API Development in Swift: Creating Server Applications for iOS and macOS

This book is a practical guide to developing server applications and APIs in Swift. If you are already familiar with iOS or macOS development but want to expand your skills towards the backend, this edition will be your guide into the world of server-side Swift using the Vapor framework.

The book sequentially covers all stages of creating a modern RESTful API: from architecture design and working with databases (SQLite, PostgreSQL, Fluent ORM) to authentication, testing, and deployment. You will learn how to organize code according to MVC and Repository patterns, how to handle errors, and validate requests.

Special attention is given to practical examples: you will create a full-fledged backend for a task manager application (Todo list), implement user registration and authorization (JWT), and learn to document your API using OpenAPI (Swagger). All examples are accompanied by explanations and ready-to-use code that you can immediately apply in your own projects.

Who this book is for:

• iOS and macOS developers looking to master server-side development in Swift;
• Backend developers interested in Swift as an alternative to Python, Go, or Node.js;
• Students and beginner programmers who want to understand how client-server interaction works;
• Anyone who wants to create their own APIs for mobile and desktop applications.

What you will learn:

• How to install and configure Vapor 4 (the latest stable version);
• How to design a database using Fluent ORM;
• How to implement CRUD operations and routing;
• How to add authentication via JWT and Basic Auth;
• How to write unit tests and integration tests for APIs;
• How to prepare an application for deployment on a server (Heroku, Vapor Cloud, Docker);
• How to document an API for other developers.

The book is written in simple and clear language, containing numerous screenshots, diagrams, and code listings. After reading it, you will be able to independently create high-load and secure APIs in Swift, which will become a reliable foundation for your iOS and macOS applications.

Whether you work at a startup or a large company, the skill of server-side development in Swift opens up new career opportunities. Start your journey into the world of backend right now!