App Development Using iOS iCloud

Create a professional looking app from start to finish that takes advantage of iCloud technology. Rather than working with Storyboarding for building your UI, you’ll use code to build professional looking screens. Using code is standard for professional developers to fit form factor alignment across multiple screen sizes and other design constraints.

First, you’ll build a basic, functional UX screen. Then you’ll incorporate iCloud with CloudKit for data persistence and private, public, and shared databases. Here your code-drive UI design will expand out to developing professional looking screens with animation. You’ll also learn to work with reminder and notification boxes, sharing data between your users, and adding functionally for interaction with other Apps. Finally, you’ll tackle testing and using Test Flight before publishing your app to the App Store.

This book offers a practical guide for coders at any level who want to learn and create professional looking iOS apps leveraging the database features of iCloud and the numerous extensions that Apple provides in the Xcode environment. Create professional looking apps that are secure and your users will love!

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

* Leverage CloudKit for Backend as a Service


* Handle Asynchronous processes


* Share data among users of your app with simultaneous modifications



WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR

iOS developers familiar with the basics of Swift coding who want to work with iCloud databases or move into more advanced fields, such as using extensions or designing UX in code.SHANTANU BARUAH is an Executive Vice President leading new business acquisition in the Life Sciences and Healthcare business at HCL Technologies. With over 21+ years of experience across multiple disciplines, Shantanu has been a pioneer in the fields of healthcare, life sciences, digital, and information technology at HCL Technologies. His leadership has guided delivery, practice building, and development of market-leading solutions to reach new heights. A leader with global exposure, Shantanu has successfully led teams across India, Singapore, France, and the U.S. His technological expertise and innovative leadership qualities have placed him at the forefront of important business acquisitions. Shantanu is an active in the app development community and has an approved app on Apple App Store. He has been recognized as one of the top 25 Healthcare IT Executives of 2020 by The IT Services Report. Shantanu lives in New Jersey. His philanthropic outreach includes education for children in developing nations.

SHAURYA BARUAH has many interests in a variety of subjects – specifically, he has an interest in Math, Physics, and Computer Science. In his freshman year, he took AP Computer Science A and scored a 4 on the AP exam. Currently, in his sophomore year, he is taking Pre-Calculus Honors, a highly demanding course that is designed in a Problem Based Learning teaching method. He is also taking AP Physics 1, an algebra-based physics course, and Algorithms & Data Structures, a project-based course where students work on large programming projects as a team. Part I – Basic App Building

Chapter 1: About The Book Tracker App

1.1 Overview

1.2 Our Goal and Final Words

Chapter 2: XCode

2.1 About XCode

2.2 Installation and System Requirements

2.3 Interface Introduction

Chapter 3: CloudKit

3.1 Setting Up CloudKit

3.2 Exploring CloudKit Dashboard

Chapter 4: Book Tracker App Building

4.1 Setting up the Tab View Controller

4.2 Creating a Tab Application

4.3 Add Book Screen

4.3.1. Designing the Add Screen

4.3.2. Assigning The Add View Controller file in Main.storyboard

4.3.3. Running the Code

4.3.4. Defining the UI Objects for the Add Screen

4.3.5. Running the program

4.4 Saving the Book Record in iCloud

4.4.1. Data Validation is an important step

4.4.2. Create a database function file

4.4.3. Preparation before Saving the Book

4.4.4. Function to save Book Record

4.4.5. Setting Value before calling saveBook

4.4.6. Post Save

4.4.7. Reset Field

4.5 Display the Book Records

4.5.1. Setting Up Display View Controller

4.5.2. Assigning The Display View Controller file in Main.storyboard

4.5.3. Query The Book Table

4.5.4. Call the Query Book

4.5.5. Create A Table View

4.5.6. Detailed Text Label

4.6 Setting a Table Header

4.7 Deleting a Table Record

4.7.1. Deleting book from CloudKit Database

4.7.2. Calling the Delete Book Function

4.8 Searching Data Screen

4.8.1. Create the Search View Controller

4.8.2. Draw the Search Screen

4.8.3. Query for all Records to enable Search

4.8.4. Text field Events, Operations and Display

4.8.5. Remove Constraints

4.8.6. Table Functions

Chapter 5: Core Swift Concepts

5.1 Variables

5.2 Basic Types

5.3 Classes, Structures & Objects

5.4 Array

5.5 Scope

5.6 Functions

5.7 Beautifying Strings using NSAttributedString

5.8 Life Cycle Methods

5.9 Type Casting

5.10 Loop Controls

5.11 UI Color

Part II — Advanced App

Chapter 6: iCloud Setup

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Redesigning the UI of the Display Book Screen

6.2.1. Initial Setup

6.2.2. Defining UI Objects for the Top Views

6.2.3. Lifecycle Method and Initial Setup

6.2.4. Drawing the Screen

6.2.5. Table Setup

6.2.6. Top View Blocks

6.3 Custom Delegation

6.3.1. Define the Delegate Protocol

6.3.2. Implementing the Delegate

6.3.3. Calling the Delegate

6.4 Add A Book

6.4.1. Creation of View Controller and Linking it to the Tab Bar

6.4.2. Inheriting Delegates

6.4.3. Declaring Variables

6.4.4. Declaring Screen Objects

6.4.5. Screen Load Event and Initial Functions

6.4.6. Displaying the Genre and Status Table

6.4.7. Input Text Field Events

6.4.8. Save the Book

6.4.9. Saving Book Record to iCloud

6.4.10. Reset Fields

6.5 Book Details View Controller

6.5.1. Initial Setup

6.5.2. Drawing the Screen

6.5.3. Displaying the Book Details

6.5.4. Book Share

6.5.5. Edit Book

6.5.6. Book Delete

6.5.7. Book Notes

6.5.8. Book Reminder

6.5.9. Mark Favorite

6.5.10. Animation Function

6.6 Shared Books Tab

6.6.1. Accept the Share Record – Scene Delegate

6.6.2. Share Record Function

6.6.3. Shared Book Database Function

6.7 Search Screen

6.7.1. Create the View Controller

6.7.2. Class Variables

6.7.3. Class UI Objects

6.7.4. Screen Setup

6.7.5. Text Field Function

6.7.6. Drawing The Table

6.7.7. Removing the constraints

6.7.8. Table Function

6.8 Conclusion

Chapter 7: Packaging and Releasing

7.1.1. Setting up the application logo

7.1.2. Build the Archive and publish

7.1.3. Setting Up the App in App Store

7.1.4. Promote Development Database to Production Database

7.1.5. Invite Test Users in Test Flight

Audience: Intermediate