Hire the Best Objective-C Developers

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Iftekhar Q.

Chandameta, India

$30/hr
5.0
85 jobs

My core competency lies in iOS mobile app development. I build nice and fast applications that uses iOS/iPadOS and watchOS; I use cutting edge technologies and latest versions of the SDK while keeping compatibility with older versions of iOS and iPhones. I have more than 12+ years of flawless experience in iOS development (Objective-C and Swift and SwiftUI experience with solid background in analysis, design, development and implementation of iPhone and iPad applications. I write clean and modular code, you can review my code on Github:- Username: hackiftekhar (Just open Github website and add my username after / slash, Upwork doesn't allow URL in Bio) - Developed an open source library IQKeyboardManager: 16,000+ stars on Github - Total 8+ years of iOS development experience - Worked more than 10,000 hours on Upwork - Member of Talent Cloud Mobile Developers (Premium) - Pro developer on Upwork I can work individually and also with the team following AGILE, I'm a good team player and love to collaborate with product guys and fellow developers to prepare Jira Stories and groom them. I've worked with different teams around the world and been part of many enterprise levels apps which has millions of users. My skills and experiences are as follows: -------------------- Languages --------------------  Objective-C  Swift  SwiftUI -------------------- iOS Native --------------------  iPhone/Apple Watch/iPad  Realm, Core Data, SQLite  SwiftUI, ARKit, OCR, MapBox  IoT, BLE (Bluetooth low energy device), Beacons integration  Audio and Video frameworks  Automation: CI/CD Tools  Braintree Payments, Paypal, Stripe and Dwolla integration  Build Sharing: Testflight, HockeyApp, DeployGate and Diawi  Google, Flurry, Facebook, Fabric and Mixpanel Analytics  In-app purchase, Local & Push Notification, iCloud Looking for a long-term opportunity to handle project individually or join team. I would love to provide my services on a good idea to make a great product. Iftekhar Qurashi Mobile Architect

  • Objective-C
  • C
  • Bluetooth
  • WatchKit
  • Swift
  • HealthKit
  • iOS
  • iOS Development
  • Apple Xcode
  • iOS SDK
  • Cocoa Touch
  • JSON
  • Geolocation
  • Git
Mahfuzur R.

