Building iOS Apps with Claude Code
Last time we explored AI and built something real together.
We explored what AI is, how large language models work, and why this moment matters for everyone — not just engineers.
We used Claude's chat interface to build a complete HTML website — from idea to a live, working page — all through conversation.
AI is a creative partner, not just a tool. You don't need to be a developer to build things. You just need a vision.
In Workshop 1 we used Claude Chat. Today we level up to Claude Code — a tool that works directly on your computer.
An AI coding agent that lives in your terminal. Instead of copying and pasting code from a chat window, Claude Code works directly on your computer — creating files, running commands, and building entire projects.
This is agentic AI. Claude Chat answers questions. Claude Code takes actions — it can plan, decide, and execute steps on your behalf without you managing each one. That autonomy is what makes it a fundamentally different kind of tool.
The gap isn't about intelligence — the same models are available in Claude Chat and Claude Code. It's about what the AI can actually touch.
Chat only sees what you paste. Claude Code reads your actual file tree — imports, data models, existing views — and writes changes directly into the right files.
With chat you copy code → paste → run → see error → paste error back. Claude Code runs commands itself, sees the output, and fixes its own mistakes — without you in the middle.
A real app is never one file. Claude Code can create a SwiftUI view, wire it to a data model, add it to the nav stack, and update the Xcode project — all from one instruction.
It proposes → you approve → it acts → it observes the result → it adapts. You're the architect. It's the one doing the construction work.
A five-step loop you'll repeat over and over as you build.
Tell Claude what you want in plain English
It explains what it will do and asks for the OK
Press Y to accept or give feedback
Creates files, runs commands, makes it real
Does it look right? Does it do what you asked? Break it on purpose — that's how you learn what to fix next.
Testing isn't just for developers. If something feels off — wrong layout, unexpected behavior, a crash — describe exactly what you see and Claude Code will diagnose and fix it.
Claude Code + Xcode require macOS
macOS is the operating system that runs on Apple computers. It's required because Xcode (Apple's app builder) only works on Macs.
Built into every Mac — open it from Applications → Utilities → Terminal
Terminal is a text-based way to talk to your computer. Instead of clicking icons, you type commands. It looks like a hacker movie, but it's just another way to tell your computer what to do.
Runtime for Claude Code — installed via terminal
Node.js is a program that lets you run JavaScript code on your computer (not just in a browser). Claude Code is built with it, so it needs Node.js to work.
What is JavaScript? JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages in the world — it's what makes websites interactive. When you click a button and something happens, that's JavaScript. Originally it only ran inside browsers, but Node.js changed that by letting JavaScript run anywhere.
Apple's IDE for building iOS apps — free from the App Store
Xcode is Apple's official app for building iPhone and iPad apps. It includes a code editor, a visual previewer, and a simulator that lets you test your app without a real phone.
Free account to store and share your code
GitHub is a website where developers store their code. Think of it like Google Drive, but specifically designed for code projects. It's free and you can sign up at github.com.
When Claude Code builds something, it runs on your machine first. Sharing it publicly is a separate step.
localhost:3000Think of localhost like a rehearsal on your own stage. Hosting is opening night — the same show, now visible to the world.
Think of it as Google Drive for code — but with superpowers.
Your code is safely backed up online, accessible from any computer.
Others can see your project, suggest improvements, or build on your work.
Every change is tracked — you can always go back to a previous version.
Your GitHub profile becomes a living portfolio of everything you've built.
It depends on what you built. Here's the landscape.
What Claude Code usually builds — HTML, CSS, JS
What most non-developers think of — usually WordPress-focused
When your app needs logins, data storage, or server logic
What Claude Code builds is almost always the first category. GoDaddy-style hosting is designed for WordPress sites — not code you write yourself. Start with GitHub Pages or Vercel.
API stands for Application Programming Interface. It's how apps talk to each other — like a waiter taking your order to the kitchen and bringing back food.
You don't go into the kitchen yourself. You tell the waiter what you want, and the waiter brings back exactly what you asked for.
Your app asks for weather data, a quote, stock prices, or AI responses — and the API delivers it in a format your app can use.
Your phone's weather app calls a weather API to get the forecast for your location.
Uber uses Google Maps API to show your route. Yelp uses it to display restaurant locations.
When you buy something online, the site uses Stripe or PayPal's API to process your card.
Apps that use ChatGPT or Claude are calling an AI API behind the scenes to generate responses.
A note about API Keys
Some APIs are completely open — like The Met's API, which we'll use today. Anyone can access it, no sign-up required. But many APIs require an API key — a unique password that identifies you and controls access. Think of it like a library card: the library is free, but you need a card to check out books. If you use an API that needs a key, Claude Code can help you set it up — just tell it "I need to add my API key" and it will handle storing it safely in your project.
Think of a simple app you'd actually want on your phone. Here are some ideas:
A daily mood tracker with color-coded entries
A personal recipe book with categories
A gratitude journal with daily prompts
A simple workout timer with custom routines
A reading list tracker with ratings
Your own idea — whatever excites you!
That's it. One command. Then start it by typing:
It will open a login page in your browser. Sign in with your Anthropic account and you're ready to go.
Navigate to your project folder and tell Claude Code what to build:
Be as descriptive as you want! The more detail you give, the closer the result to your vision.
Ask Claude Code to open your project:
All your SwiftUI files organized in a sidebar
A live preview of your app — updates as code changes
Press ▶ to launch your app in an iPhone simulator
This is where the magic happens. Just keep talking to Claude Code:
💕 You're designing. Claude is coding. That's the whole idea.
This is where your app goes from a static prototype to something that connects to the real world. Just ask Claude Code:
You don't need to understand the technical details. Just tell Claude Code what data you want your app to show, and it handles the API connection for you.
You don't need to learn Git commands. Just tell Claude Code:
That's the entire Git workflow — done in one prompt.
You have two options for getting your app onto a real iPhone:
Build your iOS prototype with Claude Code
Let's build an iOS app together using
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's API
We'll connect to The Met's open collection — over 470,000 artworks — and build a beautiful app that brings art into your everyday life.
Installed and used Claude Code — a professional AI coding tool
Built a real iOS app prototype in SwiftUI using Xcode
Pushed your project to GitHub — it's live on the internet
Iterated on your design with natural language — no code written by hand
"Add a blue gradient header" works better than "make it look nice"
Read what Claude plans to do before approving — you'll learn a lot this way
Start simple, then refine. Small changes compound into something great
Your files save locally as you work — that's automatic. But push to GitHub at meaningful moments: "app launches," "calendar view done," "API connected." GitHub is your undo button across time — local saves disappear if your computer does.
"Explain what this code does" — Claude Code is also a fantastic teacher