Best architectural approaches for building iOS networking applications (REST clients)
Best Architectural Approaches for Building iOS Networking Applications (REST clients) 📱💻
As an iOS developer, you may have come across the challenge of determining the best architectural approach for building networking applications. With various resources and materials available, it can be confusing to identify the optimal framework that fits every networking application, regardless of its size or complexity. Apple recommends using the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern as the basic architectural approach for all iOS applications. However, MVC and the more modern MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) patterns do not clearly explain where to place network logic code and how to organize it in general.
So, the question remains: What is the best and correct way? Let's explore some common approaches and find the most interesting ones from experienced iOS developers. 🤔📚
Approach 1: Separate Class for Every Network Request 🌐
One approach recommended by the community is to create a separate class for each network request to the web service API. For example, you could have classes like LoginRequest or PostCommentRequest, all inheriting from a base request abstract class, such as AbstractBaseRequest. Additionally, you would create a global network manager that encapsulates common networking code and preferences. This manager class can handle customization of networking libraries like AFNetworking or RestKit for complex object mappings and persistence. While this approach offers flexibility and organization, it may introduce overhead due to the number of classes involved.
Approach 2: Singleton API Manager Class with Encapsulated Requests 📥
An alternative approach involves having a singleton API dispatcher or manager class. Instead of creating individual classes for each request, each request is encapsulated as an instance method within this manager class. For example, methods like fetchContacts or loginUser would be exposed and managed by the API manager. This approach simplifies the codebase by reducing the number of classes needed for each request.
Integrating the Networking Layer with the MVC Architecture 🏗️
Now that we have explored the two basic approaches, let's discuss how to integrate the networking layer with the existing MVC architecture. While you may be tempted to create a separate layer for all networking-related tasks, such as a Service or NetworkProvider layer, it is recommended to integrate (inject) this layer into the existing MVC layers, particularly the Model. By doing so, you ensure that the networking logic is closely tied to the data and actions of your application.
Learn from Mobile Monsters 🦾📶
When dealing with the exponentially growing complexity of networking logic, it's beneficial to take inspiration from mobile giants like Facebook or LinkedIn. These apps handle massive amounts of network operations efficiently. Although they may have their unique architectural approaches, they often follow principles such as modularization, separation of concerns, and scalability to manage complex networking scenarios.
Choose the Most Interesting Approach! 🏆
While there is no exact and formal answer to this problem, we aim to collect the most interesting approaches from experienced iOS developers. We encourage you to share your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions in the comments below. The best suggested approach will be marked as accepted and awarded with a reputation bounty, while others will be upvoted. Together, let's foster a community of knowledge sharing and help iOS developers navigate the challenges of building networking applications. 🌟🤝
Remember, the chosen architecture should align with your project's specific requirements and future goals. Happy coding! 💡💻
