline Accessibility of Websites

Typically, websites require an active Internet connection to access. When you visit a website, your browser sends a request to the site’s server, which returns the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript needed to render the site on your device. Without an internet connection, this process cannot occur, making most websites inaccessible offline.

However, with the advent of HTML5 and its Application Cache feature, developers can create websites that are accessible offline to some extent. This feature allows browsers to cache certain elements of a website, such as HTML files, CSS, images, and other resources, enabling users to access these elements even when they’re not connected to the internet. An example could be a news website where certain articles are cached for offline reading.

Offline Accessibility of Web Applications

Web applications, on the other hand, have more capabilities for offline accessibility thanks to technologies like Service Workers and the Cache API. These technologies enable developers to build ‘Progressive Web Apps’ (PWAs), a type of web application that can function offline.

Service Workers act as a proxy between the web app and the network, intercepting network requests and serving cached responses when the network is unavailable. The Cache API allows web apps to store and retrieve resources, enabling them to run without an internet connection.

A good example of a PWA is Google Docs. When connected to the Internet, you can enable offline mode in Google Docs. It downloads the documents you’ve recently opened onto your device. When you lose connectivity, you can still open these documents, edit them, and all changes will be synced back to the cloud once you’re online again.

Summing up, while websites typically require an internet connection, both websites and web apps can be designed to be accessible offline to varying degrees. However, web apps generally offer more robust offline functionality due to the advanced technologies available for their development.

SEO and Discoverability

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and discoverability are crucial elements that differentiate websites from web applications. Let’s delve into the specifics of each.

SEO Perspective for Websites

Websites, particularly static ones, have a significant advantage when it comes to SEO. They are inherently more discoverable by search engines because their content is easily indexable. This is due to the fact that each page on a website has its unique URL, which search engines can crawl and index.

For instance, consider an e-commerce website like Amazon. Each product page has a unique URL, complete with meta tags, keywords, and descriptions that help search engines understand the content. As a result, when users search for a particular product, they’re likely to find Amazon’s relevant product page in their search results.

SEO Perspective for Web Applications

On the other hand, web applications present a unique set of challenges for SEO. Web apps rely heavily on JavaScript to load and display content, which can make it harder for search engines to index their content.

For example, a web application like Trello, which is a project management tool, operates mostly on a single URL. The content changes dynamically based on user interaction, but the URL largely remains the same. This makes it difficult for search engines to crawl and index the various ‘pages’ within the app.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for web applications. Modern search engines are becoming increasingly proficient at crawling and indexing JavaScript. 

Furthermore, strategies such as Server Side Rendering (SSR) and prerendering can help improve the SEO of web applications by allowing search engines to crawl a static version of the app.

To conclude, while websites have a natural advantage when it comes to SEO, there are strategies that web applications can employ to improve their discoverability. It’s essential to consider these factors when deciding between a website and a web application for your project.

User Authentication

User authentication is a critical aspect that differentiates a website from a web application. It refers to the method used to verify the identity of a user before granting them access to the system. Let’s explore how it works in both websites and web applications.

User Authentication in Websites

In most cases, websites do not require user authentication. They are primarily designed to provide information and are accessible to anyone with Internet access. For instance, a restaurant’s website might display their menu, location, and hours of operation but does not require users to log in to view this information.

However, some websites do implement user authentication. E-commerce websites like Amazon or eBay are prime examples. Users must create an account and log in to make purchases, track orders, and save payment information.

User Authentication in Web Applications

On the other hand, user authentication is a fundamental feature of web applications. These are interactive platforms that offer personalized experiences, and therefore, require users to authenticate their identities.

Take Facebook, for example. When you visit Facebook’s web application, you’re required to log in to access your personalized news feed, messages, and notifications. 

Web applications often employ more sophisticated authentication methods, such as two-factor authentication (2FA) or biometric authentication, to enhance security. 

In brief, while user authentication may be optional in websites depending on their purpose, it is a fundamental characteristic of web applications due to the personalized and interactive nature of these platforms.

Summary

The distinction between websites and web applications is not merely a question of semantics, but rather, it hinges on their functionalities, design, discoverability, and user interactions.

Websites, predominantly informational, offer superior discoverability through SEO, and while user authentication is optional, they can handle it on a large scale if needed.

