iOS Architecture, Concepts and Xcode Installation [4 Steps]

In this article , In this article, we are going to cover iOS introduction, iOS applications, iOS architecture, Xcode Installation and How to use Xcode to write code in swift language.

Table of Contents

#1. Introduction

Apple Inc. developed an operating system named IOS, which is used in mobile phones. It was evolved in 2007, normally used in Apple TV, ipad touch, and iPhone. OS X is an operating system used in apple computers. Initially iPhone OS was the nomenclature foe IOS. In 2007, it was used in iPhone, iPod touch.

First generation was released in 2010 called as iPad. In 2012, iPad mini was released.In every year one version of iPhone and iPad is launched.

Following are IOS Versions are released till 2020

2.1 iPhone OS 1
2.2 iPhone OS 2
2.3 iPhone OS 3
2.4 iOS 4
2.5 iOS 5
2.6 iOS 6
2.7 iOS 7
2.8 iOS 8
2.9 iOS 9
2.10 iOS 10
2.11 iOS 11
2.12 iOS 12
2.13 iOS 13 / iPad OS 13
2.14 iOS 14 / iPad OS 14

#2: Applications in iOS

Following are some applications which are present in iOS

App Library
Phone Calls
Multi touch
camera
GPS
Safari browser
Battery Notifications
Magnifier
Game center
Social Media apps ( Facebook and twitter )

#3: iOS Architecture

iOS Architecture, Concepts and Xcode Installation [4 Steps] 1

1) Cocoa Touch Layer

It is a First and top layer of the iPhone OS stack and it contains the frameworks that are most commonly used by iPhone application developers.

Cocoa Touch is developed in Objective-C, and it is based on the standard Mac OS X Cocoa API.

2) Media Layer

It is the second layer of the stack. It provides the iPhone OS with audio, video, animation and graphics capabilities.

As with the other layers of the iPhone OS stack, the Media layer comprises a number of frameworks that can be utilized when developing iPhone apps.

3) Core Services Layer

It is the third layer from the top of the stack. The iPhone Core Services layer provides much of the foundation on which the above layers are built.

4) Core OS Layer

The Core OS Layer is the bottom layer of the iPhone OS stack and sits directly on top of the device hardware.

This layer provides several services including low level networking, access to external accessories , fundamental operating system services such as memory management, file system handling, threads.

5) iPhone Hardware:

Hardware devices are maintained by iPhone OS and used for implementing local applications on the phone.

The OS craft with system applications like Mail, Safari browser, Phone, that provide services to the end user.

We have covered iOS architecture at basic level.

#4: Installation of Xcode

Xcode is a compiler on which we can write programs in Objective C, C, C++ and swift language as well.

1. Open the iOS apple site https://developer.apple.com/downloads/ with Apple ID

2. Once logged in Double click on Xcode dmg file.

3. You can find a device mounted and opened.

4. You will see two items in the window displayed, Xcode application and Application folder’s shortcut icon

5. Drag the Xcode to application and it will copy in your applications.

6. Xcode will available for you applications from which you can select and run.

Other option for downloading Xcode from the Mac App store

1. Interface Builder:

Interface Builder Screen is divided into three parts

First part contains name of project you have created

Second part is for implementation

Third parts contains tools and properties of all components we need to develop application.

2. iOS Simulator

An iOS simulator has two types of devices, iPhone and iPad with different versions. iPhone versions include iPhone, iPhone Retina, iPad has iPad and iPad Retina.