Mastering App Development with Swift—on Your Own or with a Pro

In 2014, Apple launched Swift—a programming language for iOS and its other operating systems—as a way to make development “easier, more flexible, and more fun.” It was positioned as an alternative to Objective-C, a language that had been at the core of development until that point.

While Objective-C still has a role in app development, demand for Swift expertise has started to overtake it; Swift recently ranked second in Upwork’s index of the fastest growing skills online. What does that mean for mobile app development? These posts from Upwork help put it in perspective.

 

Swift versus Objective-C

Developed more than 30 years ago, Objective-C is an object-oriented language that was used for both iOS and OS X operating systems. Because of this, a lot of established apps use Objective-C and some code adaptation is still needed to use Apple’s APIs—but it carries a lot of “baggage” and can be awkward to write.

“Swift is designed to be compatible with all of the existing iOS development tools—xCode, Objective-C, and the Cocoa framework.”

“Swift vs. Objective-C: A Look at iOS Programming Languages” explains the appeal of Swift and some of its key advantages, including its improved speed, maintenance, and compilers. Plus, it’s easier to learn—especially if you’re already familiar with languages such as C#, C++, JavaScript, Java, or Python.

 

Learn the basics of Swift on your own…

If you want to learn more about programming with Swift, Apple provides a collection of resources including eBooks, videos, and iTunes U courses from Stanford and Plymouth universities.

You can also link to long-standing e-learning resources in “4 of the Best Online Swift Courses for Developers.”

“Swift is friendly to new programmers,” Apple says in Swift’s introduction. “It’s designed to scale from ‘hello, world’ to an entire operating system.”

 

…Or find someone who’s already a pro

Whether you want to create a new app or migrate an existing app to Swift, an iOS developer can help ensure your project succeeds.

“There are numerous phases a mobile app developer will be integral during: design, coding, APIs and other back-end integrations, and testing.”

“How Much Does It Cost to Hire an iOS Developer?” explains what an iOS developer can do, what you should include in your project description, and typical rates charged by pros with different levels of expertise.

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Want to learn more about mobile app development? Check out the latest in the Hiring Headquarters >>

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Music For Productivity: What Do You Listen To?

Does music fuel your life and your business? Listening to music can lift your spirit, change your mood, complement how you’re feeling, and even help you get more done.

If you are the type of person who enjoys breaking the silence with some beats, these suggestions from the Upwork Facebook community can help you create a playlist to carry you through your work day.

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“[I listen to] Classic music, usually cheerful ones, to keep me going!”
– Patricia Vasconcellos

“EDM [electronic dance music]! Good upbeat songs are my surefire cure for a super stressful day!!”
– Ange Lai

“[I listen to] ‘music for studying and concentration’ playlists on YouTube.”
– Loida Shiroma Dofiles

“I feel I need music to be productive, I can’t stay focused without it! So I love to listen to some indie pop and instrumental songs.”
– Luísa Schetinger

“Classical guitar—I’ve recently started listening to that, and it’s surprisingly productivity-friendly!”
– Matt Keener

“Post-rock or light, ambient music without lyrics, so it doesn’t distract me.”
– Alexander Dimanov

“Jazz. Preferably instrumental. I like it. It’s calming. If it’s some pop song, I’d get distracted and sing along.”
– Norgen Mae Tapel

“Spotify has awesome playlists for work based on the genre ‘Focus’.”
– Shelby Newborn

“Beautiful Chinese instrumental music.”
– CB Acal JW

“In the morning listening to music doesn’t help me to focus, rather silence does. In the afternoon and evening, fast and loud rock music helps, like punk and metal. I can’t stand slow songs during work—they put me to sleep.”
– Zoltan Koves

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These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg! For more great suggestions, check out the whole thread on our Facebook page.

What music makes your day more productive? Tell us in the comments!

Editor’s note: Responses edited for grammar, spelling, and clarity. The statements above are those of their authors and do not constitute the views or opinions of Upwork.

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New for Upwork’s Android App: Review Offers From Clients On the Go

Upwork Newswire: Robot Bosses and the Agile Workforce

This biweekly column features the latest freelancing trends and Upwork’s role within them.

Chicago Tribune | The workplace of the near future will be agile, with robot bosses

Freelancers represent 35 percent of the U.S. workforce, a number expected to grow to as much as half of U.S. workers over the next few years. It’s what staffing company Randstad calls an “agile workforce,” something that appeals to many workers, whether employee or independent contractor, and companies alike.

“This preference for working in what we’re now calling this agile model, it continues to gain steam, gain strength and gain preference with all classifications of employees, though predominantly among young workers,” said Jim Link, chief HR officer for Randstad North America.

The mobility of such a workforce dovetails with another emerging model, Chicago Tribune reporter Rex Huppke points out: The case for artificial intelligence (AI) in management.

“Workers attached to a company for only a short time will be less concerned with building relationships with managers, opening the door for management via artificial intelligence,” Huppke said.

