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Owen LaRosa, Kate Rotondo, Gabrielle Miller-Messner, and Jarrod Parkes

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What's inside

Syllabus

So far, you've focused largely on UIKit and various UI elements of your apps. Now, you'll learn how to deal with network requests and storing data to the device.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches use of networking protocols to integrate with apps, which is standard in the mobile app industry
Develops foundational skills in working with networking and APIs, which are core skills for most mobile app developers
Taught by instructors who are widely recognized for their work in programming and computer science
Examines HTTP networking protocols and practices used in web and mobile app development
Covers web APIs and methods used in web and mobile app development
Develops skills in handling errors and debugging networked apps, which is a critical skill for mobile app developers

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Reviews summary

Mastering network & async in ios

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in a critical area of iOS development: network requests and Grand Central Dispatch (GCD). Students frequently praise the practical, hands-on approach, particularly the real-world project applications that solidify understanding. The course is noted for its clear explanations of complex topics, making asynchronous programming and API integration accessible. While largely positive, some express a desire for more in-depth coverage or advanced techniques, especially for experienced developers, suggesting it is best suited for those looking to build a strong base.
Solid for fundamentals, but some desire more advanced topics.
"While excellent for beginners, I felt it could use more in-depth coverage on complex topics like advanced error handling strategies or optimization techniques for network usage."
"The course is comprehensive for the basics, but I was hoping for a bit more on advanced authentication flows or complex API architectures."
"It lays a crucial groundwork, but for experienced developers, some parts might feel a little basic, though still valuable for a refresher."
Well-organized modules progress logically.
"The progression from basic HTTP to complex API interactions and authentication was very logical and easy to follow."
"Each lesson built effectively on the previous one, making the learning curve smooth even for challenging topics."
"I appreciated the bite-sized modules; they allowed me to absorb information without feeling overwhelmed."
Helpful techniques for troubleshooting networked apps.
"The section on debugging networked apps was incredibly useful; it's a common pain point and the tips provided were excellent."
"I found the strategies for limiting network usage and properly handling errors to be very practical and immediately applicable to my projects."
"Understanding how to identify and resolve issues with API calls and data parsing was a highlight of the course for me."
Provides a strong base for iOS networking and concurrency.
"This course really helped solidify my understanding of the asynchronous nature and core principles of networking in iOS."
"It provides a great starting point for anyone looking to understand how to handle data from APIs in their Swift applications."
"I now feel much more confident in making GET and POST requests, parsing JSON, and ensuring a responsive UI with GCD."
The course offers valuable hands-on coding and projects.
"The hands-on coding and projects are the strongest part of the course for me, making the concepts stick."
"I loved the project where we had to pull data from a web service to display a map with pins. It was very practical."
"The demos and practice with third-party web APIs were essential for understanding how to integrate networking into real apps. I gained a solid foundation."
Complex topics are broken down and explained clearly.
"The instructor did a fantastic job of breaking down complex concepts like GCD and network requests into easily digestible pieces."
"I really appreciate how the course explained the asynchronous nature of network calls and how GCD helps manage concurrency effectively."
"The explanations of associated values, guards, and generics were incredibly clear and helped me understand Swift fundamentals better for networking."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Network Requests and GCD with these activities:
HTTP Request-Response Cycle Simulations
Gain a deep understanding of the HTTP request-response cycle through hands-on simulations.
Browse courses on Networking
Show steps
  • Simulate sending an HTTP GET request to a server
  • Simulate receiving an HTTP response from a server
  • Analyze the HTTP headers and body
JSON Parsing Tutorial
Follow a tutorial to learn techniques for parsing JSON data in Swift.
Show steps
  • Install and set up frameworks for JSON parsing.
  • Practice parsing JSON data using Swift's built-in JSON decoding.
  • Handle errors and invalid JSON data.
Practice writing GET requests
Writing GET requests is fundamental to working with HTTP networking in iOS apps.
Show steps
  • Set up a new XCode project.
  • Create a URLRequest object.
  • Set the URL of the request to the URL of the API endpoint.
  • Specify the HTTP method as GET.
  • Send the request using the URLSession class and handle the response.
Nine other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 12 activities
Asynchronous Programming Tutorial
