Nil Coalescing
@nilcoalescing.com
We are a small company based in New Zealand passionate about creating native apps for Apple platforms. Website: https://nilcoalescing.com Blog: https://nilcoalescing.com/blog Apps: https://nilcoalescing.com/apps Books: https://books.nilcoalescing.com
Use the AttributedString API to build a reusable Text initializer in SwiftUI that applies a distinct font to the unit component of a formatted measurement: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Styling... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Styling measurement unit fonts in SwiftUI
Use the AttributedString API to build a reusable Text initializer that applies a distinct font to the unit component of a formatted measurement.
nilcoalescing.com
Alignment guides are a powerful but often underused part of SwiftUI's layout system. They let us describe relationships between views using meaningful points in their content, without frame measurements or fixed offsets. I wrote a post explaining them in detail: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Alignme...
Alignment guides in SwiftUI
Learn how alignment guides position views in SwiftUI, how to override a built-in guide, and how to define a custom alignment for views in nested containers.
nilcoalescing.com
SwiftUI's @State changes from a property wrapper to a macro in Xcode 27, gaining lazy evaluation of the initial value and fixing unnecessary @Observable model initialization on view recreation: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Initial... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Initializing @Observable classes with the @State macro in Xcode 27
SwiftUI's @State changes from a property wrapper to a macro in Xcode 27, gaining lazy evaluation of the initial value and fixing unnecessary @Observable model initialization on view recreation.
nilcoalescing.com
Reorder items within and between custom SwiftUI containers, and build selection-aware multi-item drag and drop interactions with the new APIs in iOS 27: nilcoalescing.com/blog/NewSwif... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
New SwiftUI APIs for reordering and drag and drop on iOS 27
Reorder items within and between custom SwiftUI containers, and build selection-aware multi-item drag and drop interactions with the new APIs in iOS 27.
nilcoalescing.com
The July issue of the Nil Coalescing newsletter is out! It includes our trip to the /dev/world on tour conference, The SwiftUI Way book update, and a catalog of our recent Swift and SwiftUI blog posts. You can read it online: nilcoalescing.com/newsletter/2...
Nil Coalescing - Nil Coalescing Newsletter – July 2026
We've been putting this year's WWDC announcements into practice and preparing our apps for iOS 27 after a busy start to July at /dev/world on tour in Sydney. I've also released a substantial update to...
nilcoalescing.com
To keep pan, zoom and rotation responsive in @exstoapp.bsky.social, we reproject the latest GPU result while Metal renders an updated canvas. I wrote about the process: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Keeping... #iOSDev #Metal
Keeping canvas interactions responsive with frame reprojection
Keep a complex Metal-rendered canvas responsive during pan, zoom and rotation gestures by reprojecting rendered states with CAMetalLayer.
nilcoalescing.com
Explore every SwiftUI blend mode through focused visuals and practical use cases, and learn how to control which views participate in each operation: nilcoalescing.com/blog/BlendMo... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Blend modes in SwiftUI
Explore every SwiftUI blend mode through focused visuals and practical use cases, and learn how to control which views participate in each operation.
nilcoalescing.com
Configure a SwiftUI app to schedule and handle a background fetch task using the Background Tasks framework and the backgroundTask(_:action:) SwiftUI modifier: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Schedul... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Scheduling and handling background app refresh in SwiftUI
Configure a SwiftUI app to schedule and handle a background fetch task using the Background Tasks framework and the backgroundTask(_:action:) SwiftUI modifier.
nilcoalescing.com
I’ve been wanting to explore and document SwiftUI’s blend modes for a while. I finally worked through all 21 of them, with visuals and practical examples showing how each one works and when it can be useful: nilcoalescing.com/blog/BlendMo... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Blend modes in SwiftUI
Explore every SwiftUI blend mode through focused visuals and practical use cases, and learn how to control which views participate in each operation.
nilcoalescing.com
Learn how to build a non-modal, detent-based sheet API in SwiftUI that adapts from a bottom panel in portrait to an edge-aligned panel in landscape: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Buildin... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Building adaptive non-modal panels in SwiftUI
Learn how to build a non-modal, detent-based sheet API in SwiftUI that adapts from a bottom panel in portrait to an edge-aligned panel in landscape.
nilcoalescing.com
Learn how SwiftUI's similarly named geometryGroup(), compositingGroup() and drawingGroup() modifiers affect distinct stages of animation and rendering, and when each is appropriate: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Geometr... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Geometry, compositing and drawing groups in SwiftUI
Learn how SwiftUI's similarly named geometryGroup(), compositingGroup() and drawingGroup() modifiers affect distinct stages of animation and rendering, and when each is appropriate.
nilcoalescing.com
To prepare Strolly for app resizability in iOS 27, we wanted its non-modal detent sheets to adapt into side panels on wider displays. SwiftUI sheets don’t support that presentation, so we built our own panel API: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Buildin... #SwiftUI #iOSDev
Building adaptive non-modal panels in SwiftUI
Learn how to build a non-modal, detent-based sheet API in SwiftUI that adapts from a bottom panel in portrait to an edge-aligned panel in landscape.
nilcoalescing.com
Strolly (@strollyapp.bsky.social) got an update! You can now indicate the areas you prefer to walk in and the areas you'd like to avoid, and future generated walks will take your preferences into account. Thank you @hishnash.bsky.social for working on it! apps.apple.com/us/app/strol... #IndieDev
"The SwiftUI Way" book by @natpanferova.bsky.social has been updated with expanded guidance on SwiftUI data flow, view updates, and performance, including changes introduced in Xcode 27: nilcoalescing.com/blog/TheSwif... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
"The SwiftUI Way" book update: expanded guidance on data flow and performance
'The SwiftUI Way' has been updated with expanded guidance on SwiftUI data flow, view updates, and performance, including changes introduced in Xcode 27.