Toronto, Canada

$9/hr
4.6
14 jobs

SENIOR iOS DEVELOPER 20+ NATIVE iOS APPS | EXPERT PROBLEM SOLVER & BUG FIXER | AGILE ENTHUSIAST SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS ● Extensive experience in developing high-quality iOS applications, with expertise in Swift, SwiftUI, Objective-C, with hands-on expertise in Combine and URLSession for efficient app communication. ● Proven ability to design and build complex apps from scratch, following Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, and successfully navigating the App Store review process. ● Strong knowledge of app architecture patterns like MVC, MVP, MVVM, and VIPER, with hands-on experience in integrating RESTful APIs, third-party libraries, and JSON parsing. ● Strong communicator skills with experience working in cross-functional teams in fast-paced environments, bringing a proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving skills. ● Developed robust iOS applications of audio and video category and possess extensive knowledge of audio and video frameworks, including AVFoundation. ● Proficient in XCode, ensuring quality code and implementing continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) throughout the development lifecycle. ● Strong advocate for Agile methodologies, driving best practices in coding standards, code reviews, testing, and operations, ensuring high-quality and reliable code. PROFESSIONAL SKILLS ● Languages: Swift, SwiftUI, Objective-C, Java, C/C++. ● Technologies: OpenGL ES2, GLSL . ● Database: RealmSwift. ● IDE/Tools: Xcode, Android Studio, VSCode, Git/Github, Bitbucket. Jira. ● Design Patterns: MVC, MVVM, MVP, Dependency Injection, SOLID Principles, etc. ● Frameworks: Combine, AVFoundation, Core Data, Core Animation, Firebase, RESTful APIs. ● Deployment: Apple’s AppStore and Google’s PlayStore. ● Methodologies: Agile (Scrum). ● Other Skills: CI/CD, Code Review, Testing(Unit testing and UI testing), Bug Fixing. WORK EXPERIENCE iOS Developer Gemstone Lights Calgary Ltd., Alberta, Canada Dec 2022 – Present ● Develop and maintain an iOS application (GemStoneHubiOS). Fix critical issues and implement new features to enhance user experience using Objective-C and Swift. ● Fix critical issues such as SignUp and Login flow related. ● Implement various features like exporting 64 patterns data in a single Json file. ● Developed several high-performance iOS applications using SwiftUI, focusing on responsive design and user experience. ● Redesigned and developed 'GemStoneHubiOS' application with SwiftUI using various state management strategies, resulting in intuitive and maintainable code. ● Integrated ‘Combine’ with this('GemStoneHubiOS') SwiftUI app to build reactive interfaces, along with Core Data, animations, and transitions, resulting in faster load times and smoother user experiences. ● iOS App Store’s Link: Gemstone Lights Hub. Senior iOS Developer KITE GAMES STUDIO Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh Jan 2019 – Sep 2022 Key Responsibilities: ● Developed and maintained over 20 native iOS apps using Swift, SwiftUI, and Objective-C, adhering to Apple’s HIG and ensuring long-term project viability by converting 6 projects from Objective-C to Swift, including VideoEditor and AddMusicToVideo. ● Facilitated collaboration and code quality by establishing a robust continuous integration/continuous delivery(CI/CD) pipeline, mitigating integration issues, and catching bugs early, resulting in faster app release to AppStore. ● Enhanced user satisfaction by addressing feedback, fixing critical bugs and adding essential features, increasing user acquisition 20% during 2017 and 2019. ● Conducted competitive analysis to implement highly demanded features, improving app quality and functionality, as a result more than 15% new users were acquired. ● Developed efficient testing guidelines for QA, reducing testing cycle time and improving testing accuracy, which allowed the QA team to deliver apps faster than before. ● Researched faster mask image generation using an ML model for "AI Effect" and optimized the "Reshape" feature in BeautyEditor, competing with Facetune. ● Implemented concurrency and multithreading to manage image uploads/downloads in PhotoVolt, resolving race conditions. ● Integrated different architectures(MVC, MVP, MVVM, VIPER) architectures in key projects, ensuring scalability and maintainability. ● Led Agile Scrum practices, maintaining Jira-based sprints and retrospectives for continuous project improvement. ● Utilized CoreData, Realm, Keychain, and UserDefaults while adhering to SOLID principles for data persistence. ● Developed a custom framework CustomVideoCompositor for VideoEditor iOS app, reducing development time by 30%, which allowed other developers to focus on critical features. ● Collaborated with cross-functional teams, improving team efficiency and product outcomes. ● Delivered training on OOD principles, design patterns, and Agile methodologies, enhancing team skill sets. ● Integrated native and third-party frameworks like AVFoundation, Firebase, and Alamofire across multiple project

  • Objective-C
  • Swift
  • SwiftUI
  • UIKit
  • iOS
  • Mobile App
  • Python
  • Java
Nicolas A.

Montevideo, Uruguay

$55/hr
4.9
43 jobs

I'm a System Engineer turned into CEO. I lead a team of 150 awesome talented persons, including Developers, Creative, UX designers and QA Analysts. We love what we do and have lot of fun doing it. During the past 15 years we have been part of different kind of projects, from top notch concept technologies projects to big corporate systems. Some of our achievements - TOP 2 oDesk Agencies. - 56000+ hours logged (28+ man years !!) - 5 star rating - 100+ projects successfully done - Innovation Award 2012 - Our customers love us and we love them

  • Objective-C
  • Java
  • JavaScript
  • PHP
  • Ruby
  • AngularJS
  • Swift
  • Node.js
  • Android App Development
  • iOS Development
Gaurav G.

Noida, India

$15/hr
4.3
113 jobs

I help startups and product teams build, fix, and scale mobile apps (iOS, Android, and Flutter), including apps with AI-powered features—ensuring stability, performance, and long-term reliability. With 7+ years of experience and 50+ apps delivered, I’ve worked on production apps used by real users where performance, stability, and user experience directly impact business outcomes. Clients usually come to me when: • Their app is crashing, slow, or unstable in production • Payment flows or API integrations are failing • New features are breaking existing functionality • They need to scale an app without compromising performance • AI features (chat, automation, recommendations) need to be integrated or fixed • Legacy code needs safe refactoring and long-term maintainability What I deliver: • Stable, high-performance mobile apps ready for real users • Clean, scalable architecture for long-term growth • Reliable API and payment integrations • Smooth App Store & Play Store submission and updates • AI-powered features integrated into mobile apps (chat, automation, smart workflows) My expertise includes: • Native iOS (Swift, Objective-C) & Android (Kotlin, Java) • Cross-platform apps using Flutter & React Native • AI integrations and backend-driven intelligent features • Debugging crashes, ANRs, memory leaks, and performance issues • Refactoring legacy code and improving app architecture • Backend integration using Python (Django, Flask, FastAPI), Java, and Node How I work: • I solve root problems, not temporary fixes • I prioritize stability before adding new features • I write clean, maintainable, and scalable code • I leverage modern AI tools to speed up development and debugging without compromising quality • I communicate clearly and ensure timely delivery CTA: If you're building a new app or facing crashes, performance issues, or scaling challenges, send me a message with your app details. I’ll review your requirements and suggest the best way to move forward quickly and safely.