On the other hand, web applications, with their interactive and personalized experiences, provide robust offline access and necessitate user authentication. However, they face SEO challenges due to their reliance on JavaScript.

As you consider your digital presence, understanding these differences will empower you to make an informed decision about what best suits your specific needs. Whether you opt for a website or a web application, your choice will be a key determinant of your online identity and how your audience interacts with you.

The post Web App vs. Website: A Deep Dive Into the Key Differences appeared first on MBPower Tools.

With the projected global number of mobile device users set to reach a staggering 16.8 billion in 2023 (source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/245501/multiple-mobile-device-ownership-worldwide/), it has become more crucial than ever to build high-performing and feature-rich mobile software applications.

Over the years, we have witnessed a fierce battle for dominance among various mobile operating systems (MOS). While some, like Symbian, have faded into obscurity, Android and iOS have emerged as the victorious contenders.

Android, backed by Google, currently powers 70.8% of mobile devices worldwide (source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/272698/global-market-share-held-by-mobile-operating-systems-since-2009/). Its zero-cost nature attracts numerous hardware vendors, such as Samsung, to adopt it.

On the other hand, iOS, developed by Apple, is limited to powering Apple devices exclusively. It currently holds a 28.4% market share (source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/272698/global-market-share-held-by-mobile-operating-systems-since-2009/) .

To cater to the entire customer base, businesses often find themselves doubling their expenses by maintaining separate development teams for each MOS.

Another problem is that attempting to determine which system is more popular among the target audience is very challenging. Failing to cater to the entire clientele could result in revenue loss. So what’s the solution?

The ultimate answer lies in the platform-agnostic approach. By utilizing key web technologies and frameworks, businesses can interact with a device’s hardware and target both major MOSs with a single set of programming instructions. This approach eliminates the need for duplicate development teams, significantly reducing costs.

Here are some additional benefits:

1. Easy implementation of changes: Modifying a program becomes effortless as alterations made to one file reflect across both MOSs.
2. Consistent tech stack: Developers work with the same tech stack, primarily JavaScript, for tasks on both iOS and Android platforms.

One of the most valuable frameworks that implements this cross-platform approach is React Native (RN). Let’s explore why it is highly beneficial for businesses.

The Key Advantages of React Native 

1. Rapid app development: RN allows for faster development compared to traditional methods, potentially delivering apps three times quicker.
2. JavaScript and React.js foundation: Instead of using pure HTML, RN relies on JSX syntax, which seamlessly combines HTML elements with JavaScript code. Additionally, React.js treats everything as reusable components, streamlining development.
3. Hot Reloading feature: Unlike native apps that require recompilation for each change, RN instantly reflects modifications without the need for repeated compilation, greatly accelerating the development process.
4. Easy learning curve: Based on familiar technologies like JavaScript and React.js, developers can quickly jump into RN projects without extensive learning requirements.
5. Thriving developer community: With a growing community and 112k stars on GitHub at the moment of writing, RN offers abundant resources and support through platforms like Reddit and StackOverflow.

Considering the exponential growth of mobile users and the demand for efficient app development, embracing a cross-platform approach with React Native can prove highly advantageous for businesses seeking to reach a broader audience while saving time and costs.

Other Benefits of React Native 

Plenty of RN Developers Available

JavaScript remains at the top of the charts, with 65.82% of professional programmers using it and likely to continue doing so in the future, according to the Developer Survey Results 2023 (source: https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/#most-popular-technologies-misc-tech-prof).

React Native (RN) and React are also highly popular among professionals. In the same survey, React ranks first among web frameworks most favored by professional developers. 

RN is used by 9.14% of the pro developers who participated in the survey. 

The army of RN developers is continuously growing, providing a wide range of options for finding someone who meets your quality and cost requirements.

RN Apps: Cost-Effective with Native Look and Performance

Building React Native apps is a more affordable option compared to other approaches.

RN developers create JavaScript components that function as iOS and Android widgets, eliminating the need for a WebView. This allows RN apps to offer almost identical functionality to their conventional counterparts.

Additionally, RN can handle CPU-intensive tasks by leveraging native code blocks, such as those written in Kotlin. This native code ensures optimal performance.

RN empowers professionals to leverage the full capabilities of smartphones and tablets, enabling the creation of highly interactive programs and professional-looking games.

