Step-by-step plan: how to go from basic Swift to your first SwiftUI app

This plan is designed for 2–4 months of regular work (3–5 hours per week). It does not promise quick results, but it gives a clear sequence of steps.
Stage 1: Month 1 — Base

• Learn variables, constants, data types, operators.
  
• Master if-else, switch, loops.
  
• Write 5–7 small console programs (calculator, unit converter, etc.).
  
• Go through modules with functions, closures, arrays, dictionaries.

Stage 2: Month 1.5–2 — First interfaces

• Learn the basics of SwiftUI: Text, Image, VStack, Button, @State.
  
• Create 3–4 simple screens: counter, task list, input form.
  
• Master NavigationLink and NavigationStack.
  
• Get to know @Binding and data transfer between screens.

Stage 3: Month 2–2.5 — State and interaction

• Learn animations (.animation, .transition, matchedGeometryEffect).
• Master gestures (tap, drag, long press).
  
• Make a TabView app with 2–3 tabs.
  
• Write an app with @StateObject / @ObservedObject (e.g., a habit tracker).

Stage 4: Month 3 — Data and networking

• Learn optionals, enums, Codable.
  
• Write functions to load JSON from a public API (e.g., a list of posts).
  
• Master async/await and error handling.
  
• Move to MVVM: create a ViewModel for a list of data.

Stage 5: Month 3.5–4 — Final project

• Choose a simple idea: mood tracker, shopping list, diary, weather.
  
• Implement:
  
• Data Model (struct + Codable or SwiftData)
  
• ViewModel with @Published
  
• List + Detail Screen (Navigation)
  Add/Edit/Delete
  
• Basic Animations and Gestures
  
• Error Handling and Loading State
• Test on Different Screen Sizes.
  
• Add Basic Accessibility (accessibilityLabel).

Tips for the Whole Journey

• Write code every day for at least 20–30 minutes.
  
• After each module, rewrite previous projects with new knowledge.
  
• Use documentation for experiments.
  
• Don’t be afraid to delete old code — refactoring is the norm.