Step 1: Starting
Create your first iOS app project.
Where We Are
You have Xcode installed. Let’s create an iOS app.
Create the Project
Open Xcode and create a new project:
- Open Xcode
- Click “Create New Project” (or File → New → Project)
- Select iOS at the top
- Choose App
- Click Next
Fill in the details:
- Product Name: HabitTracker
- Organization Identifier: com.yourname (use your name, no spaces)
- Interface: SwiftUI
- Language: Swift
Click Next, choose where to save it (Desktop is fine), and Create.
The Project Structure
Xcode shows you a lot. Here’s what matters:
HabitTracker/
├── HabitTrackerApp.swift ← App entry point
├── ContentView.swift ← Main screen (we'll edit this)
├── Assets.xcassets ← Images and colors
└── Preview Content/ ← Preview assetsEverything else is configuration. Ignore it for now.
Run in Simulator
Click the Play button (▶) at the top left, or press Cmd + R.
Xcode will build your app and launch a simulated iPhone.
You should see “Hello, world!” — the default SwiftUI template.
Start Claude Code
Open Terminal, navigate to your project folder:
cd ~/Desktop/HabitTracker # or wherever you saved it
claudeTell Claude about the project:
I'm building an iOS app called HabitTracker.
It's a simple app to track daily habits and streaks.
Here's the project structure: [Xcode created a basic SwiftUI project]
Let's start by replacing the default ContentView with a simple screen that has:
- A title "Habits" at the top
- A message "No habits yet" in the center
- An "Add Habit" button at the bottomCreate CLAUDE.md
Create a CLAUDE.md file for this iOS project with our goals and current state.This helps Claude remember context between sessions.
Optional: For a more native-feeling result, add the Apple HIG skill file to your project and reference it from your CLAUDE.md. It teaches Claude iOS conventions like Dynamic Type, SF Symbols, and standard navigation patterns.
Checkpoint
By now you should have:
- Xcode project created
- App runs in simulator
- Basic UI structure (title, message, button)
- Claude Code connected to the project
- CLAUDE.md created
What You Learned
- Creating an Xcode project
- Running in the simulator
- SwiftUI projects have a simple structure
- Claude can modify Xcode projects just like any other