Furthermore, RN apps are fully responsive by default, ensuring a consistent user experience across different screen resolutions.

RN apps are also lightweight, resulting in faster performance — a crucial aspect for business apps. No one wants to be stuck waiting for a progress bar to complete.

Another significant advantage of RN apps is their lower cost compared to traditional development approaches.

Conclusion

The rapidly expanding mobile user base and the increasing need for efficient app development make adopting a cross-platform approach essential for businesses. By using React Native, businesses can develop high-performing applications for both Android and iOS using a single set of instructions, saving time and reducing costs. 

React Native’s foundation on popular technologies — JavaScript and React.js, combined with a vibrant developer community, makes it an excellent choice for efficient app development. Moreover, React Native apps offer near-native functionality and performance, are responsive and lightweight, and importantly, are more cost-effective than traditional development methods. 

By choosing React Native, businesses can effectively cater to a broader audience without compromising on quality or performance.

The post Simplifying Cross-Platform Mobile App Development with React Native appeared first on MBPower Tools.

Benefits of Mobile Applications

• Improved Customer Experience

Mobile applications provide businesses with an opportunity to engage with their customers in a more meaningful way. With a mobile application, customers can easily access information about products and services, make purchases, and communicate with customer service representatives. Additionally, mobile applications can offer personalized recommendations and promotions, making the customer experience more enjoyable and memorable.

• Increased Revenue

Mobile applications have proven to be an effective tool for driving revenue growth. According to a survey conducted by Clutch, a leading B2B research firm, 21% of small businesses that invested in a mobile application saw an increase in revenue. Furthermore, mobile applications can provide businesses with valuable data about their customers’ behavior, preferences, and purchasing habits. This data can be used to optimize marketing efforts and drive sales.

• Brand Awareness

Mobile applications are a great way to increase brand awareness and establish a strong online presence. With a mobile application, businesses can showcase their products and services in a visually appealing way, making them more attractive to potential customers. Additionally, mobile applications can be used to collect customer feedback and ratings, which can help businesses improve their products and services and build a positive reputation.

Drawbacks of Mobile Applications

• Cost

Developing a mobile application can be a significant investment for businesses, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. The cost of developing an application varies depending on the complexity of the features, the platform, and the development team’s hourly rate. Additionally, maintenance and updates can add to the overall cost of the application.

• Limited Reach

Not all businesses require a mobile application to reach their target audience. If a business primarily serves an older demographic that may not be as tech-savvy, investing in a mobile application may not be a worthwhile investment. Additionally, businesses that primarily serve customers in rural areas with limited internet access may find that a mobile application is not the most effective way to reach their customers.

• Competition

With millions of mobile applications available in the app stores, it can be challenging for businesses to stand out from the competition. Developing a mobile application that is unique, user-friendly, and valuable to customers can be a daunting task. Furthermore, businesses must continually update and improve their mobile applications to stay competitive, which can be time-consuming and costly.

Factors to Consider Before Investing in a Mobile Application

• Business Objectives

Before investing in a mobile application, businesses must consider their objectives and how a mobile application can help achieve them. If a mobile application can help drive revenue growth, improve customer experience, or increase brand awareness, it may be worth the investment. However, if a mobile application does not align with the business’s objectives, it may not be a necessary investment.

• Target Audience

Businesses must also consider their target audience before investing in a mobile application. If the target audience primarily uses mobile devices to access products and services, a mobile application may be a necessary investment. However, if the target audience is not as tech-savvy or primarily accesses products and services through other channels, a mobile application may not be necessary.

• Budget

Developing a mobile application can be a significant investment for businesses, and it is essential to consider the budget before making the investment. Businesses must weigh the costs and benefits of developing a mobile application and determine if it is a financially viable investment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while mobile applications have many benefits for businesses, they are not necessary for every business. The decision to invest in a mobile application should be based on a variety of factors, including business objectives, target audience, and budget. Ultimately, businesses must weigh the costs and benefits of developing a mobile application and determine if it aligns with their overall strategy.

If a mobile application is a good fit for a business, it can provide many benefits, including improved customer experience, increased revenue, and enhanced brand awareness. However, businesses must also consider the drawbacks of mobile applications, such as the cost and the competition. Additionally, not all businesses require a mobile application to reach their target audience, and some businesses may find that other digital channels are more effective.

