Recommendations from ChatGPT.
0. Setup
Xcode - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/xcode/id497799835
That's it. Don't install anything else yet.
1. Swift Basics (skim, don't master)
You need just enough Swift to read SwiftUI code.
Apple - The Swift Programming Language
Read selectively:
- Basics
- Structures & Classes
- Enumerations
- Closures
- Protocols
Skip:
- Advanced operators
- Generics (for now)
2. SwiftUI Fundamentals (this is the core)
This is where you actually start "iOS dev".
Apple - SwiftUI Tutorials (official, free)
Do:
- Introducing SwiftUI
- Building Lists and Navigation
- Handling User Input
Ignore polish and animations. Focus on data → view.
3. SwiftUI Mental Model (state & data flow)
If this doesn't click, nothing else will.
Apple - SwiftUI Data Flow
Understand:
@State@BindingObservableObject@StateObject
Do NOT memorize modifiers.
4. Swift Concurrency (non-optional)
This explains async patterns in modern Swift code.
Apple docs
Focus on:
async/awaitTask- Actors
@MainActor
WWDC (best explanation, still relevant)
- https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2021/10132/ (Meet Swift Concurrency)
5. One Pragmatic Teacher (pick ONE)
After Apple docs, reinforce with exactly one external source.
Option A - Practical (recommended)
Hacking with Swift - SwiftUI
Clear, current, production-oriented.
Option B - Deeper, more rigorous
Point-Free - SwiftUI & Concurrency
Excellent if you like correctness and theory.
6. What NOT to Use
Skip these entirely at the start:
- "SwiftUI in X hours" YouTube courses
- UIKit-first tutorials
- Anything teaching
DispatchQueue.main.async - Old blog posts (pre-2021)