  • Objective-C
  • Java
  • Kotlin
  • Flutter
  • Swift
  • Firebase
  • Push Notifications
  • Android App Development
  • iOS Development
  • Android SDK
  • Apple Xcode
  • Amazon S3
  • Google APIs
  • Analytics Plugin
  • Python
  • Django
  • FastAPI
Denys H.

Lviv, Ukraine

$40/hr
4.9
42 jobs

We Build Next Generation of Mobile Applications Senior Mobile Lead Engineer | 9+ years of experience | High-quality Mobile and Web Apps | Claude Code 📊 My Core expertise is the Apple ecosystem, delivering robust solutions across iOS (Swift, SwiftUI), iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS. I work extensively with Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit, Combine, Objective-C, and advanced Apple frameworks such as HealthKit, MapKit, and complex third-party integrations. Beyond development, I provide end-to-end product delivery — from idea validation to App Store release. By combining Business Analysis, UI/UX Design, Agile Development, and Quality Assurance, we build future-proof applications that minimize technical debt and reduce long-term maintenance costs. ⸻ Services I can provide: 📱 Native Mobile Development (iOS & Android) • iOS Development: Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit, Combine, Objective-C • Android Development: Kotlin, Java • Cross-platform: React Native, Flutter • Apple Watch apps, smartwatch apps • Health & fitness apps, Apple Health, HealthKit • Maps & navigation (MapKit, Google Maps, Mapbox) • Real-time features, sockets, charts & analytics 🌐 Web Development • React, Angular, Next.js • TypeScript, JavaScript • High-performance front-end and responsive UI development 🛠 Backend & DevOps • Node.js, Python, Go, PHP • API development & third-party integrations • Cloud deployment: AWS, Docker, VPS 🎨 UI/UX Design & Product Thinking • Figma, wireframes, prototypes, user flows • Product discovery and idea validation before development 📊 Management & QA • Agile project management • Manual & automated testing • Business analysis & product ownership support ⸻ Fintech Expertise • Crypto applications (BTC, ETH, USDT, TRC20) • Real-time exchange data & socket connections • Charts, analytics, and on-chain operations • Secure authentication & sensitive data handling ⸻ Why Clients Choose Us ✔️ iOS-first team with deep expertise as Swift Mobile Developers ✔️ Reliable long-term partner for scalable product development ✔️ Strong focus on performance, usability, and clean architecture ✔️ Transparent communication and Agile processes ✔️ Full-cycle delivery: design → development → QA → release → support ⸻ Looking for a long-term Swift Mobile Developer instead of a one-off coder? If you need a stable, scalable, and carefully crafted mobile product built with modern iOS technologies, let’s discuss your goals. I can provide a clear project plan, timeline, budget estimate, and technical strategy tailored to your vision. ⸻ 🔑 Technologies & Keywords (SEO Optimized) Swift Mobile Developer, Senior Swift Developer, iOS Developer, SwiftUI, UIKit, Combine, Objective-C, Apple Developer, iPhone App Development, iPad App, macOS App, watchOS App, HealthKit, Apple Health, MapKit, Google Maps, Mapbox, Kotlin, Android Developer, React Native, Flutter, TypeScript, JavaScript, Figma, UI/UX Design, MVP Development, High-Quality App Development, Mobile Architecture, Performance Optimization, Scalable Mobile Apps, Crypto Wallet App, Bitcoin, USDT, tokens, Quality, high-quality app ⸻ 📩 Send me a message, and I’ll share my Upwork scheduler link so we can find a time that works best for you

  • Objective-C
  • Firebase
  • Swift
  • iOS Development
  • Kotlin
  • Android
  • iPhone & iPad Apps
  • Apple Watch
  • SwiftUI
  • JavaScript
  • Android App Development
  • Flutter
  • iOS
  • HealthKit
  • MapKit
Oleksandr O.

