Swift Playgrounds: A Promising Start For Hobby Developers

It's not perfect and it's definitely not ready for professional use, but from a hobbyist standpoint, Swift Playgrounds is a promising tool - even for game developers. Let me explain.

There are some real benefits to Swift Playgrounds from the hobbyist side of things. First of all, it's super portable being the only way to really write code and publish an app using your iPad. You can even share apps with your friends using AirDrop!

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Additionally, because Apple wrote Swift Playgrounds in a way that removes a lot of the bulk of Xcode you have a lightening fast app even on lower-end hardware which is great for the huge market of educational institutions that would consider the entry-level iPad as an option.

Finally, it might be paired down a bit from Xcode and while that does introduce some limitations, it is not so hamstrung that it's not powerful. You can write full apps with Swift Playgrounds and these apps can even access some of the capabilities that you might need to include to make your app work with the rest of iOS.

#swiftUI #gamedev

Happy coding and I'll see you next week.

[John-Dav]

What do you think of Swift Playgrounds? Is this just the beginning of what is possible on the iPad? I sure hope so!

[SweetHoneycode]

I wish more dev tools took this route. This is incredible.

[RM-xrlq]

i work as a software engineer doing full stack (mostly backend) for the web, and wanted to see how mobile development is. i initially checkout out stanford’s cs193p course for ios dev, and it was a little dry and a matching game doesn’t really seem like the best project to start with (a little boring and dissimilar to most apps)

i recently learned about the ios modules on swift playgrounds (m1 ipad), and it is has been really enjoyable and easy to learn! they do a great job easing you into ios fundamentals, and the way it walks you through with accompanying documentation, encouraging experimentation, really lets you grasp how swift and swift UI works. i’ll probably still go through that stanford course after this, but i already feel like i have a strong foundation in just a few hours of using playgrounds

[AivarsMeijers]

I build and submitted App to the AppStore and live streamed all the process. It is doable, but I do not see anyone in his own mind will switch from Xcode to Playgrounds. Also as you said there is a bunch of limitations and you can’t even use all the Apple Frameworks. But this is great tool to start learning to code and even release first App without buying a mac and learning how to use Xcode.

[kwo_connected_fitness]

Suggestion for future video. How to import/open Swift PG4 application in Xcode. Then how to load that application from Xcode onto your iPhone.

[scottwooddell]

You are absolutely right about this being a great tool for education. I am a computer science teacher at a high school where every student is issued an iPad. I am now looking for ways to incorporate using Swift Playgrounds into my curriculum. I am looking for more online tutorials to get myself up to speed with Swift and SwiftUI. Keep the videos coming.

[len_len]

I installed Playground on Mac, found it much more convenient. Amazing for trying coding journey

[mikaa]

With ipad mini coming out I expect that we can code on the go a dream for every programmer

[kenzalethomas]

It’s official. I’m watching your vids when it comes to updates on swift playgrounds and X code. I would love have the same functionality of Xcode on Swift Playgrounds.

[elvinhuseynli]

İ have question to you?can we develop programme in ipad, look like notability or other programme that we can share in app store?

[gregr]

Spot on observations! Looking forward to more 30 minute app building on the iPad only videos in the future :-) hint hint

[PatilShraddhesh]

Hey I'm from future and it's available for mac

[hit_G]

I just picked up a Redragon K530 wireless mechanical keyboard! I’m not sure if programmers like 60% layout, i think a 75% keyboard would have been better. 75% are not common and more expensive!

[Abdullah-zlub]

I’m wondering if it’s good to learn swift and leave python and C learning…etc. is it worth it and do you think it’s easier to understand? Also do you think it’s a good idea to develop my own app for living or better run a normal non tech company?

[kwo_connected_fitness]

Please keep up the Swift Playgrounds 4 content. Thanks!

[officialegemen]

A MacBook Air is more compact and lighter than an 13 inch iPad Pro with magic keyboard fyi

[MyNathanking]

This is horrid, horrid, horrid, because it has nothing to do with the world of Byte and his gems and his switches. I can understand that, but I can't understand THIS, and there's nothing in this that I am am able to apply from learning in the world of Byte the bird.