In conclusion, while mobile applications can be a valuable investment for many businesses, it is essential to carefully consider the decision and evaluate whether it aligns with the business’s overall strategy and objectives. By doing so, businesses can make an informed decision and ensure that their investment in a mobile application provides the expected benefits and returns.

The post Does Every Business Need a Mobile Application? appeared first on MBPower Tools.

Here’s how you can quickly download YouTube videos using a mobile app:

Step 1: Install Video Downloader Software

The first step is to install a video downloader software on your smartphone or tablet. There are many available in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store; just search for “video downloader” and choose one from the list of options presented. Popular choices include TubeMate, Videoder, InsTube, and Video Downloader Master.

Once you’ve found the software that suits your needs best, simply tap “Install” to get started with the downloading process. After installation has completed successfully you’ll be able to start searching for videos immediately – just launch the application and use its built-in browser function to find what you’re looking for!

Step 2: Choose Your Video

Now that your video downloader software is ready for use it’s time to decide which video you’d like to save onto your device – this could be anything from an educational tutorial or simply something entertaining that caught your eye during a quick browse through YouTube’s vast library of content! Simply click on whichever item interests you most and hit “Download.”

Step 3: Select Your Preferred Format

Most apps allow users to select their preferred format before downloading begins. Generally speaking, MP3 (audio only) and MP4 (audio/video) formats offer the highest quality downloads so these should be selected whenever possible. Other formats may include AVI, WMV, MOV etc – these are usually compressed versions of MP4s that take up less space but have lower quality than their original MP4 counterparts. For files such as songs or short clips where file size may not be an issue try selecting either FLAC or WAV formats as these will provide highest audio fidelity with no compression whatsoever!

Step 4: Choose Your Quality Settings

After choosing your preferred format comes resolution settings selection – this will determine which level of quality your downloaded file has when played back on either your computer or other device (such as a SmartTV). Most apps support HD resolutions up to 1080p; however some may go higher if supported by YouTube (4K resolution for example). For small files with quick downloads times try selecting 360p or 480p instead as these will take up less space but still provide decent enough quality for casual viewing purposes.

Step 5: Start Downloading!

Finally when all settings have been selected hit “Start Download” to begin saving your chosen media file onto your device’s memory storage system. Please note that depending on network connection speed this may take some time – so be patient while waiting! Once complete however your newly downloaded file can now be accessed in either the application library or through your device’s media library (depending on where it was saved).

Step 6: Access Your Downloads Easily & Conveniently

Once all steps above have been followed correctly downloading videos onto any mobile device should now become second nature- allowing users access their favorite content regardless of location! Many applications support cloud storage integration (such as Dropbox) where videos can automatically sync between PC/Mac computers and iOS/Android devices; this provides even more convenient access without having to worry about manually transferring data anytime soon after the initial downloading process completes! These extra features make sure that users are always able to watch whatever they want when they want- even if disconnected from internet sources such as WiFi hotspots etc…

So there you have it! With these six steps you’ll easily be able to start downloading YouTube videos straight from your smartphone or tablet quickly and easily! Enjoy exploring all of the amazing content found exclusively on Youtube today and have fun saving everything worth watching at any given moment with simple yet effective mobile applications dedicated towards providing instant access no matter where life takes us next

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Optional

What is optional? What are some ways to deploy optional you know? What is an implicitly deployed optional?

The optional type in Swift is an enum that can have one of two values: None or Some(T), where T is any data type. You can use it to protect yourself from trying to access a nil value.

Multithreading .

You can read about it in the article about GCD and Dispatch Queues.

The difference between frames and bounds

This is one of the favorite questions in iOS interviews. A bounds rectangle is referenced from its coordinate system and a frame is referenced from the container it is in (superview).

Weak Links

When should we use weak links? What’s the difference between weak and unowned?

Weak links do not increase the link count like unowned ones. The difference between unowned and weak links is that they are not optional. Weak is used when we know that a link can be nil. Unowned is when we know that the link will never be nil.

The life cycle of an application

• Not running: the application has not started or has been terminated by the system.
• Not active: the application is running, but is not currently responding to events (But can execute code). This state is usually short-lived and in-between.
• Active: The application is running and responding to events.
• In Background: The application is running in the background. Most applications do not stay in this state for very long before being suspended. However, an application that has requested additional time in the background may remain in this state for some time. Some applications may run in the background most of the time.
• Suspended: the application is in the background and not executing code. The system puts applications in this state automatically, without prior notification. In this state, the application is still in memory, but cannot execute code. If a memory shortage occurs, the system may clear suspended applications without prior notification to free up more space for active suggestions.