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, a professor of business psychology at University College London, agrees. In a recent article for the Harvard Business Review, he points out that managers frequently have shortcomings that AI lacks.

“Computers and algorithms already have a lot of data on us,” he told Huppke via email. “Imagine turning that data into accurate insights about us: who we are, what we want, how we are feeling, and what we need to do. Then imagine that system giving us instructions: to buy, to sell, to e-mail someone, to work on something.”

Read more about robots and the agile workforce in Huppke’s full column >>

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January 2017 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Statistics Package with Charts and Graphs

January 2017 Rebgv Statistics Package Mike Stewart Vancouver Realtor from Mike Stewart

Metro Vancouver housing market off to a quieter start than last year

Home sales and listings trends are below long-term averages in the Metro Vancouver* housing market. This is due largely to reduced activity in the detached home market.

Residential property sales in the region totalled 1,523 in January 2017, a 39.5 per cent decrease from the 2,519 sales recorded in January 2016 and an 11.1 per cent decrease compared to December 2016 when 1,714 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 10.3 per cent below our 10-year January sales average.

“From a real estate perspective, it’s a lukewarm start to the year compared to 2016,” Dan Morrison, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president said. “While we saw near record-breaking sales at this time last year, home buyers and sellers are more reluctant to engage so far in 2017.”

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 4,140 in January 2017. This represents a 6.8 per cent decrease compared to the 4,442 homes listed in January 2016 and a 215.5 per cent increase compared to December 2016 when 1,312 properties were listed.

The total number of homes currently listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver is 7,238, a 9.1 per cent increase compared to January 2016 (6,635) and a 14.1 per cent increase compared to December 2016 (6,345).

The sales-to-active listings ratio for January 2017 is 21 per cent. This is the lowest the ratio has been in the region since January 2015. Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

“Conditions within the market vary depending on property type. The townhome and condominium markets are more active than the detached market at the moment,” Morrison said. “As a result, detached home prices declined about 7 per cent since peaking in July while townhome and condominium prices held steady over this period.”

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $896,000. This represents a 3.7 per cent decline over the past six months and a 0.2 per cent decrease compared to December 2016.

Sales of detached properties in January 2017 reached 444, a decrease of 57.6 per cent from the 1,047 detached sales recorded in January 2016. The benchmark price for detached properties is $1,474,800. This represents a 6.6 per cent decline over the last six months and a 0.6 per cent decrease compared to December 2016.

Sales of apartment properties reached 825 in January 2017, a decrease of 24.7 per cent compared to the 1,096 sales in January 2016.The benchmark price of an apartment property is $512,300. This represents a 0.3 per cent increase over the last six months and a 0.4 per cent increase compared to December 2016.

Attached property sales in January 2017 totalled 254, a decrease of 32.4 per cent compared to the 376 sales in January 2016. The benchmark price of an attached unit is $666,500. This represents a 0.4 per cent decline over the last six months and a 0.7 per cent increase compared to December 2016.

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A Quick Primer on Machine Learning

Many of the popular services, apps, and technologies we take for granted today are driven by intelligent machines. It might evoke sci-fi images of Terminator-filled doomscapes for some, but the concept of “machine learning” is already an integral part of our world.

From Google Maps and Siri to Netflix and email spam filters, machine learning is making our lives better in fascinating ways, and it’s a valuable tool for businesses to tap into.

Machine learning is one of the fastest-growing freelance skills on Upwork. For tech-savvy freelancers and larger companies alike, it’s worth understanding the basics of machine learning and how it can benefit your business. These articles from the Hiring Headquarters are a great place to start.

What is machine learning?

At its core, machine learning is all about solving real-world problems: With the right data sets and tuned algorithms, computers can model outcomes, make predictions, learn, and adapt to provide solutions to increasingly complex challenges humans can’t easily solve on our own—all without additional input from developers.

“Machine Learning: A Brief Intro” is a primer to help you get up-to-speed on how machine learning works. It explains key definitions and case examples while exploring some of the more interesting ways that the technology is currently in use.

It also references related skills that make machine learning possible. If you want to hire machine learning experts or explore this discipline directly, Hadoop, Python, and Java are important skills that tie directly into implementing and maximizing the benefit of this technology.

Learn more with the help of a data scientist

The magic of machine learning can be a powerful tool for innovation, from providing your customers with adaptive services to uncovering insights that can drive key decisions for your business.

Putting these complex systems in place and ensuring they work smoothly is no simple task, and it often takes the advanced skills of a data scientist to get the job done effectively.

“How Do You Hire a Data Scientist?” explores the range of roles that data scientists play and explains how you can fine tune your approach to finding one for your project—including tips to help you write an effective job post to help attract high-caliber freelancers. You’ll also find insights into what you should look for in a proposal, as well as questions you might want to incorporate into the interview process.

Looking for more information and insights to help find top freelance talent? Head over to the Hiring Headquarters to learn more >>

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Inside Upwork: Meet Content Marketing Director Lisa Oda