Fundamentals of iOS 15 Programming with Swift

Introduction

The book «iOS 15 Programming Fundamentals with Swift» (author — Matt Neuburg, 2021, 806 pages) is not just another guide to Swift. It is a fundamental work that has been a go-to book for thousands of developers worldwide for many years. Each new iOS version release is accompanied by an update to this series, and iOS 15 is no exception. In this review, we will break down why this book is useful for beginners and experienced programmers, what topics it covers, and why it is worth reading for anyone who wants to deeply understand the Apple platform.

What This Book Is About

The book is divided into three large parts that sequentially guide the reader from the basics of the Swift language to working with Xcode tools and key iOS 15 frameworks.

Part I: The Swift Language

The first part (about 300 pages) is dedicated to the Swift language itself, including the innovations of version 5.5. The author explains in detail:

• Basic types, collections, optionals;
• Functions, closures, enumerations;
• Protocols, generics, extensions;
• Memory management (ARC, weak/unowned);
• Error handling;
• Asynchrony and concurrency — async/await, actors, Task (new in Swift 5.5).

Matt Neuburg doesn't just list syntax; he explains why the language is designed the way it is, and how these mechanisms work "under the hood."

Part II: Tools — Xcode 13

The second part is dedicated to the Xcode 13 development environment, Interface Builder, the debugger, the build system, and dependency management (Swift Package Manager). Special attention is given to:

• Configuring projects and schemes;
• Working with the simulator and real devices;
• Profiling and optimization;
• Static analysis tools.

Part III: Cocoa and UIKit Basics

The third part is the bridge between the language and real-world development. It covers:

• Application and scene lifecycle (UIScene);
• UIApplication, UIWindow, UIViewController;
• Memory management and run loop;
• SwiftUI basics (in the context of UIKit integration);
• Core Data and working with the file system.

Who This Book Is For

The book is aimed at programmers who already have experience in other languages (Java, C#, Python, C++) and want to learn iOS development. Neuburg doesn't waste time explaining basic programming concepts (loops, branching, OOP) — he immediately moves to the specifics of Swift and the platform. However, a beginner willing to learn from advanced books can also figure it out, provided they practice alongside.

What the Reader Will Learn

• A complete understanding of Swift 5.5 syntax and semantics, including complex topics like generics and protocols with associated types;
• How memory management works in iOS and how to avoid leaks;
• Modern asynchronous programming patterns with async/await;
• Confident work with Xcode: from creating a project to publishing on the App Store;
• Principles of building UI with UIKit and SwiftUI basics;
• iOS application architecture: MVC, delegation, target-action.

Strengths of the Book

1. Depth and accuracy. Matt Neuburg is a renowned expert, author of Apple documentation, and a long-time developer. Every chapter is meticulously verified down to the smallest detail. You won't find superficial examples here — only real-world scenarios and explanations of why the code works the way it does.

2. Relevance. The book was published at the end of 2021 and covers all the changes in iOS 15, Swift 5.5, and Xcode 13. The description of async/await is especially valuable — it's a revolution in asynchronous programming in Swift.

3. Structure. The clear division into language, tools, and frameworks allows the book to be used both as a textbook and as a reference. The table of contents and index are very detailed.

4. Style. Neuburg writes in a lively, sometimes ironic manner, but without excessive colloquialism. Complex