Mastering iOS 14 Programming

Introduction

The book «Mastering iOS 14 Programming» by Mario Eguiluz Alebicto was published in 2020 and has 742 pages. This is the fourth edition of a popular guide that is consistently updated for new versions of Apple's mobile platform. Despite the fact that on the pythonlib.ru website we primarily focus on Python, this book is of interest to those who want to expand their technology stack and master native iOS development in Swift. In this review, we will analyze how successfully the author handled the task of teaching, who the book will be useful for, and what topics it covers.

What the book is about

The book is dedicated to creating applications for iOS 14 using the Swift language and Apple frameworks. It covers both the classic UIKit and modern SwiftUI, as well as working with Core Data, networking, multithreading, animations, maps, camera, and publishing to the App Store. The author consistently guides the reader from the basics to advanced topics, including architectural patterns (MVVM, Coordinator) and testing.

Who this book is for

The edition is aimed at developers who already have basic programming experience (preferably in Swift or another object-oriented language). Beginners who have never written code will find it difficult: the author assumes knowledge of Swift syntax and basic OOP concepts. However, for those already familiar with Python who want to move into mobile development, the book will be an excellent bridge — many principles (data handling, architecture, debugging) are transferable.

What the reader will learn

• Swift and Xcode basics: environment setup, syntax, debugging, working with Interface Builder.
• UIKit and SwiftUI: creating user interfaces, working with tables, collections, navigation.
• Working with data: Core Data, UserDefaults, Codable, working with REST API via URLSession.
• Multithreading: Grand Central Dispatch, OperationQueue, async/await (in the context of iOS 14).
• Animations and graphics: Core Animation, UIView.animate, Lottie, working with Metal (overview).
• Hardware capabilities: camera, photo album, geolocation (Core Location), MapKit maps.
• Architecture and testing: MVVM, Coordinator, Unit tests, UI tests with XCTest.
• Publishing: preparing an app for the App Store, certificates, TestFlight, ASO.

Strengths

The main advantage of the book is its practical focus. Each chapter contains code examples that can be immediately run in Xcode. The author does not just list APIs, but explains why one should choose a particular approach. The chapters on SwiftUI deserve special mention — at the time of the book's release, it was a relatively new technology, and the author provided a quality overview of its capabilities. The topic of working with networking and JSON is also well covered: real-world cases with error handling and pagination are shown. The book is written in a lively language; complex concepts (e.g., closures or threads) are explained using analogies.

Who it is recommended for

The book will be useful for:

• Python developers wishing to learn native iOS development (provided they are already familiar with the basics of Swift).
• Junior and Middle iOS developers who want to systematize their knowledge and learn about new features of iOS 14.
• Students and teachers of mobile development courses.

If you are just starting to program, it is better to first read an introductory course on Swift (e.g., «Swift Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide»), and then take on this book.

Conclusion

«Mastering iOS 14 Programming» is a solid, complete, and relevant (as of 2020) guide that will help developers move to the next level. Despite the fact that several years have passed since its release, the fundamental principles of iOS development