Getting Started with ARKit for iPhone and iPad

Introduction

The book "Beginning ARKit for iPhone and iPad" (2018) by renowned author Wallace Wang is a practical guide to creating augmented reality (AR) applications for Apple devices. At the time of its release, ARKit was just gaining popularity, and this book became one of the first detailed textbooks for developers wanting to master the technology. Despite the release of new versions of ARKit (3, 4, 5, 6) since 2018, the fundamental principles and basic techniques described in the book remain relevant today. The book is written in Swift using Xcode and is aimed at readers who already have basic iOS programming experience.

What the book is about

The book systematically introduces the reader to the capabilities of ARKit, Apple's framework for augmented reality. The author starts with installing the necessary software and setting up a project, then moves on to the basics of 3D graphics using SceneKit, and gradually increases the complexity of examples: from simply placing virtual objects in the real world to plane detection, working with lighting, animation, and user interaction. Special attention is given to practical projects: creating an AR game, a furniture visualization app, an interactive AR greeting card, and others. The book concludes with topics on performance, debugging, and publishing the app to the App Store.

Who this book is for

The book is intended for beginner to intermediate iOS developers who are already familiar with the basics of Swift and Xcode but want to learn augmented reality. It will also be useful for students studying mobile development and enthusiasts interested in AR technology. If you have never programmed for iOS before, start with more basic guides, as the book assumes knowledge of UIKit, gesture handling, and basic Swift concepts.

What the reader will learn

• ARKit basics: session configuration, camera motion tracking, understanding the coordinate system.
• Working with 3D objects: creating and placing models using SceneKit, using built-in geometric shapes.
• Plane detection: detecting horizontal and vertical surfaces, placing objects on them.
• Lighting and shadows: setting up realistic lighting for virtual objects.
• User interaction: handling touches, dragging, scaling, and rotating objects.
• Animation: simple and complex animations of objects in the AR scene.
• Integration with UIKit: creating a user interface over the AR scene.
• Debugging and testing: using Xcode tools for debugging AR applications.
• Publishing: preparing the app for release on the App Store.

Strengths of the book

The main advantage of the book is its practical focus. Each chapter contains ready-made projects that can be run immediately on a device. The author uses simple and clear language, avoiding excessive theory. Numerous screenshots and code listings help visualize the process. The book is well-structured: from simple to complex, with repetition of learned material in new contexts. It is also worth noting that Wallace Wang is an experienced author of technical literature, and his writing style is accessible even to beginners.

Weaknesses

The main drawback is that the book was published in 2018 and does not cover the latest ARKit features (e.g., People Occlusion, Motion Capture, Depth API). Some examples may use outdated methods that require adaptation in modern versions of Xcode. Additionally, the book is focused exclusively on Swift and iOS, which may be a limitation for developers on other platforms.

Who it is recommended for

The book will be useful for anyone who wants to quickly start creating AR applications