How to build a workout planning app with Xcode and AI

Overview

Welcome to this beginner-friendly tutorial where we'll be building a workout planning app using Xcode and Alex, an AI tool for iOS development. This tutorial will take you through the entire app development process, from project setup and planning to final polish and refinement.

What we're building

We'll create a simple workout planning app where users can add exercises, set workout durations, and track their progress over time.

Prerequisites

You'll need the following tools to follow this tutorial:

• Xcode
• Alex, an AI tool for iOS development

Implementation Steps

1. Project Setup & Planning

Creating a new Xcode project

Start by launching Xcode and creating a new iOS project. Select "App" under the iOS tab and click "Next." Name your project "WorkoutApp" and make sure SwiftUI is selected as the User Interface.

Planning app features

As we plan our app, we'll consider the key features users might expect from a workout planning app. This includes:

• Adding exercises
• Setting workout durations
• Tracking workout progress

Brainstorming data models

We'll need two main data models: Exercise and Workout. The Exercise model will have properties like name and duration, while the Workout model will contain a list of Exercise objects and a date.

At this point, you could start writing these models manually—or you could describe their structure in natural language to Alex, and let it draft the initial models for you.

Outlining basic UI/UX

The app's main screen will show a list of workouts, and tapping on a workout will show its exercises. We'll also have a screen for adding exercises to a workout.

2. Core Features

Implementing main app functionality

Let's start by implementing the main functionality. This involves creating the views for displaying workouts, adding exercises, and viewing a workout's exercises.

Building UI with SwiftUI

We can start by creating a WorkoutView that displays a list of exercises. Here's where Alex can help generate the initial SwiftUI code based on your description.

struct WorkoutView: View {
    var workout: Workout
    
    var body: some View {
        List(workout.exercises) { exercise in
            Text(exercise.name)
            ...
        }
    }
}

Wiring up logic and user interactions

Next, we'll wire up the logic for adding exercises to a workout. This is where you can ask Alex to generate the functions for adding exercises and handling user interactions. Don't panic if you run into any issues and the project can't build. You can always ask Alex to help you fix the issues.

3. Data & Storage

Persisting data locally

We'll use UserDefaults to persist the workout data locally. Alex can help generate the boilerplate code for saving and loading workouts.

Creating functions to save and retrieve data

Next, we'll need functions to save new workouts and retrieve existing ones. If you run into any issues, Alex can help troubleshoot and correct them.

Managing state and updates

Finally, we need to manage the app state to reflect updates in the workouts. Alex can help you understand how to use @State and @Binding to manage state in SwiftUI.

4. Polish & Refinement

Adding animations

Alex can suggest where to add animations to improve the user experience. For example, you could animate the transition between screens or the addition of new exercises.

Handling loading and error states

It's essential to handle loading and error states in your app. For instance, you could show a loading spinner while workouts are being loaded, and an error message if loading fails.

Making final performance tweaks

Finally, ensure your app runs smoothly and efficiently. Alex can suggest ways to improve your code structure and optimize redundant logic.

Next Steps

Ready for the next challenge? Try adding more features to your workout app, like a timer for each exercise or a calendar to schedule workouts.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you've built a workout planning app with Xcode and AI! You've seen how AI can speed up and simplify the development process. To continue exploring what Alex can do, sign up for a free trial at Alex. Happy coding!