iOS 26 Essentials for App Developers: Widgets, Shortcuts, Cloud Integration

Are you ready to master iOS 26 like a pro—but without getting overwhelmed?
Have you ever felt like you’re constantly playing catch-up with Apple’s latest changes? Maybe you’re a developer who’s confident with Swift and UIKit, but you still wonder, “What exactly is new in iOS 26, and how can I use it to build apps people actually love and use daily?”
Well, that’s where iOS 26 Essentials for App Developers by Ronan E. Vexley steps in—not as a manual, but as a smart, practical guide that talks with you, not at you.
Let’s start with a basic question:
What really matters in iOS 26?
Are widgets still a thing? What about App Intents, new SiriKit capabilities, and the whole Shortcuts automation push? And wait—how are we supposed to integrate with iCloud now that everything’s gone “CloudKit-first”? Should we care about this?
This book doesn’t just list features. It dives deep into what those features mean for you as a developer. Why should you care about building interactive widgets? What makes the difference between a shortcut that feels clunky and one that gets users excited to open your app? And what about that final stretch—App Store deployment? Is it still a pain, or are there better ways to streamline the process in iOS 26?
Have you explored the new SwiftData improvements for cloud syncing? Or are you still wrestling with Core Data and wishing there was a better way?
Ronan E. Vexley walks you through not just the how but the why of everything that’s changed. He doesn’t assume you’re starting from scratch, but he also doesn’t leave you in the dark if you missed WWDC. It’s all here:

• Widgets that actually engage your users—are you building them the right way?
• Shortcuts and App Intents—how can they unlock an entirely new user experience for your app?
• Cloud Integration—are you syncing smartly, securely, and scalably, or are you stuck with brittle backends?
• App Store Deployment—do you understand the new rules and options, or are you still crossing your fingers at submission time?

What if the difference between a decent app and a top-charting one isn’t your idea—but how well you adapt to iOS 26’s evolving ecosystem?
This book gets you ready for that. And it does it with clarity, real-world advice, and an easygoing tone that feels more like a mentor than a textbook.
So, let’s be honest: