Ask HN: What is the best way to resolve storyboard (iOS) conflicts?

3 pointsskyahead11y ago3 comments

When a team of programmers working on a storyboard (managed by git), it is rather painful to merge changes. I know people are saying that using multiple storyboards can mitigate this problem.

I wonder if there is a better way?

3 comments

eonil11y ago

The best way for this is avoiding Storyboard.

DVCSs are designed for full error-tolerenceable text based source files. It requires the files are fine to be broken (e.g. for compile). This is the premise to merge data files without any issue.

Storyboard/IB data files are zero-tolerence. They always require full integrity for their data files. As the internal data is described as a interconnected graph, there's no effective way to manage Storyboard/IB data files in broken state. Most data files are in this form, and cannot be used in DVCSs.

Then, trying to use zero-tolerance data in a system which require full tolerance doesn't make sense. At least for merging.

athesyn11y ago

I don't see any other option beside 1) building the UI in code again 2) break it up into separate storyboards.

The lesson is never to use a storyboard unless your app is a simple collection of screens with a navigation controller.

petervandijck11y ago

We're having the same problems, pointers welcome.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse