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Intro to iOS App Development with Swift

Free Course

Make Your First iPhone App

Related Nanodegree Program

Introduction to Programming

About this course

In this course we will build an iPhone app that records a conversation between you and a friend, and then makes your voices sound like a Chipmunk or Darth Vader.

This course will introduce you to iOS app development in Swift, a new programming language from Apple, and serves as your launching point into the iOS Developer Nanodegree.

What you will learn

  1. Introduction to Swift and Xcode: the tools of iOS
    • Learn all the Swift you need to know in 5 min.
    • Take a tour of Xcode, Apple's integrated development environment.
    • Get to know the Model View Controller, or MVC, design pattern
  2. iOS App Structure: AutoLayout and Buttons
    • Learn Storyboard and AutoLayout, the tools used to build user interfaces in iOS.
    • Start developing the Pitch Perfect App and creating the UI.
    • Use Autolayout constraints to control the placement of UIButtons and UILabels on the screen.
  3. Using ViewControllers to build an app with Multiple Views
    • The UIViewController class, View Controller Lifecycle, and Multiple Views.
    • Learn how to react to touch events and change the user interface.
    • Add a second screen to your app using a UINavigationController.
  4. How to record audio and use the Delegation Design Pattern.
    • Learn about the AVFoundation class, AVAudioRecorder.
    • Setup audio recording in the Pitch Perfect App.
    • Practice using the Delegation pattern and implement programmatic segues.
  5. Playback Sound and Add Sound Effects
    • Setup audio playback including rate, pitch, echo, and reverb.
    • Use UIStackViews to create an elegant layout for your app's UIButtons.
    • Use class extensions to add functionality to your app.

Prerequisites and requirements

This course assumes prior programming experience. Specifically, you should have a strong understanding of programming concepts like variables, if statements, loops, functions, and classes. Lesson 1 of Intro to Computer Science and Programming Foundations with Python are good courses to take if you are completely new to programming.

You will also need access to a Mac computer running OS X 10.10 or later.

We have designed this course such that you will not need a physical device (i.e. an iPhone or an iPad) to build your app. We will be using a simulator on your mac that will imitate the features of a phone on your computer. Towards the end of the course we will provide instructions on how to download your app on an iPhone (in case you do have access to a physical device.)

See the Technology Requirements for using Udacity.

Why take this course?

This course will set you on your way to becoming an iOS Developer, where you’ll establish a basic understanding of the iOS ecosystem. You’ll also have working knowledge of Swift, Apple’s custom programming language created exclusively for the mobile developer.

Learn with the best.

  • Jarrod Parkes
    Jarrod Parkes

    Instructor