Xcode

Core Foundation

The essentials you need to start building iOS apps.

• Project Navigator — Left sidebar shows all your files. Right-click to add new files, groups, and assets.
• Canvas Preview — SwiftUI's live preview. See your UI update as you type. Resume with ⌘⌥P.
• Simulator — Run your app on virtual iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Pick any device and iOS version.
• Build & Run — ⌘R compiles your code and launches in the simulator. ⌘. stops it.
• Console — Bottom panel shows print statements and logs. Essential for basic debugging.
• Asset Catalog — Drop images and colors into Assets.xcassets. Xcode handles all screen sizes and dark mode variants.

Intermediate Workflow

Level up your development efficiency.

• Breakpoints — Click the line number gutter to set breakpoints. Step through code with F6 (over), F7 (into).
• Quick Open — ⌘⇧O opens any file, symbol, or type instantly. Faster than clicking through folders.
• Clean Build — When things break mysteriously: ⌘⇧K cleans, then ⌘B rebuilds. Fixes 90% of weird issues.
• Jump to Definition — ⌃⌘J or ⌘-click to jump to any function or type definition.
• Schemes & Targets — Manage different build configurations (Debug vs Release), multiple apps, and test targets.
• SPM Integration — Add Swift packages via File → Add Package Dependencies. Xcode handles the rest.
• Testing — Write XCTest unit tests and UI tests. Run with ⌘U. Green checkmarks = passing.

Pro Advanced

Master-level techniques for professional development.

• Instruments — Profile CPU, memory, energy, and network usage. Find leaks, optimize performance, and understand exactly what's slow.
• LLDB Console — Type po variableName in the debugger to print object descriptions. Use expr to modify values at runtime.
• Custom Build Phases — Run scripts during build: auto-increment version numbers, generate code, lint, or copy files.
• CI/CD with Xcode Cloud — Automated testing and deployment directly in App Store Connect. Build on every push, distribute to TestFlight.
• AI Integration — Use Alex Sidebar for inline AI completions and chat directly in Xcode.
• Cursor + Xcode — Edit code in Cursor with AI, build and debug in Xcode. Use Sweetpad to bridge them seamlessly.
• DerivedData — When all else fails, delete ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData to fully reset your build cache.

Essential Shortcuts

• ⌘R — Run the app
• ⌘B — Build without running
• ⌘. — Stop running app
• ⌘⇧K — Clean build folder
• ⌘⇧O — Open Quickly (find any file)
• ⌃⌘J — Jump to definition
• ⌘/ — Toggle comment
• ⌘⌥P — Resume SwiftUI preview
• ⌘U — Run all tests
• ⌘⌥[ / ⌘⌥] — Move line up/down

Impressive Apps Built with Xcode

Apps that showcase what's possible with SwiftUI and native development.

• Things 3 — Beautiful task manager with buttery animations. Apple Design Award winner. Shows what polish looks like.
• Apollo (RIP) — The best Reddit client ever made. Christian Selig built it solo. A masterclass in native iOS development.
• Fantastical — Natural language calendar app with incredible UI. Demonstrates complex SwiftUI layouts.
• Halide — Pro camera app with manual controls and RAW support. Deep hardware integration.
• Carrot Weather — Personality-driven weather app with widget perfection. Shows widgets done right.
• Bear — Elegant markdown notes with nested tags. Beautiful typography and sync.
• Overcast — Smart podcast player by Marco Arment. Audio engineering + clean UI.
• Loom — Screen recording made simple. 2024 Apple Design Award finalist for productivity.