How to Build a Calculator App with Xcode and AI

1. Overview

In this tutorial, we will guide you through building a fully functional calculator app while introducing you to a fantastic new tool, Alex, an AI for iOS development.

What We're Building

We will be creating a calculator that can perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. We’ll also store a history of calculations locally on the user's device.

Prerequisites

Xcode: Download Here
Alex: Try Free Here

2. Implementation Steps

Step 1: Project Setup & Planning

Create a new Xcode project. Go to File > New > Project, choose App, and name it "Calculator".

Plan your app: we need a display for the current calculation, buttons for digits and operations, and a section to show calculation history.

Using Alex, you can articulate these requirements, and the AI will help draft your initial models and views. Say something like "I need a user interface with a display at the top, a 4x4 grid of buttons, and a list below for history."

Step 2: Core Features

With your basic layout ready, it’s time to implement the functionality. For each button, create an action that modifies the display and performs calculations.

Leverage Alex to streamline this process. For example, tell it "Create a function that updates the display with the tapped number or performs the operation if an operator is tapped."

Step 3: Data & Storage

To store calculation history, we will use UserDefaults and Codable. With Alex, you can describe what you need: "Create a calculation history data model that stores a list of calculations. Make it Codable and create functions to save and retrieve it from UserDefaults."

Alex can then generate the boilerplate code for you, including functions for saving and loading the history.

After the core functionality is working, refine your app. Add animations to button presses, handle loading and error states, and optimize performance.

Alex can provide suggestions for improvements, such as "Suggest a way to animate the button presses" or "How can I handle errors when loading calculation history?"

During these polishing stages, Alex is an invaluable resource for optimizing redundant logic and improving code structure.

3. Next Steps

In our next tutorial, we will learn how to add more advanced features like scientific calculations and memory functions.

Feel free to experiment by adding more features. For example, you could try using Alex to help you add a button that switches between a light and dark theme.

Here are some additional resources for learning iOS development:

4. Conclusion

Congratulations, you've built a calculator app! You've seen how AI can speed up development and solve problems. Remember, Alex understands your requests in natural language, making it a powerful tool for beginners and seasoned developers alike.

Try out Alex for free at Alex and see how it can revolutionize your iOS development workflow.