| name | ios-application-dev |
| description | iOS application development guide covering UIKit, SnapKit, and SwiftUI. Includes touch targets, safe areas, navigation patterns, Dynamic Type, Dark Mode, accessibility, collection views, common UI components, and SwiftUI design guidelines. For detailed references on specific topics, see the reference files.
Use when: developing iOS apps, implementing UI, reviewing iOS code, working with UIKit/SnapKit/SwiftUI layouts, building iPhone interfaces, Swift mobile development, Apple HIG compliance, iOS accessibility implementation.
|
| license | MIT |
| metadata | {"author":"MiniMax-OpenSource","version":"1.0.0","category":"mobile","sources":["Apple Human Interface Guidelines","Apple Developer Documentation"]} |
iOS Application Development Guide
A practical guide for building iOS applications using UIKit, SnapKit, and SwiftUI. Focuses on proven patterns and Apple platform conventions.
Quick Reference
UIKit
| Purpose | Component |
|---|
| Main sections | UITabBarController |
| Drill-down | UINavigationController |
| Focused task | Sheet presentation |
| Critical choice | UIAlertController |
| Secondary actions | UIContextMenuInteraction |
| List content | UICollectionView + DiffableDataSource |
| Sectioned list | DiffableDataSource + headerMode |
| Grid layout | UICollectionViewCompositionalLayout |
| Search | UISearchController |
| Share | UIActivityViewController |
| Location (once) | CLLocationButton |
| Feedback | UIImpactFeedbackGenerator |
| Linear layout | UIStackView |
| Custom shapes | CAShapeLayer + UIBezierPath |
| Gradients | CAGradientLayer |
| Modern buttons | UIButton.Configuration |
| Dynamic text | UIFontMetrics + preferredFont |
| Dark mode | Semantic colors (.systemBackground, .label) |
| Permissions | Contextual request + AVCaptureDevice |
| Lifecycle | UIApplication notifications |
SwiftUI
| Purpose | Component |
|---|
| Main sections | TabView + tabItem |
| Drill-down | NavigationStack + NavigationPath |
| Focused task | .sheet + presentationDetents |
| Critical choice | .alert |
| Secondary actions | .contextMenu |
| List content | List + .insetGrouped |
| Search | .searchable |
| Share | ShareLink |
| Location (once) | LocationButton |
| Feedback | UIImpactFeedbackGenerator |
| Progress (known) | ProgressView(value:total:) |
| Progress (unknown) | ProgressView() |
| Dynamic text | .font(.body) semantic styles |
| Dark mode | .primary, .secondary, Color(.systemBackground) |
| Scene lifecycle | @Environment(\.scenePhase) |
| Reduce motion | @Environment(\.accessibilityReduceMotion) |
| Dynamic type | @Environment(\.dynamicTypeSize) |
Core Principles
Layout
- Touch targets >= 44pt
- Content within safe areas (SwiftUI respects by default, use
.ignoresSafeArea() only for backgrounds)
- Use 8pt spacing increments (8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48)
- Primary actions in thumb zone
- Support all screen sizes (iPhone SE 375pt to Pro Max 430pt)
Typography
- UIKit:
preferredFont(forTextStyle:) + adjustsFontForContentSizeCategory = true
- SwiftUI: semantic text styles
.headline, .body, .caption
- Custom fonts:
UIFontMetrics / Font.custom(_:size:relativeTo:)
- Adapt layout at accessibility sizes (minimum 11pt)
Colors
- Use semantic system colors (
.systemBackground, .label, .primary, .secondary)
- Asset catalog variants for custom colors (Any/Dark Appearance)
- No color-only information (pair with icons or text)
- Contrast ratio >= 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text
Accessibility
- Labels on icon buttons (
.accessibilityLabel())
- Reduce motion respected (
@Environment(\.accessibilityReduceMotion))
- Logical reading order (
.accessibilitySortPriority())
- Support Bold Text, Increase Contrast preferences
Navigation
- Tab bar (3-5 sections) stays visible during navigation
- Back swipe works (never override system gestures)
- State preserved across tabs (
@SceneStorage, @State)
- Never use hamburger menus
Privacy & Permissions
- Request permissions in context (not at launch)
- Custom explanation before system dialog
- Support Sign in with Apple
- Respect ATT denial
Checklist
Layout
Typography
Colors
Accessibility
Navigation
Components
Privacy
System Integration
References
| Topic | Reference |
|---|
| Touch Targets, Safe Area, CollectionView | Layout System |
| TabBar, NavigationController, Modal | Navigation Patterns |
| StackView, Button, Alert, Search, ContextMenu | UIKit Components |
| CAShapeLayer, CAGradientLayer, Core Animation | Graphics & Animation |
| Dynamic Type, Semantic Colors, VoiceOver | Accessibility |
| Permissions, Location, Share, Lifecycle, Haptics | System Integration |
| Metal Shaders & GPU | Metal Shader Reference |
| SwiftUI HIG, Components, Patterns, Anti-Patterns | SwiftUI Design Guidelines |
| Optionals, Protocols, async/await, ARC, Error Handling | Swift Coding Standards |
Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit, SF Symbols, Metal, and Apple are trademarks of Apple Inc. SnapKit is a trademark of its respective owners.
