The first issue any Windows user wishing to become an iOS applications developer will encounter: Apple devices are strictly built to run on macOS only. But if that turns you off, don’t worry; it is not all bad news. You can also create iOS applications on a Windows PC, but you will have to do that using different tools. This guide will cover how to prepare the environment, build your app, and finally, distribute your app in the App Store.
Set the Development Environment
Before you start creating an iOS app, there will be some preparations that you are to go through to prepare the environment for constructing an application. This involves the installation of the different tools, libraries, and platforms required in creating iOS applications. If you don’t own a Mac, unfortunately, there aren’t native options for you to use it – macOS is exclusive to Apple devices only.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Install Xcode
Apple produces a particular integrated development environment (IDE) known as Xcode, which is an efficient IDE used to develop applications for the devices built by Apple. The only drawback is that the Xcode version is macOS only; therefore, to design in Xcode, you need to use Xcode Cloud, which provides access to the Xcode browser.
Install Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) designed to support various languages. Developers also extensively use this product because of its flexibility of features and extensions. Sometimes, it is possible to create an iOS app using Visual Studio combined with Xamarin, an open-source development framework for cross-platform applications.
Install Node.js
Node.js is a well-equipped JavaScript cross-platform that enables you to execute JavaScript on the server side. It is applied to the creation of different web platforms and mobile applications. You must also have Node.js to install another tone, like CocoaPods and Swift Package Manager.
Install CocoaPods
CocoaPods is a dependency manager for Swift and Objective-C Cocoa projects. CocoaPods is an important component of the work on iOS applications that manages the libraries and dependencies.
You can install CocoaPods via npm (Node.js package manager) using the following command:
“`
npm install -g cocoa pods
“`
Install Swift
Further, Swift is a programming language created by Apple for iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS applications. It is intended to collaborate with Apple Cocoa and Cocoa Touch interfaces and the Objective-C runtime. You can install Swift from the apple.com or swift.org official sites. The instructions are to follow to download the latest version of Swift.
Building Your iOS App
When it comes to designing your development environment, you are ready to begin building your iOS app.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a simple iOS app:
Create a New Project
Open Visual Studio as a start and click on “Create a new project.” Then, if you want to create a new project, forget that “New Project” window until you select the “App (Xamarin.Forms)” and then fill in the name of your project. Go to the desired folder and click the button “Create.”
Design Your App’s Interface
The project’s “MainPage.xaml” file should be in the solution explorer at the bottom, showing the solution explorer displayed. In other words, this file is in an XML format, which is a result file that describes the GUI interface of your app. In addition to the graphical designers, you can simply rely on the visual studio tools to arrange your app by dropping the UI controls onto the design surface. This is also where you will decide what your app will look like and where you will position such objects as buttons and labels.
Write the Code
To achieve the above, you will need to call the C# code on the Windows application and open the C Sharp file, MainPage.xaml.cs in this case, representing the Main view. This is where you will write code for controlling your app in interaction with users, like buttons, controlling the app, etc.
Add Libraries and Dependencies
With time, there may be a need for extra libraries and dependencies as your app becomes richer and more full of features. These can be instated directly from NuGet, the package manager for Visual Studios. Enter the library or dependency you wish to use in the NuGet Package Manager search bar, and then click on it, and press the Install button.
Testing Your App
Testing the app is an important stage that allows you to check how it works. iOS app testing on Windows can be done with the help of several tools you will find in Visual Studio. There is the Simulator, where you get an imitation iOS device to test your app, and Remote iOS Device Testing, where you test on an actual iOS device connected to your computer through the USB port.
Test with the Simulator
If you want to use the Simulator to test your app back within Visual Studio, from the menu, select “Debug” > “Start Debugging.” This will open the Simulator and start your app within it enabling you to debug and fix it if necessary.
Test on a Physical Device
If you have a real iOS device, you can run it and test your app by using Visual Studio. Run your device through USB, and from Visual Studio, go to Debug > Start Remote Debugging. Your application will be built to the device.
Publishing Your iOS App to App Store
After developing and testing an iOS application, you are ready to submit your iOS app to the App Store.
Here’s what you need to do:
Prepare for Distribution
Apple has made it mandatory that any app submitted to the App Store requires the owner to have an Apple Developer account. Such an account entitles you to become a member of the iOS Developer Program, which enables you to submit your app to the App Store. To obtain a membership, visit the Apple Developer website and create an account there.
Set Up Your Development Team
Once you have registered for Apple Developer account, you will be required to register for a development team. Your development team is a list of developer accounts which can work on your app. It may take a bit of clicking on “File” > “Add” > “Connected Services” > “Apple Developer Account.”
Ready Your App for the Market
Once you are ready to release your app, you will need to compile it. For icons and screenshots of the app, go to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ff634599(v=vs.85).aspx Visual Studio by navigating through the tools bar and choose “Project,” then select “Properties” from there, find the link “Application Icons and Screenshots.”
Submit Your App to the App Store
When your app is built, you may review it and then upload it to the App Store. This can be done in Visual Studio by clicking on “Build” and then “Archive,” ensuring your app is compiled in release mode. Once developers are done building a Windows app, they go to the Windows App Store for appraisal. For instance, if something is an online assessment, read what should be submitted on the screen and finish the assessment submission.
Bill Yeager, Co-Owner of High Point SEO & Marketing in CT