Kyiv, Ukraine

$35/hr
5.0
6 jobs

I build apps users enjoy. Let’s build yours!🚀 ⚡ Senior iOS Engineer with 8 years and 50+ projects behind ⚡ Top Rated Plus - Top 5% of talent on Upwork ⚡ Help turn a native iPhone App idea into a solid MVP and a stable App Store release ⚡ Apple-centric expertise - iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, Apple TV (tvOS), SwiftUI, UIKit, and iOS SWIFT ⚡ App Store success - Apple Xcode, App Store guidelines, TestFlight, submission, and release support ❤️ Client-oriented 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 to get a detailed project review As a Mobile App Developer and iOS Developer, I help startups and product teams build a new iOS App, improve an existing iOS Application, or launch a full Mobile App Development project from idea to App Store: architecture, backend integration, authentication, payments, security, performance, TestFlight, and App Store submission. As an iOS Developer I’m focused on Mobile App Development, iOS App Development, and native Apple products for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and Apple TV (tvOS). I build iOS App products for iPhone & iPad Apps, Apple Watch apps, Apple TV Applications, and MacOS App Development using Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit, Objective C, Apple Xcode, iOS SDK, Cocoa Touch, Firebase, StoreKit, Core ML, ARKit, RealityKit, HealthKit, CloudKit, and App Store Deployment. YOU”LL GET WITH ME: ✔️ iOS & macOS – Expertise in Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit, Cocoa Touch, Objective C, and iOS SWIFT for iOS App, iPhone & iPad Apps, Apple Watch apps, Apple TV Applications (tvOS), and MacOS Mobile App Development. ✔️ App Architecture & Database Architecture – Expertise in MVVM, VIPER, Clean Architecture, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Firebase, iOS Developer Swift work, Swift iOS Developer and Senior iOS Developer tasks. ✔️ Networking & API Integrations – RESTful APIs, GraphQL, Alamofire, URLSession, AWS, Firebase, iOS Mobile App Development, and Mobile App Development. ✔️ Authentication & Security – Apple Sign-In, Firebase Authentication, OAuth, JWT, secure logins, iOS App security, and iOS SWIFT authentication flows. ✔️ In-App Purchases & Payments – StoreKit, Apple Pay, Stripe, PayPal, SwiftUI Stripe screens, and payment logic for iOS App and Mobile App Development. ✔️ Apple Health & Fitness Apps – Apple HealthKit, Core Motion, SiriKit Developers, activity tracking, iOS SwiftUI, SwiftUI iOS, and AI Mobile App Development. ✔️ AR & AI App Development – Core ML, ARKit, RealityKit, Apple Motion, AI Mobile App Developer experience, and intelligent iOS App experiences. ✔️ Apple Home & IoT Apps – HomeKit, Bluetooth, SiriKit, smart automation, iOS SWIFT, and native iOS Mobile App Developer delivery. ✔️ App Store Deployment & Optimization – TestFlight, App Store guidelines, Apple Xcode, iOS App Marketing support. DELIVERED HIGH-IMPACT APP s: ✅ Business & Productivity Apps – MacOS and iPad App Development for enterprise workflows, Mobile App Design support, and Mobile UI UX Designer collaboration. ✅ Health & Fitness Apps – Integrated Apple HealthKit & Core Motion for activity tracking, Apple Watch, SwiftUI Developer work, and iOS App Development. ✅ E-Commerce & Marketplace Apps – Secure shopping experiences with Apple Pay, In-App Purchases, StoreKit, Stripe, PayPal, and iOS App Developer ownership. ✅ Streaming & Media Apps – optimized playback, AVKit, AirPlay, Apple TV Applications, tvOS support, and iOS App performance. ✅ Finance & Payment Apps – Secure transactions with Stripe, PayPal, StoreKit, OAuth, JWT, and iOS SWIFT implementation. ✅ IoT & Smart Home Apps – HomeKit & Bluetooth integrations for smart devices, SiriKit, and native iOS App automation. ✅ AR, AI & Motion Apps – Core ML, ARKit, RealityKit, motion analysis, iOS Swift Smartphone flows, and SwiftUI interfaces. APPLE BACKEND & CLOUD SERVICEC: ✔️ CloudKit & iCloud Sync – Seamless Apple cloud storage integration for iOS App, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and Mobile App Development. ✔️ Firebase & AWS – Scalable backend architecture, real-time database solutions, Firebase Firestore, REST API, GraphQL, and iOS Developer backend integration. ✔️ macOS Automation & Scripting – AppleScript, Shortcuts, Workflow automation, macOS Swift, ✔️ AI & ML Integration – Core ML, Apple Motion, AI Mobile App Development, ARKit, RealityKit, and intelligent app experiences. My team’s expertise: Mobile App Development, Mobile App Developer, Mobile App Developer, Mobile App Developer Ukraine, iOS Developer, iOS App, iOS App Developer, Full Stack iOS Developer, iOS SWIFT, iOS Swift Developer, iOS App Developer Swift, SwiftUI, SwiftUI Designer, Swift App Developer, Swift Mobile, Swift Designer, Swift Developer, UIKit, Kotlin Swift, React Native Mobile, Node JS React Native Mobile Developer, Full Stack Developer, Web Developer, Flutter Developer, Flutter Mobile App Development, Mobile App Development FlutterFlow, Mobile Game Developer. Sounds like a fit? 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗺𝗲 and get expert consultation 📩 

