Storyboards vs Programmatic UI

Developers should learn Storyboards when building iOS or macOS apps with Xcode, as they streamline UI design and reduce boilerplate code for navigation meets developers should use programmatic ui when they need precise control over ui behavior, such as in complex animations, dynamic layouts, or when integrating with custom design systems. Here's our take.

Storyboards

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Storyboards when building iOS or macOS apps with Xcode, as they streamline UI design and reduce boilerplate code for navigation

Pros

• They are particularly useful for rapid prototyping, creating simple to moderately complex interfaces, and when working in teams where visual clarity aids collaboration
• Related to: xcode, swift

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Programmatic UI

Developers should use programmatic UI when they need precise control over UI behavior, such as in complex animations, dynamic layouts, or when integrating with custom design systems

Pros

• It is particularly valuable in cross-platform development frameworks like React Native or Flutter, where code-based UI definitions ensure consistency across different operating systems
• Related to: swiftui, jetpack-compose

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Storyboards is a tool while Programmatic UI is a concept. We picked Storyboards based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Storyboards wins

Based on overall popularity. Storyboards is more widely used, but Programmatic UI excels in its own space.