iOS has gotten so complex. Why?

Asked on 2024-07-30

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iOS has become more complex over the years due to the continuous addition of new features and capabilities aimed at enhancing user experience and developer productivity. Here are some reasons for this complexity:

  1. Customization and Controls: iOS 18 introduces new customizable controls that allow users to perform frequent tasks more easily. These controls can be added to the control center or assigned to the action button on the iPhone 15 Pro, making the system more versatile and user-friendly (Platforms State of the Union).

  2. Integration of Multiple Frameworks: The integration of various frameworks like SwiftUI, UIKit, and AppKit has been deepened, allowing for more seamless interoperability. This integration enables developers to use gesture recognizers and animations across different UI frameworks, enhancing the flexibility and functionality of apps (Platforms State of the Union).

  3. Advanced Features in SwiftUI: SwiftUI continues to evolve with new features that make it easier to build apps for any Apple device. It allows for a high level of customization and fine-tuning, which adds to the complexity but also to the power and flexibility of the platform (Platforms State of the Union).

  4. Security Enhancements: iOS has also focused on improving security with features like passkeys, which replace traditional passwords and offer a more secure and user-friendly authentication method (Platforms State of the Union).

  5. New APIs and Tools: The introduction of new APIs and tools, such as the controls API and Swiftassist, a coding companion, adds layers of functionality that developers can leverage to create more sophisticated apps (Platforms State of the Union 5-Minute Recap).

These advancements contribute to the overall complexity of iOS but also provide developers with powerful tools to create more engaging and efficient applications.