tvOS
Create A Link To Your tvOS App
tvOS developers rejoice! You can finally create links to your apps.
When clicking on the link, visitors are given the opportunity to view the app listing on their iOS device or desktop computer. From there, you can purchase/get the app, and if Automatic App Download is enabled on Apple TV, the app will be downloaded and installed on the set-top box next time you turn it on.
It is now possible to create direct links to Apple TV apps by Sébastien Page
Swift
Conquering Date Math With Swift
Here's a nice guide on using dates with Swift. Tom compares the wrong way versus the right way to get today, tomorrow, and convert dates.
Sponsored
Free 7-Hour Workshop for Indie iOS Focus Readers
Paul Hudson's epic 7-hour Advanced Swift workshop is one of the most popular Forward Courses. It’s now free to the first 100 Indie iOS Dev Focus subscribers. Head over to https://forwardcourses.com/indieiosfocus, sign up, and instantly start watching. Access courses on iOS 10, beginning and advanced Swift, PoP, functional programming for only $19/month.
Downloads. Downloads. Downloads.
With a follower reach of 250M users, Trend Pie uses social media to drive organic downloads for your app.
Multiple apps have become a trending search in the App Store driving tens of thousands of downloads and on average Trend Pie customers are getting a $.40 cost-per-install.
Design
How Your App Update Could Kill Downloads
Uber recently updated their iOS app and Anatoly breaks it down from an ASO (App Store Optimization) point of view. He points out how the apps size has ballooned and finds a review of a user who did not download the app over a cellular connection because of this. It's pretty interesting to see how each of their update decisions could affect their download numbers.
The New Uber Rider App: Check Your ASO by Anatoly Sharifulin
Leave The Hamburger Menu In The Dust With These Alternatives
UX designers have been screaming for years how bad hamburger menus are. I can see why they gained popularity as they allowed you to condense a big menu in a tiny place on small mobile screens. There are much better alternatives, however, and Zoltan walks us through each of them.
Hamburger menu alternatives for mobile navigation by Zoltan Kollin
Tutorials
Beyond Sticker Packs: Building an iMessage App
I must admit, I haven't done much research on iMessage apps. They haven't really taken off yet, but I can see them becoming a bigger deal in the future. Keith shows us how to build an app with iMessage support.
An iMessage extension can create a custom UI to be presented to a user within iMessages.
Learn How to Build an iMessage App with Swift by Keith Elliott
Monetization
How One Indie Dev Made Almost $700 Extra With iTunes Affiliates
$700 may not seem like a ton, but for an indie it adds to the yearly revenue. Matthias updates us on his revenue and experience with using iTunes affiliate links when promoting his apps.
iTunes Affiliate Program – One Year In by Matthias Gansrigler
Career
Why You Shouldn't Feel Like An Inferior Developer
Kudos to Jordan for being open and honest about learning iOS development. A lot of this post hit home with me as my approach to becoming an iOS developer follows a similar path. I think we all feel inferior, even after we've become somewhat proficient. Read this post if you've been feeling overwhelmed and like you just aren't a good iOS developer because others are discussing Swift algorithms or debating optionals while you are using NSDefaults to store data. BTW, I still do this sometimes because it's super easy and has been very reliable for me!
As a side note, this weeks Under the Radar podcast also touched on this subject as they addressed learning new things.
Beginners
Tips For Junior Developers
Good stuff from Kayleigh on what you should focus on as you grow your developer career. Whether you work as an indie, moonlight, or are looking for a developer job, these are all things you need to consider to grow your skillset.
10 Tips To Start Off Well In A Junior Dev Role by Kayleigh Oliver
One More Thing
Funny 1 Star Reviews
In case you missed it, some of our fellow developers read their 1 star reviews. Funny stuff!
How Will The Donald Trump Presidency Effect Tech?
Most people agree that 'uncertain' is the best way to describe the next four years of American politics and policy. I've tried to find a few posts that relate to how it will affect you as a tech user and developer. I do admit that the last one is more about the misinformation and fear that is spread. Most developers I know like science and facts, which seem to be out of style lately.
Net neutrality likely gutted...
Under Trump the future of Net Neutrality and broadband is uncertain
Good summary of many different issues including privacy, energy, immigration of tech professionals, etc.
What Trump means for tech
Looking for another reason for Trumps victory? Forty-four percent of all adults in the United States say they get news from Facebook. Really? Facebook is a haven for fake and hoax news.
Donald Trump Won Because of Facebook
Welcome to this week's issue. I have to be honest. It was extremely difficult to focus this week. I saw many other developers on Twitter talk about their lack of productivity due to the US election too. Since this is a newsletter about development, not politics, I'll only say that, in my 42 years on this earth, I have never been shocked more than I was Tuesday night. I have never been so sure something would happen that didn't. But I have to move on and get back to life. We all need a break, so here's yours. I put the only political link relevant to developers at the bottom. You can skip that too if you want :) - @cdbeshore