Stewart Lynch News
​2026 - 18

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​https://stewartlynch.kit.com/

Latest Videos

After I posted my last newsletter, I had a change of plan and released an unannounced video instead of one of the planned ones. I thought it would fit better after the releases on Xcode and device Hub.

Create, Sign, Notarize, and Distribute a Mac DMG

Want to distribute your Mac app outside the Mac App Store? In my YouTube video, I walk you through the complete process using a JSON Formatter app, from archiving and exporting in Xcode to creating a polished DMG with a custom background and an Applications folder shortcut. I cover signing, notarization, and Gatekeeper checks, then show you how to publish the DMG as a GitHub Release with a stable download link.

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This vide is also accompanied by a blog post on the same topic.
​https://www.createchsol.com/blog/2026-08-30-mac-app-direct-distribution-dmg-signing-notarization-guide.html​

iOS 27 Launch Screens: plist or Storyboard?

This is the unannounced one. In this video, I explore two ways to create an iOS launch screen in Xcode: a simple Info.plist configuration and a storyboard approach that offers greater layout control. I cover adaptive images and background colors for light and dark mode, matching your app’s initial screen for a smooth transition, and resolving launch screen caching issues in the simulator. For more advanced layouts, I demonstrate SVG assets and Auto Layout constraints, with help from Codex, to adapt the design across iPhone, iPad, portrait, and landscape while keeping Apple’s guidance in mind.

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What's Next?

Next week, I will be releasing the one I had promised last week, plus a new one.

AsyncImage Caching in iOS 27: Everything You Need to Know

AsyncImage receives a meaningful upgrade in iOS 27. In this video, I'll demonstrate automatic image caching in iOS 27’s AsyncImage using a SwiftUI dog-breed browser under poor network conditions, showing how previously loaded images appear immediately without code changes when built with Xcode 27 and run on iOS 27. I'll also show how to configure a dedicated URLCache and URLSession for image requests, set memory and disk capacities, and apply the session throughout a SwiftUI hierarchy using the new modifier, keeping image-cache activity separate from JSON requests and easy to inspect.

Simpler SwiftUI Alerts and Confirmation Dialogs in iOS 27

In this video, I explore the new item-based alert and confirmation dialog APIs in SwiftUI for iOS 27. Learn how to present alerts from optional values and errors, add contextual messages, control confirmation dialog titles, and use an enum-driven pattern for multiple actions.

New on the Blog - SwiftUI: When to Use transition vs. contentTransition

SwiftUI’s .transition and .contentTransition have similar names, but they handle different kinds of change. Is a view appearing or disappearing, or is its content updating while the view stays in place?

Knowing the difference helps you choose the right animation.

In my latest blog post, I explore both modifiers with practical examples, from sliding views into place to animating counters and replacing SF Symbols. You’ll find code examples and a simple decision test you can apply in your own apps.

​https://www.createchsol.com/blog/2026-09-09-transition-or-contenttransition.html​

Preparing for a new Mac mini
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I’ve been waiting a while to replace my M2 Pro Mac mini, and the time has finally come. I bit the bullet and ordered an M5 Pro Mac mini, which is scheduled to arrive on September 22.

While I wait, I’m preparing for the transition and tackling something that has frustrated me for some time: my desk setup. My monitors don’t always connect reliably, and my external SSDs sometimes fail to mount. I’ve long suspected that some of my USB-C cables aren’t suited to the devices they’re connecting. The trouble is that USB-C cables all look alike, but their capabilities can be very different. So how do you tell what you have?

I have dozens of them. Some are cluttering up a drawer, while others form a tangled mess under my desk alongside my HyperDrive hub and several additional USB-C and USB-A hubs. I’ve also purchased a Wokyis Retro Classic Mac docking station, which will sit on my desk with the new Mac mini underneath it. Between the dock and the ports on the new mini, I expect to retire some of those hubs. It feels like the right time for a complete overhaul.

That leaves two questions: which cables should I use, and what should connect to each port? On the recommendation of Peter Witham, who you can find on Mastodon at @CompilesSwift@iosdev.space, I purchased the Treedix USB Cable Tester from Amazon. It turned out to be just the tool I needed. I spent the better part of a day testing my cables and organizing them by type and capability.
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With the cables sorted, I uploaded the manuals for my hubs and connected devices, along with the specifications for the new Mac mini, to ChatGPT. I asked it to map out which devices should connect to which ports and which cables to use. I now have a plan ready for arrival day, and hopefully a much tidier, more reliable setup ahead.

If you enjoy what I do and want to support my work, you can join my Ko-fi community and either make a one-time donation or become a monthly supporter for as little as $5/month. Monthly supporters get early access to my videos as soon as they’re uploaded to YouTube (as unlisted videos), sometimes up to a month before they’re made public. Monthly supporters also get priority responses to their questions, and I’m happy to help with coding challenges.

In addition to PayPal, Ko-fi now supports Stripe, which makes it easier to pay by credit card.
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My Other Stuff

Channel Listing App

A Searchable Mac app containing a list of all of my YouTube videos including the ability to watch them in the app and download starter and completed source code

Free on Gumroad

SymbolBrowser App

Browse Apple's complete SF Symbols library from your menu bar. Search, preview effects, customize colors, generate SwiftUI/UIKit/AppKit code, and copy symbols as images — all without leaving your workflow.
Available on Gumroad: (Pay what you want)

GitHub Directory Downloader for Mac

This simple app lets you download any specific directory from any GitHub repository—whether it's public or private. Just copy the folder URL, paste it into the app, and download exactly what you need. It remembers your download locations, keeps a history of what you've grabbed, and even supports branch selection. Perfect for developers who want quick access to starter projects, code examples, or specific folders without the hassle of cloning entire repositories.
Available on Gumroad: (Pay what you want)

Smile4Me Course

The course is now Free to download from: https://stewartlynch.github.io/Smile4Me-Course-Content/​

Affiliate Links

BigMountain Studio Books 

Mark Moeykens is a master at creating SwiftUI reference books. I have purchased every one of these books and refer to them all the time.

Use this link and we both will benefit

​https://www.bigmountainstudio.com/a/77jt8​