My Journey into Swift, UI Design, and Going Indie

Hey, folks! 👋

I'm Stephen, an independent Swift developer with a passion for creating apps that push the boundaries of what's possible on Apple platforms. While my main focus is iOS development, I’m exploring new ideas across all of Apple’s ecosystems—and I’m excited to take you along on this journey! Through this blog, I’ll be sharing both my successes and failures as I grow as an independent developer. But first, a little context.

I started designing and building for screens way back in 1998 at just 11 years old. Back then, the tech landscape was constantly shifting, and diving into development and design felt like exploring uncharted waters. I quickly realized that to bring my ideas to life, I needed to master both development and design—a balance that I still strive to maintain 25+ years later. Today, my journey continues with a deep focus on Swift development and crafting beautiful user interfaces.

Why I Fell in Love with Swift

In 2014, after teaching myself Objective-C for about a year and a half, Apple introduced Swift—a game-changer for many of us. For me, it was love at first sight. Swift made coding for Apple’s platforms more intuitive, enjoyable, and accessible. Even though I’ve been writing in Swift for nearly a decade, there’s always more to learn—and that’s part of what keeps me excited. Here on stphndxn.com, I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned, offering key insights into building remarkable apps for Apple’s ecosystem, and diving into the best practices for creating user interfaces that truly enhance the experience.

The Power of UI Design

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working on some incredible products. From Glowing and OpenGov to Buffer and Strong, I’ve had the opportunity to create and maintain elegant design systems that have helped define these brands. For me, great UI design is more than just making things look good—it’s about crafting an experience that feels seamless, intuitive, and delightful for users.

I’m constantly experimenting with new ways to make user interfaces more engaging and accessible, and I plan to share my insights, lessons learned, and yes, even the failures, as I continue refining my approach. Whether it's the initial concept or the subtle details that make an app stand out, I believe great design is essential to a product’s success.

Becoming an Independent Developer

For the better part of 20 years, I worked as both a developer and designer, collaborating with teams across the globe on projects for household names. I even spent some time running my own startup. But after working for others for so long, I recently made the leap to become an independent developer.

Being an indie dev comes with its own set of challenges, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Having the freedom to work on my own apps and choose clients whose vision I believe in allows me to focus on projects that truly excite me. In this blog, I’ll share my journey into independence, offering insights and advice for those looking to take the same path, along with the highs and lows of being your own boss.

Building in Public

I’ve always believed in transparency and community, which is why I’m committed to building my products in public. By sharing my progress, I hope to inspire others—whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting your journey. This blog will be a space where we can learn together, exchange ideas, and support one another as we navigate the world of app development.

Thank you for stopping by! I’m looking forward to sharing more about my journey, my projects, and what I’m working on next. Stay tuned for the next post!