Xcode Tips for the Expert iOS Developer

Get the most comprehensive list of Xcode tips crafted by expert iOS to enhance iOS development proficiency, improve accuracy and save time.

We all know that Xcode isn't just all about coding. And especially for skilled iOS developers, Xcode is infused into everyday duties – be it coding, debugging, viewing source control differences to measuring app performance.

Check out this comprehensive list of Xcode tips crafted by expert iOS developer that besides enhancing your iOS development proficiency, will improve accuracy and save time as well.

Use Xcode's Open Quickly Shortcut to FIND YOUR FILES

One of the mandatory shortcut to be memorized before starting in Xcode is Open Quickly. Just like Spotlight Search feature in Mac OS X that is used to find files and apps, in Xcode the similar feature is called Open Quickly. But this shortcut works the best, if you know the filename or the name of a method/public variable in the file. At the same time, searching for a method or property with Open Quickly can be slow considering it has to do a project-wide index and search.

Use, Edit, and Add Actions to BREAKPOINTS

If you are an expert Xcode developer, Breakpoints is the feature that works best for you, especially when coders go through grueling debugging phase. Here using exception/error breakpoints helps debugger hit a breakpoint every time an error or exception is thrown in. Moreover, breakpoints can be transcended to the next level by editing – so as to add an action to them that can vary from debugger commands to log messages.

Use Xcode's Assistant Editor to DEVELOP WITH CONTEXT

Essentially one of the most useful tool in Xcode, the Assistant Editor helps open the next file you plan to edit, even though it might not always be completely accurate; however, the super intuitive menu system design ensures you almost always find a related file. Moreover, you can also tweak the Assistant Editor to display files based on common filters or navigate to a file manually.

Get BETTER CODE REVIEWS with Version Editor

Harness the power of Xcode's Version Editor to get better codes courtesy, its 2 powerful code reviewing features – Blame mode (for codes that are difficult to comprehend) and  Compare mode (that helps identify what's changed exactly in the code before you upload it).

Use Xcode Shortcuts and Code Snippets to CODE FASTER

Studies have shown that using keyboard shortcuts while coding using Xcode saves a lot of time and efforts; besides maintaining a logical flow of the code with least distraction. Check out this list of compiled shortcuts for your Xcode programming:

• ⌘ 0: Show/hide Navigator region
• ⌘ 1 through ⌘ n: Switch Navigator tabs
• ⌘ ⌥ J: Filter Navigator results
• ⌘ ⇧ Y: Show/hide Debug region
• ⌘ ⌥ 0: Show/hide Utility region
• ⌘ ⌥ 1 through ⌘ ⌥ n: Switch Utility tabs
• ⌃ 6: Jump menu for methods
• ⌃ 1: Magic Menu
• ⌃ ⌘ Up and ⌃ ⌘ Down: File counterpart navigation
• ⌃ ⌘ E: Rename symbol within scope (Note: No support for properties)
• ⌃ ⌘ Left and ⌃ ⌘ Right: Navigate file history
• ⌃ ⌘ J: View source of symbol
• ⌥ Selection: Vertical selection
• ⌘ ↵: Show/hide Assistant Editor (as mentioned above)
• ⌥ as modifier: Execute shortcut in Assistant Editor (as mentioned above)
• ⌘ ⇧ ] and ⌘ ⇧ [: Move to next/previous tab
• ⌘ ⌥ ] and ⌘ ⌥ [: Move line up / down
• ⌘ R: Run app
• ⌘ B: Build app
• ⌃ .: Stop app while running
• ⌃ i: Format code (code needs to be highlighted)

AUGMENT XCODE FUNCTIONALITY with Extensions

Missing any features you’d love to have in Xcode? Well, you can seamless add new or missing features to Xcode using Extensions, even though the extension ecosystem isn’t as robust or well known as other IDEs. The only notable point is that while most IDEs have an extension gallery built-in, Xcode doesn’t even document their extension APIs.

But these are not the last tips on the block. Have any more expert Xcode developer tips that the iOS developer community would benefit from? Do share with us.

About Anna Harris:
Anna Harris working as web content writer and a strategist for a major IT firm, providing hire web developer services for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other operating systems.

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