ViewController lifecycle

• loadView: is used when a controller is created in code. loadView is called by the controller when its current view is nil.
• viewDidLoad: is called once per controller lifetime. The method is called when all views are loaded.
• viewDidLayoutSubviews: Called when any view is changed.
• viewDidAppear: Called when a view appears on the screen.
• viewDidDisappear: is called when a controller’s view is removed.

Access modifiers

• public and open – open allows you to inherit and overload classes and class members inside and outside a module. public – only inside module.
• internal – access within the module.
• fileprivate – access within a file.
• private – access within the entity where the object is defined.

Which works faster: an NSArray search or an NSSet search?

NSSet searches will be faster because sets, like dictionaries, use hashes.

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Requirements

You will need:

• buy a mac\install macOS in a virtual machine.
• Install Xcode.

After that, you will be able to run the HelloWorld template app on the iOS device simulator right away.

You need the latest version of macOS to adapt your apps to the latest versions of the iPhone, so choose devices that are still receiving updates.

If you’re just getting started with programming, read our article on programming for beginners.

Where to Start Learning

First and foremost, learn the Swift language and its core libraries UIKit and Foundation.

Where to ask questions

First, try searching for a solution on Google and Stack Overflow. If you can’t find an answer, you can use our selection of Russian-language chat rooms for programmers.

What is an iOS developer certificate? How to get it?

Apple Developer Certificate is a certificate without which Apple will not allow you to put apps on the App Store. Currently costs $99 per year. Learn more about getting a certificate in this article.

Can I develop iOS apps on a Hackintosh\Virtual Machine?

Yes, however, you need the right hardware to install a Hackintosh, and a virtual machine needs lots of RAM and enough SSD space. And even this does not guarantee that everything will work correctly and will not slow down too much.

Which IDE to choose?

XCode is the only official Apple IDE where the whole cycle of iOS application development is done.

Will I need an iPhone?

You can test apps in the simulator, however, the camera and some other features are not available.

What do I need to learn to pass my Junior interview?

• Xcode & Interface Builder
• Using CocoaPods
• Understanding MVC
• Push Notifications
• UIKit
• CoreData
• Auto Layout
• Debugging in Xcode
• In-App Purchase

The post How to Start Developing iOS Apps: FAQ and Useful Links appeared first on MBPower Tools.

What will you do as a developer: first, second, third to solve this problem?

Solution

First, let’s check if the developer understood the task itself. The word “slow” can mean a lot of things. It can mean different things to the user and the developer. If the developer doesn’t check for proper understanding, he can solve a completely different problem. So, the first question I expect the developer to ask is, “What does it mean to slow down?” “Slow” can mean both that the user expects the application to do some operation faster, or that the interface is “laggy,” that is, it responds to user actions intermittently. Technically, these are completely different things, and they need to be handled differently.

Next. Consider the braking.

Slowness can occur if:

• something is slow in the application;
• something is slow outside the application, but the application is waiting for a result;
• there are blockages in the process;
• all of the above.

If something in the application is slow, how do you know what it is? The surest solution is to use a profiler. We then discuss with the candidate the most frequent causes:

• Incorrect UITableViewCell reuse;
• heavy cell constructor or configurator;
• heavy logic calculations in the main thread;
• picture conversion, JSON parsing, and other nonsense.

It’s not uncommon for candidates to just guess and offer expensive solutions at random in terms of implementation and support. For example, most want to throw out Autolayout and rewrite it on the frame themselves. And now many people consider it to be a silver bullet, although there are a lot of cases where it won’t fit or won’t help.

If it slows down outside of the application, it could be the network. Here it is necessary to look at the requests: the number, frequency, server response size, response time, the presence and size of the cache. You can play with the channel width, HTTP version and look in this direction.