Follow a tutorial to learn about asynchronous programming using Grand Central Dispatch (GCD).
Show steps
  • Review the concepts of concurrency and threads.
  • Install and set up GCD on your development environment.
  • Write code to perform asynchronous tasks using GCDs queues.
  • Handle task completion and error handling using GCD.
Get started with Grand Central Dispatch (GCD)
Master the basics of GCD to create asynchronous apps that provide a smooth user experience.
Browse courses on Networking
Show steps
  • Review the GCD documentation and tutorials
  • Implement GCD in a Swift project
  • Debug and optimize your GCD code
Guided Tutorial: Using GCD
GCD is essential for creating responsive iOS apps, which is key for a good user experience.
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on GCD.
  • Follow the steps in the tutorial to create a simple GCD-based app.
  • Experiment with different GCD features, such as queues and dispatch groups.
Networking Drills
Perform drills to become more familiar with networking concepts and techniques.
Show steps
  • Practice writing client-server code for basic network operations.
  • Simulate network delays and troubleshoot issues.
  • Test network applications with various input and network conditions.
Networking and API Integration Workshop
Attend a workshop to learn from experts and practice implementing networking and API integration techniques.
Show steps
  • Participate in hands-on exercises and discussions.
  • Network with other participants and industry professionals.
HTTP Request Practice
Practice making HTTP requests and handling responses using Swift.
Show steps
  • Use the URLRequest and URLSession classes to make GET and POST requests.
  • Parse and handle the response data using Swift's built-in JSON decoding.
  • Handle errors and network issues.
Authentication Practice
Practice implementing authentication mechanisms in Swift.
Show steps
  • Use built-in Swift libraries for user authentication.
  • Implement custom authentication mechanisms.
  • Handle authentication errors and security considerations.
Create a Networked iOS App
Building a networked iOS app will help you apply your knowledge of HTTP networking and JSON parsing in a practical setting.
Show steps
  • Choose an API to use for your app.
  • Design the user interface for your app.
  • Implement the networking logic in your app.
  • Parse the JSON response from the API.
  • Display the data in your app's user interface.
Networked iOS App Project
Build a networked iOS application to demonstrate your understanding and skills in networking and API integration.
Show steps
  • Design the app's architecture and user interface.
  • Implement networking and API integration.
  • Handle user interactions and data persistence.
  • Test and debug the application.
  • Refine and improve the app based on user feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Network Requests and GCD will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Web Developer
Web Developers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining websites and web applications. This course will help you build a foundation in networking and data handling, which are essential skills for Web Developers. You will learn how to make network requests using Swift and use Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to ensure a responsive UI. Additionally, you will get practice parsing JSON, a common data format used in web development.
Mobile Developer
Mobile Developers specialize in designing, developing, and maintaining mobile applications. This course will help you build a foundation in networking and data handling, which are important skills for Mobile Developers. You will learn how to make network requests using Swift and use Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to ensure a responsive UI. You will also get practice parsing JSON, which is a common data format used in mobile development.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to help businesses make better decisions. This course will help you build a foundation in data handling and networking, which are valuable skills for Data Analysts. You will learn how to parse JSON, a common data format used in data analysis. Additionally, you will learn how to use Swift and Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to efficiently process and analyze data.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. This course will help you build a foundation in networking and data handling, which are essential skills for Software Engineers. You will learn how to make network requests using Swift and use Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to ensure a smooth user experience. Additionally, you will get practice parsing JSON, a common data format used in software development.
Systems Analyst
Systems Analysts design, develop, and maintain computer systems. This course will help you build a foundation in networking and data handling, which are critical skills for Systems Analysts. You will learn how to make network requests using Swift and use Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to ensure efficient data processing. Additionally, you will get practice parsing JSON, a common data format used in systems analysis.
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmers write code to create or modify software applications. This course will help you build a foundation in networking and data handling, which are essential skills for Computer Programmers. You will learn how to make network requests using Swift and use Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to ensure efficient code execution. Additionally, you will get practice parsing JSON, a common data format used in software programming.