  • Objective-C
  • Mobile App Development
  • iOS Development
  • iOS
  • Android
  • Swift
  • React Native
  • Java
  • Apple Xcode
  • PHP
  • Smartphone
  • Flutter
  • JavaScript
  • React
  • Node.js
  • Python
  • WordPress
  • iPhone & iPad Apps
  • SwiftUI
  • Mobile App

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How to Hire Top Objective-C Developers

How to hire Objective-C developers

Objective-C developers can help you build apps for iOS, macOS, and other Apple products. Since Apple encourages developers to eventually switch to Objective-C’s successor, Swift, Objective-C specialists are mostly sought after for updating and maintaining legacy code.

So how do you hire Objective-C developers? What follows are some tips for finding top Objective-C consultants on Upwork.

How to shortlist Objective-C professionals

As you’re browsing available Objective-C consultants, it can be helpful to develop a shortlist of the professionals you may want to interview. You can screen profiles on criteria such as:

  • Technology fit. You want an Objective-C developer who understands the technologies behind your software project.
  • Project experience. Screen candidate profiles for specific skills and experience (e.g., migrating a legacy Objective-C codebase to Swift).
  • Feedback. Check reviews from past clients for glowing testimonials or red flags that can tell you what it’s like to work with a particular Objective-C developer.

How to write an effective Objective-C job post

With a clear picture of your ideal Objective-C developer in mind, it’s time to write that job post. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.

Job post title

Create a simple title that describes exactly what you’re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample Objective-C job post titles:

  • Objective-C developer needed to refactor legacy code to Swift
  • iOS developer experienced with Swift, Xcode, and Objective-C
  • Swift/Objective-C developer for maintaining/updating a news curation platform

Objective-C project description

An effective Objective-C job post should include:

  • Scope of work: From app development to code migrations, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
  • Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
  • Background: If you prefer experience with certain programming languages, software technologies, or developer tools, mention this here.
  • Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.

Objective-C developer responsibilities

Here are some examples of Objective-C developer job responsibilities:

  • Innovate and present new ideas/solutions
  • Translate customer requirements and UI/UX designs into code
  • Handle third-party API integrations
  • Migrate legacy Objective-C code into Swift

Objective-C developer requirements and qualifications

Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in an Objective-C developer. Some examples:

  • Proficient in Objective-C (and Swift depending on project requirements)
  • Apple development environments (e.g., Xcode, Cocoa, Cocoa Touch)
  • iOS frameworks (e.g., Core Data, Core Animation)
  • Desired Apple operating systems (e.g., macOS, iOS)
  • Desired Apple hardware (e.g., MacBook, Apple Watch, iPhone)
>

Objective-C Developers FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Objective-C?

Objective-C is a general-purpose programming language that supports object-oriented design by adding Smalltalk-style messaging to the C programming language. It was the main supported programming language for Apple products (e.g., macOS, iOS) until the introduction of Swift in 2014.

How much does it cost to hire an Objective-C developer?

The first step to determining the cost to hire an Objective-C developer will be to define your needs. Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.

Cost factor #1: project scope

The first variable to consider when determining scope is the nature of the work that needs to be completed. Not all Objective-C projects are created equal. Building a simple store loyalty app will typically take less time than creating an online store with in-app purchases.

Tip: The more accurately your job description describes the scope of your project, the easier it will be for talent to give you accurate cost estimates and proposals.

