Swift Insights: Articles on iOS Development

Getting a new Mac is always exciting, but the first few hours are usually spent setting things up just the way you like them. Here’s a collection of my favorite customizations, terminal tweaks, and productivity hacks that I always apply on a fresh macOS installation.

In Swift, zombie objects is a debugging term for use-after-free bugs: your code tries to access an instance that has already been deallocated. Swift’s Automatic Reference Counting (ARC) frees objects when their strong reference count reaches zero, but mistakes like using unowned when the object might die first, misusing unsafe pointers/Unmanaged, or racy deallocation on another thread can leave you with a dangling reference. With Xcode’s “Enable Zombie Objects,” deallocated Objective-C/bridged objects are replaced by special zombie proxies that log “message sent to deallocated instance,” helping you catch the access during debugging. In production, there are no zombies just crashes such as EXC_BAD_ACCESS or “attempted to read an unowned reference but object was already deallocated.”

Swift’s safety features prevent many memory errors, but understanding ARC and reference semantics is still essential for robust apps.

As Apple’s Silicon processors have gained significant attention in the tech community, many users have reported significant stability and network performance issues. These problems are particularly noticeable when using Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band or connecting via a USB dongle for LAN.

Users have expressed concerns over the reliability of their devices, especially when it comes to maintaining stable connections. The shift from Intel to Apple Silicon has been met with enthusiasm due to the performance enhancements these processors offer, yet the transition has not been without its challenges. Many users have noted that while the overall performance of their Macs has improved, specific functionalities, particularly those related to network connectivity, have suffered.

The term test doubles draws inspiration from stunt doubles in the movie industry, where a stunt double steps in to perform dangerous or complex tasks, allowing the actor to focus on their role. Similarly, in software testing, test doubles step in to replace real components, making testing simpler, faster, and more reliable.

Testing is an essential part of software development, ensuring the correctness and reliability of our code. However, when we test systems with many dependencies—like databases, web services, or external APIs—writing reliable tests can become challenging. This is where test doubles come in handy.

iOS accessibility is a vital aspect of app development that focuses on creating applications that are usable and inclusive for individuals with disabilities. This encompasses a comprehensive set of tools, technologies, and guidelines provided by Apple, designed to empower developers to build apps that cater to a diverse range of users.

In today’s digital landscape, where mobile applications play a crucial role in daily life, ensuring accessibility is not just a legal requirement but also a moral imperative. By integrating accessibility features from the outset, developers can create a more equitable experience for all users, including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, or physical impairments.