nilcoalescing.com
SwiftUI has three similarly named grouping modifiers: geometryGroup(), compositingGroup() and drawingGroup(). If, like me, you sometimes forget which one does what, I’ve just published a guide explaining how they differ and when to use each one: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Geometr... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Geometry, compositing and drawing groups in SwiftUI
Learn how SwiftUI's similarly named geometryGroup(), compositingGroup() and drawingGroup() modifiers affect distinct stages of animation and rendering, and when each is appropriate.
nilcoalescing.com
Prevent unnecessary SwiftUI view updates by making custom types stored in @Observable properties conform to Equatable: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Equatab... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Equatable properties in @Observable classes
Prevent unnecessary SwiftUI view updates by making custom types stored in @Observable properties conform to Equatable.
nilcoalescing.com
One of my favorite features in Tintly is the ability to easily reorganize colors for quick experimentation when designing a gradient. In v1.1, it's also possible to select multiple points on the canvas and swap or shuffle their colors for a more controlled change: apps.apple.com/us/app/tintl...
I've released an update to my book "The SwiftUI Way"! It expands the coverage of SwiftUI data flow, view updates, and performance, and includes new guidance for changes introduced in Xcode 27: books.nilcoalescing.com/the-swiftui-... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
The SwiftUI Way
A field guide to SwiftUI patterns and anti-patterns
books.nilcoalescing.com
Learn why Xcode 27 shows a warning when an @Entry declaration creates a new class instance for every fallback access, how unstable environment defaults can cause unnecessary SwiftUI view updates, and how to make them stable: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Unstabl... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
The hidden cost of unstable SwiftUI environment defaults
Learn why Xcode 27 shows a warning when an @Entry declaration creates a new class instance for every fallback access, how unstable environment defaults can cause unnecessary SwiftUI view updates, and ...
nilcoalescing.com
Tintly 1.1 is now out 🎉 This update brings improved CSS and SVG export, a resizable export window, multiple color selection and shuffling, and redesigned palette import and saved gradients windows. The new version is available on the Mac App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/tintl... #IndieDev #macOS
When storing custom values in properties of an @Observable, it’s recommended to make them Equatable to minimize SwiftUI view updates. I’ve just published a post looking at how @Observable handles equal assignments and why Equatable conformance matters: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Equatab...
Equatable properties in @Observable classes
Prevent unnecessary SwiftUI view updates by making custom types stored in @Observable properties conform to Equatable.
nilcoalescing.com
Just submitted a new version of Tintly: Mesh Gradient Editor to the App Store! It includes a redesigned resizable export window for easier previewing of generated code, improved SVG and CSS export, and a few other improvements based on user feedback. Hopefully it'll be out soon!
In Xcode 27, the @Entry macro shows a new warning when we assign an unstable default, such as a newly created class instance, to a custom SwiftUI environment value. I wrote about why this can cause unnecessary view updates and how to fix it: nilcoalescing.com/blog/Unstabl... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
The hidden cost of unstable SwiftUI environment defaults
Learn why Xcode 27 shows a warning when an @Entry declaration creates a new class instance for every fallback access, how unstable environment defaults can cause unnecessary SwiftUI view updates, and ...
nilcoalescing.com
Learn how closure-based bindings can affect SwiftUI view updates, and how labeled subscripts give the framework a more stable way to track changes: nilcoalescing.com/blog/CustomB... #iOSDev #SwiftUI
Custom bindings in SwiftUI: closures vs subscripts
Learn how closure-based bindings can affect SwiftUI view updates, and how labeled subscripts give the framework a more stable way to track changes.
nilcoalescing.com
The Nil Coalescing website now provides a way to create a custom book bundle from my Swift and SwiftUI books: books.nilcoalescing.com/bundles/custom You can pick any combination of books and save $5 per book when getting more than one at the same time!
Nil Coalescing Books - Build your own bundle
Build a custom book bundle from Nil Coalescing
books.nilcoalescing.com
Custom SwiftUI bindings are often created with Binding(get:set:), but closure-based bindings can have subtle performance implications. In my new post, I look at an alternative approach using labeled subscripts: nilcoalescing.com/blog/CustomB... #SwiftUI #iOSDev
Custom bindings in SwiftUI: closures vs subscripts
Learn how closure-based bindings can affect SwiftUI view updates, and how labeled subscripts give the framework a more stable way to track changes.
nilcoalescing.com
Just returned from the /dev/world on tour conference in Sydney. It was such a great trip! Happy I got to connect with amazing developers from across the region, discuss WWDC26 updates with them, and share my SwiftUI highlights from iOS 27. Huge thank you to all the organizers! #DevWorld
The June issue of the Nil Coalescing newsletter is out! I've shared my upcoming conference plans, my latest articles covering SwiftUI in iOS 27, an introduction to Tintly, my new macOS app for designing mesh gradients, and other app updates. nilcoalescing.com/newsletter/2...
Nil Coalescing - Nil Coalescing Newsletter – June 2026
I hope you enjoyed WWDC26, whether you were attending in person or following along online. The most exciting update this year has definitely been the new and improved Siri, but we've also got a lot of...
nilcoalescing.com
Looking for a quick and easy way to design mesh gradients? Try Tintly, a new macOS tool for creating mesh gradients visually and exporting them in different formats, including SwiftUI code: apps.apple.com/us/app/tintl...
I'm so happy that SwiftUI in iOS 27 supports granular text selection! We can just apply the existing textSelection() modifier to a Text view, and instead of selecting the entire text block like in iOS 26, it lets users select a portion of the text with the standard drag gesture.