Cost factor #2: Objective-C developer experience

Choosing the right level of expertise for the job is closely tied to how well you determined the scope of your project. You wouldn’t need an advanced Objective-C developer to perform simple maintenance tasks such as patching your software to keep up with the latest iOS app update. On the other hand, migrating a large codebase for an enterprise app from Objective-C to Swift can be a long multistage process that requires the skills of a senior developer.

Beyond experience level, you also need to consider the type of experience the talent possesses. The following table breaks down the rates of the typical types of Objective-C developers you can find on Upwork.

Rates charged by Objective-C developers on Upwork

Level of Experience Description Hourly Rate
Beginner Can build simple applications with Objective-C and Swift for iOS and/or macOS. Familiarity with Cocoa, Cocoa Touch, and/or Xcode. $20-30+
Intermediate Beyond fundamentals, specialized skills in developing for one or more Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. $30-60+
Expert Experience managing a product’s progression through the software development life cycle. Working knowledge across the front end and back end of a software stack. $60-90+

Cost factor #3: location

Location is another variable that can impact Objective-C developer rates. It’s no secret that you can leverage differences in purchasing power between countries to gain savings on talent. But it’s also important to factor in hidden costs such as language barriers, time zones, and the logistics of managing a remote team. The real advantage to sourcing talent remotely on Upwork is the ability to scan a global talent pool for the best possible person for the job. Location is no longer an obstacle.

Cost factor #4: independent contractor vs. agency

The final variable regarding talent cost is hiring an independent contractor vs. an agency. An agency is often a “one size fits all” model, so you’ll often have access to a designer, a project manager, an engineer, and more. When hiring individuals you have total autonomy regarding who is responsible for which part of the project, but you’ll need to source each of those skills separately.

The trade-off between hiring individuals vs. hiring an agency is the level of administrative overhead you incur personally in coordinating tasks among all members of the team. Project scope and personal preference will determine which style is a better fit for your needs.

Common Objective-C developer mistakes

Not using prefixes: Classes, global functions, global constants, and protocols should be named with a prefix starting with a capital letter followed by one or more capital letters or numbers. It’s a cosmetic quirk owed to the lack of identifier containers within the Objective-C language.

To avoid namespace collisions, Objective-C relies heavily on prefixes. This is why many global elements start with NS (e.g., NSString, NSObject). For example, within the Cocoa framework, you use the NS prefix for Foundation and Application Kit, AB for Address Book, and IB for Interface Builder. Note that you do not use prefixes for naming methods or the fields of a structure.

Not practicing type safety: One of the major reasons Apple wants its developers to switch to Swift is that the language enforces type safety. Type errors are a common problem with Objective-C codebases because you have to use null pointers to implement type safety. When you try to call a method with a null pointer nothing happens. The following expressions and lines of code become a no-operation (NOP). At first glance, this might seem fine because your app won’t crash. However, if you’re not careful with how you implement your pointers, you could cause hidden bugs within your code that are hard to trace.

Accepting unknown strings as format strings: One common source of errors, crashes, and security problems is blindly accepting unknown strings as format strings. A good example is when you log a simple string with NSLog. If you neglect to use the format specifier %@, you might receive a string with characters that are interpreted as format strings.

//UnsafeNSLog(foreignString);

//Using a format specifier

NSLog(@"%@", foreignString);

Tips and best practices

Follow Objective-C naming conventions

As a rule you’ll want to make sure that any code you write will make sense to future developers working off your codebase. The best way to do that is to ensure you follow standard naming conventions for classes, methods, functions, constants, and other elements of your code. You can find naming conventions for a language like Objective-C off Apple’s official documentation.

Take advantage of C++ interoperability

Swift may be Apple’s preferred application development language, but there are still some advantages to using the more forgiving Objective-C. One of these is interoperability with C++ code via Objective-C++. C++ is basically C with classes—it’s lightweight and one of the fastest languages out there. The ability to leverage the C++ ecosystem of libraries is enough of a reason for some to keep using Objective-C with modern iOS and macOS apps.

Leverage Objective-C’s massive library

Objective-C has been around a lot longer than Swift. Initially released in 1984, it offers countless libraries to help developers with their projects. GitHub’s libraries address everything from real-time app analytics to mock objects for test cases to method swizzling. There are also macros, fragments of code that have been around for so long they’ve been named by the larger developer community, that can be used to solve specific problems you might encounter when building Apple apps. Examples of macros include DLog for logging and debugging and Nimble for creating DSLs (domain-specific languages).