iOS apps are built with Swift in Apple's IDE, Xcode, which runs only on macOS. This topic gets you set up and running your first app on the iPhone Simulator.
What you need
- A Mac (Xcode is Mac-only).
- Xcode from the Mac App Store (free).
- An Apple ID — free for the simulator; a paid Apple Developer account ($99/yr) to ship to the App Store.
Create your first project
Xcode → Create New Project → iOS → App. Choose a name, set the interface to Storyboard (UIKit) or SwiftUI. This course focuses on UIKit; the SwiftUI course is separate.
Run it
Pick a simulator (e.g. iPhone 15) and press ▶. Xcode builds and launches your app in the simulator.
// ViewController.swift
import UIKit
class ViewController: UIViewController {
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
view.backgroundColor = .systemBackground
}
}Tip: Learn the simulator shortcuts: Cmd+Shift+H (home), Cmd+R (run), Cmd+. (stop).
Summary
You set up Xcode, created an app, and ran it on the simulator. Next: the Swift language.