iPad users can create apps using Swift Playgrounds new update

Apple releases long-awaited Swift Playgrounds 4 with the ability to create apps using iPad

9to5Mac By José Adorno

[{"selector":"#anim-e172ce7c-3efe-480d-b44f-1385ecbc8420","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] After the release of iPadOS 15.2 , Apple is finally releasing the long-awaited update to Swift Playgrounds with the ability to create apps using the iPad.

[{"selector":"#anim-c20c9283-7b10-4225-b0ab-e00e066c9ad5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Swift Playgrounds 4 was announced back in June at WWDC 2021. The app helps developers and students learn the company’s Swift programming language, and the new version lets developers build and submit apps to the App Store directly from an iPad.

[{"selector":"#anim-432dac88-52eb-4b09-b4f9-b2f1565ff06a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Last month, 9to5Mac showed a first look at the app with some exclusive screenshots of the app running on iPadOS 15.2. Now, it’s finally out for any user to try.

[{"selector":"#anim-f2f77a60-5853-43c3-966d-fe9c7bed289c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] For those unfamiliar, Swift Playgrounds is an Apple app to help developers and students learn the company’s Swift programming language. Here’s how Apple describes the app:

[{"selector":"#anim-bd629a1a-5fbb-4eb8-b47e-534baa690caf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Swift Playgrounds is a great way to learn to code right on a Mac or iPad. With Swift Playgrounds 4, coming later this year, users will be able to create the visual design of an app with SwiftUI.

[{"selector":"#anim-c53d9163-7845-414e-b138-add18d7c2997","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] App projects can be opened and edited in the app or in Xcode, and when they’re ready, users can build a real app and submit it directly to the App Store right from their iPad.

[{"selector":"#anim-f9ff4eb4-1a2f-4025-8600-f00d28a984ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Although before WWDC21 users were expecting a proper Xcode application for the M1 iPad Pro, Apple surprised its customers with the Swift Playgrounds 4 announcement.

[{"selector":"#anim-c8788e6a-943e-4fcd-9d6c-bffbe6ace705","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This update also lets users preview and see changes in real-time as they type.

[{"selector":"#anim-d0179e2d-a6b6-4419-a609-d1d01ae35b12","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more about Swift Playgrounds 4 for iPad and read the full release notes and capabilities at 9to5Mac.com.