Becoming an iOS developer is exciting and rewarding, but like any journey, it’s filled with learning curves. Whether you’re just starting out or already working on your 10th app, mistakes can happen. But don’t worry — we all learn by making a few errors along the way. What’s more important is to recognize and avoid these common pitfalls before they slow you down.
In this blog post, we’ll go over a list of common mistakes that iOS developers — both beginners and experienced — should watch out for.
Ignoring Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines
Apple provides detailed Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) to help developers build apps that feel native and user-friendly. Skipping or ignoring them often leads to apps that feel “off” or inconsistent with other iOS apps.
✅ Tip: Always refer to the Human Interface Guidelines before designing your app.
Overusing Force Unwrapping in Swift
Using the ! operator to force unwrap an optional in Swift might seem easy, but it can lead to app crashes if the value is nil.
❌ Example:
swift
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let userName = user.name! // Crashes if ‘name’ is nil
✅ Tip: Use optional binding (if let, guard let) to safely unwrap optionals.
Not Handling Memory Management Properly
Failing to manage memory can lead to leaks and performance issues. Strong reference cycles are a common issue, especially when using closures.
✅ Tip: Use [weak self] or [unowned self] in closures to avoid retain cycles.
Blocking the Main Thread
Heavy operations like network calls or image processing should not run on the main thread. Doing so makes the app laggy or even unresponsive.
✅ Tip: Offload long-running tasks to background threads using DispatchQueue.global() or async/await.
Skipping Unit Testing
Many developers skip writing tests, thinking it’s unnecessary or time-consuming. However, testing helps catch bugs early and makes future updates safer.
✅ Tip: Start small with unit tests for critical functions, and gradually build a habit of writing testable code.
Not Making the App Adaptive
Designing your app for just one screen size (like iPhone 13) is a big mistake. iOS devices come in different sizes, including iPads and various iPhones.
✅ Tip: Use Auto Layout and Size Classes to make your UI responsive and adaptive.
Hardcoding Strings and Values
Hardcoding text and values makes your app difficult to maintain and localize.
✅ Tip: Use constants and localization files (.strings) for managing texts and reusable values.
Neglecting Accessibility
Accessibility features make your app usable for everyone, including users with disabilities. Ignoring this limits your app’s reach and can lead to negative feedback.
✅ Tip: Use Accessibility Identifiers, proper labels, and VoiceOver support to improve accessibility.
Not Using Version Control (like Git)
Coding without version control is risky. If something breaks, you may have no easy way to go back.
✅ Tip: Learn Git basics — commit often, write clear messages, and use branches for features or bug fixes.
Not Keeping Up with iOS Updates
iOS is constantly evolving. Not staying updated with the latest changes in Swift, APIs, or design practices can make your skills outdated.
✅ Tip: Follow Apple’s developer news, WWDC sessions, or iOS development blogs to stay informed.
Final Thoughts
Mistakes are part of the learning process. The good news is — most of them are avoidable once you’re aware of them. Whether you’re building your first app or maintaining an enterprise-level project, avoiding these common iOS development mistakes can save you time, improve your code, and create a better experience for users.
Happy coding! 🍏📱