Efficient Steps and Cheap Tools to Build An App From An Idea to Distribution
(My latest book “macOS App Development: The SwiftUI Way” is now available. Grab your copy today!)
Have an app idea on MacOS, but no idea where to start? This is the article. I’m sharing a playbook that enabled me to build an app and publish it within days.
All the tools I recommend below are pretty efficient, either free or low-cost.
I know building an app can be very time-consuming. You take a leap of faith and build it, and don’t know whether it will take off. So watching for the upfront cost is a must.
Prerequisites — What you need before you start
- MacBook (Regular MacBook, Air, Pro… it does not matter)
- Download Xcode (Download from App Store for free)
- Apple Developer Program annual fee $99 (Do you know you can build many apps with the same $99?)
- An Idea 💡
Development
User Experience
Like many engineers, I had no confidence in designing the UX myself. After working with many design professionals, I learned the design process:
- Know the requirements
- Design a few options
- Get feedback
- Iterate the design…