If we consider blocking, for example, the application may not cache data but make a blocking request to the server every time it goes to the beginning of the feed. The user has accessed the page and always sees the load indicator spinning. It gives the impression that the application is slow, because you always have to wait. There can also be an interesting issue here if the application is doing a large operation consisting of many asynchronous operations. And the user gets a wait with an indicator after each click on any button. Each of them can last a second, but if after each sneeze the application hangs for a second, after 6-7 such operations there is a dense feeling of lags.

Consider lags. This is a narrower case, which can be treated by unloading the main thread and taking heavy things into secondary threads. This is a good place to discuss synchronization tools for threads, what code should and should not be moved to where and why.

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Improving code readability

Everyone knows about the nightmarish closures in Swift. Because of the nature of mobile development, asynchronous processes must be called in time. This used to be done with closures. Some of you may still use closures to do this, and that’s fine.

But one day you will run into nested closures. And the nightmare will begin. Reading and editing nested closures is a pain. Everyone understands that.

So how does reactive programming in Swift help reduce this pain?

You can chain observables using functions: map, flatMap and flatMapLatest. This way you can process queries simultaneously without bothering to read nested closures.

So it’s very useful to spend time making your code clearer and more readable.

This does not mean that you should stop using closures altogether. However, by using closures along with the reactive library of your choice, you can make your code more readable.

Help with event handling

In a general iOS development scenario, you need to react to events from different parts of the app. For example, someone changed their name in one controller, and you need to update it in another.

There are several scripts for such cases: delegates, notifications, and key-value pairs. Each of them works pretty well. But the reactive approach has a lot to offer.

First, reactive programming can simplify working with these scripts. All you need to do is create an observer or subject and subscribe to it. Then, every time the observer spawns an object, all the subscribers will know about it.

You can subscribe to the subject from the first controller anywhere in the program. And then use myObject for your own purposes. For example, you can skip the first two objects. You can use skip function to do that. And as I said before, you can combine the two objects using the merge and zip functions.

Make the code more modular

One of my any reactive programming features is to pass observable as variables. For example, you can pass a network request to another object and execute it when needed. This makes the code more readable and modular.

Let’s say you have controllers that need a specific type. You can use any network request with them whose observers spawn objects of the right type.

I always use this when I need overused controllers to display data to the user. Let’s take an application similar to Instagram, where you have a post object and a screen where those posts are displayed. You need to display posts from one user or the other on the same screen. Since this is most likely done with network requests, you can create the request as observable and pass it to the controller. The controller will do the rest.

Thus, the advantage here is modularity and versatility. This one controller can be reused any time you need to display a list of messages. And all you have to do is pass it to the controller. The controller will do the rest.

The post Why do I need reactive programming in Swift? appeared first on MBPower Tools.

Performance

Apple’s IDE is getting slower. On the 2014 Macbook Air, Xcode (2017 version) sometimes slowed down in large projects. The 2018 version was already slowing down significantly on the 2017 Macbook Pro.

For example, Playground, which is positioned as a sandbox for quick experiments with code, took several minutes to load. For which you can find a web compiler for Swift on the Internet and do whatever you need on a machine with any operating system.

Limitations

• Xcode only works on Mac OS, and updates to the IDE is strictly tied to versions of the operating system.
• Xcode must be updated to support new devices.
• The ability to use plugins has been disabled.
• You cannot just put a new version of an application into the Appstore from another computer (the owner of the computer from which the application was originally installed must provide you with a certificate file for this purpose).
• Xcode takes up a lot of space, which is especially noticeable on laptops. Xcode 12 requires at least 49 gigabytes of free space to install. To upgrade to a major version of the program, the same amount of space will be required.

Bugs

Here are the most annoying bugs, most of which appeared in Xcode 10 and have not yet been fixed:

• Debugging over WiFi is extremely unstable.
• Debugging over the wire works better, but there is often a situation where Xcode suddenly stops seeing the device.
• Storyboard crashes. No matter how busy your Storyboard is, it can stop rendering. And then you only have to look for the element that broke everything.
• Tying interface elements to code doesn’t work the first time 100% of the time.
• The larger the project, the more likely it is that autocomplete code will start to fail.
• The file tree lives its own life. After each program restart, the file tree often unfolds completely. There are no buttons to control it.
• As of version 11, the file tree may not react spontaneously to file moves. That is, visually changes will occur, but nothing will change in the project folder.
• Sometimes you just can not create a folder.

The post What’s wrong with Xcode: bugs and performance issues appeared first on MBPower Tools.