Those Who Swift - Issue 225
Weekly note ✏️While some are tattooing “vibe-coding in my veins,” others are starting to call it “vulnerability-as-a-service.” Last week, an AI agent made headlines by first deleting a database, then running and passing tests with a cheerful green checkmark: “All good, no worries.” Meanwhile, the data was already gone. It had strict instructions not to delete anything and not to go beyond the current step — and still, here we are. And that’s not even fiction. Just recently, several popular apps were reported as “cracked,” though in reality, it was more likely a leak — including exposed Firebase Storage buckets with unencrypted KYC data. Yes, in 2025, this still happens. This all stems from blindly outsourcing tasks and problems to cloud-based AI services without proper review or oversight. Companies are selling these tools as your next great employee, but they forget to mention: it’s an employee with moods, shortcuts, and sometimes a little cheating to make the job look done (!). As you may know, the whole software profession evolved out of laziness — the desire to do more with less. We could still be counting with stones and solving long equations on paper, but thankfully, modern tech keeps improving. Interfaces are getting smoother, tasks are completed in a few clicks — even when those tasks involve parsing large, sensitive datasets. And that brings us to the core issue: exposing internal logic and data beyond your control boundaries, even under the guise of “secure” and “safe.” Everything must be double-checked. No shortcut replaces responsibility. Connect with the "Those Who Swift" team - Justas Markus & Anton Gubarenko 👋 Sponsor 🤝See Everything. Fix Anything. Stay Ahead of Bugs!Are you missing critical bugs because your app isn’t crashing? Bugfender captures real-time remote logs and crashes from all user devices, giving Swift developers complete visibility into hidden issues. Device-centric approach also includes integrated user feedback, so you can easily identify, understand, and fix bugs before your users notice. Try Bugfender today completely free, no credit card required. Swift Around the Web 🌐Uncertain: Modeling GPS AccuracyMattt introduces Uncertain<T>, a generic type for representing measurement uncertainty using statistical models like the Rayleigh distribution—perfect for handling typical circular errors in GPS data. It equips Swift developers with tools for combining, transforming, and interpreting uncertain values accurately, bridging the gap between raw sensor readings and reliable app behavior. Liskov Substitution Principle: Writing Trustworthy Swift CodeSwift and Mems are bad with article introducing the Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP), one of the SOLID principles, emphasizing that objects of a superclass should be safely replaceable with subclass instances without altering program behavior. Real-world Swift examples illustrate correct usage and pitfalls which are unintentionally can be met. Coding 👨💻iOS 26: SpeechAnalyzer GuideConverting audio—whether from a file or a buffer—is a useful feature in utility apps that enhances user interaction and streamlines the editing process. With the new SpeechAnalyzer in iOS 26, it’s now faster and more convenient to handle. SwiftUI Search Enhancements in iOS and iPadOS 26Natalia Panferova unveils redesigned search behavior in iOS 26, where toolbar-based search now appears within a floating Liquid Glass container—it sits at the top-trailing corner on iPad or at the bottom of the screen on iPhone for easier access. These new SwiftUI APIs let developers adopt polished, system-consistent search interfaces with minimal code changes. Apple 🍏Updated Age Ratings System in App Store ConnectApple has revamped its App Store age rating system, adding new categories—13+, 16+, and 18+—in addition to existing ratings, with changes visible on devices running beta versions of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26. Developers must now answer additional age-rating questions focused on sensitive content, medical topics, and in-app controls; ratings for all apps have been auto-updated and reflected in users’ devices. New 64‑bit Requirement for watchOS AppsStarting April 2026, all watchOS apps submitted to App Store Connect must include 64‑bit support and be built with the watchOS 26 SDK. Apple recommends using Xcode’s default “Standard architectures” setting to generate a single binary covering both 32‑ and 64‑bit. Retention Messaging APIApple’s new Retention Messaging API empowers developers to deliver custom messaging, promotional offers, or alternate subscription plans when users tap “Cancel Subscription” in the system’s cancellation sheet. These messages are fetched from your server in real-time—letting you present text-only alerts, image banners, switch-plan prompts, or discounted offers—while the overall UI remains controlled by Apple. Design 🎨Providing Multiple Accent Colors in SwiftUI AppsGabriel walks through how to let users personalize your app by choosing from multiple accent colors. The result: a dynamic, changeable color theme that flows automatically throughout your app. Other cool stuff 🧰Assembler for Swift DevelopersArtur Gruchała opens a hands‑on three‑part series teaching Swift developers the fundamentals of assembly programming. The post demystifies low‑level operations in a clear, accessible way—perfect for anyone curious about what happens under the hood. Beyond Mouse & Keyboard: Blender on iPadBlender’s “Beyond Mouse & Keyboard” initiative marks a bold step toward iPad and tablet support by bringing a branch of Blender optimized for iPadOS—and potentially touch and pen workflows. It’s part of the Geometry Nodes Workshop series and signals the project’s push toward truly mobile 3D creation. AI 🤖ChatGPT Study Mode Guides Rather Than AnswersOpenAI has introduced a new Study Mode designed to foster deeper learning by guiding users through problem-solving with step-by-step questions, rather than providing direct answers—tailoring explanations to your proficiency and goals Tutorials 📒Implementing a Refractive Glass Shader in MetalVictor Baro walks through crafting a convincing refractive glass shader in Metal, covering the core effects needed for realism—refraction, magnification falloff, soft shadows, edge lighting, and even chromatic aberration. A practical guide for developers aiming to replicate iOS 26-style “liquid glass” effects using Metal shaders. Video 🎥What Is a Mobile Platform EngineerA Mobile Platform Engineer builds the developer infrastructure that powers mobile apps—tools like CI/CD pipelines, modular SDKs, analytics systems, internal libraries, and automated performance checks. Think of them as the engineers who build and scale the platform you build on. This video by Tjeerd in 't Veen reveal this. Friends🤝
Get 30% off Natalia Panferova's SwiftUI Fundamentals book. Learn the logic and structure of modern UI composing. Performance tips, popular and not-so modifiers. All in one book! Discount code: ThoseWhoSwift Yet, another thing…Privacy Manifest GeneratorDonny Wals released a website with Privacy Manifest plist keys generation. Plus Tracking Domains and Collected Data Types. Useful tool. Thanks for reading Those Who Swift! Subscribe for free to receive new posts.
|