Network Administrator
Network Administrators manage and maintain computer networks. This course will help you build a foundation in networking, which is a critical skill for Network Administrators. You will learn how to make network requests using Swift and use Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to ensure efficient network performance. Additionally, you will get practice parsing JSON, a common data format used in network administration.
Database Administrator
Database Administrators manage and maintain databases. This course will help you build a foundation in data handling, which is a critical skill for Database Administrators. You will learn how to parse JSON, a common data format used in database management. Additionally, you will learn how to use Swift and Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to efficiently process and manage data.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists collect, clean, and analyze data to help businesses make better decisions. This course will help you build a foundation in data handling, which is a valuable skill for Data Scientists. You will learn how to parse JSON, a common data format used in data science. Additionally, you will learn how to use Swift and Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to efficiently process and analyze data.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts help businesses improve their operations by analyzing data and identifying areas for improvement. This course will help you build a foundation in data handling and networking, which are valuable skills for Business Analysts. You will learn how to parse JSON, a common data format used in business analysis. Additionally, you will learn how to use Swift and Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to efficiently process and analyze data.
Project Manager
Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. This course will help you build a foundation in data handling, which is a valuable skill for Project Managers. You will learn how to parse JSON, a common data format used in project management. Additionally, you will learn how to use Swift and Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to efficiently process and manage project data.
Quality Assurance Analyst
Quality Assurance Analysts test and evaluate software applications to ensure they meet quality standards. This course may help you build a foundation in networking and data handling, which can be beneficial for Quality Assurance Analysts. You will learn how to make network requests using Swift and use Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to ensure efficient testing. Additionally, you will get practice parsing JSON, a common data format used in quality assurance.
IT Manager
IT Managers plan, implement, and manage IT systems. This course may help you build a foundation in networking and data handling, which can be beneficial for IT Managers. You will learn how to make network requests using Swift and use Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to ensure efficient system performance. Additionally, you will get practice parsing JSON, a common data format used in IT management.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create documentation for software and hardware products. This course may help you build a foundation in data handling, which can be beneficial for Technical Writers. You will learn how to parse JSON, a common data format used in technical documentation. Additionally, you will learn how to use Swift and Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to efficiently process and manage technical information.
Data Entry Clerk
Data Entry Clerks enter data into computer systems. This course may help you build a foundation in data handling, which can be beneficial for Data Entry Clerks. You will learn how to parse JSON, a common data format used in data entry. Additionally, you will learn how to use Swift and Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) to efficiently process and manage data.

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Network Requests and GCD.
Provides a collection of recipes for common networking tasks in iOS development. It great resource for developers who want to learn how to solve specific networking problems.
Provides a detailed guide to using GCD in iOS development. It covers topics such as creating and managing threads, queues, and dispatch groups. It great resource for developers who want to learn how to use GCD to improve the performance of their apps.
Provides a comprehensive overview of networking in iOS development, covering topics such as HTTP, JSON, and web services. It great resource for beginners who want to learn the basics of networking.
Provides a comprehensive overview of iOS development with Swift. It covers topics such as UIKit, Core Data, and networking. It great resource for beginners who want to learn the basics of iOS development with Swift.
Provides a comprehensive overview of HTTP, the protocol that is used to transfer data on the web. It great resource for developers who want to learn more about how HTTP works.
Comprehensive guide to Grand Central Dispatch (GCD), Apple's framework for concurrent programming. It covers everything from basic concepts to advanced features.
Practical guide to generics in Swift. It covers everything from basic concepts to advanced features.

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