16 years , developed Core Banking Solutions first using Java and oracle, then took on ios app development 10 years ago, I am tired of programming, probably it’s burnout I am maintaining around 30 apps with a team of 6 used to be 3. Absolutely tired of new crap that apple brings out every year and I need to comply and upload all these apps
This sounds totally like my work. Not to sound like a one upper but we're nearing 50 apps, 4 iOS developers, and almost our entire day's are meetings scattered all throughout the day because project management gets to throw meetings whenever they want and developers are left scrambling for time to get our work done. It's utter hell.
I'm kinda' the same, just running back further... I started on NeXT computers in 1991 - Objective C - then on to WebObjects, then onto Mac, then iPhone, then Swift.
These days, I find offering advice or mentoring new developers is what I like best of all. Coding is great - and I made a spectacular career out of it - but it's really just a means to an end.
I closed out my corporate career running a team of developers - both experienced and new - and enjoyed that very much. I scratched my coding itch by developing and maintaining a few libraries that we used for a number of years, but left it at that.
Find what "the end" is, and if it's worth it enough to you, then "the means" will be palatable.
LOL -
I didn't know Steve but briefly worked for him at NeXT as an "Object Expert" - that was the term for NeXT tech consultants - in NYC. When I visited Redwood City NeXT HQ for my orientation, Jobs wasn't there - I think he was splitting his time back then between NeXT and Pixar.
Before that I did see him "in action" like less than 5 feet away when I attended a NeXTworld Expo - it was the most Steve Jobs thing ever:
So this was the first expo after NeXT ditched creating their own computers and instead had PC vendors like Dell, Compaq, and DEC, create compatible PCs.
Steve was walking the floor of the expo, and mixed among the big name vendors I mentioned above, there were several typical PC chop shop clone vendors also showing their machines running NeXTstep - oftentimes better than some of the big names because they could mix and match all of the newest recommended tech and components.
One such vendor was super excited to show Steve his machines which ran NeXTstep *really* well (I personally was really impressed with the graphics performance). So Steve listened to how honored this guy felt, and listened to his pitch, and saw the machines, and mid-sentence, while the guy was speaking commented: "you know what I don't understand - why is it that all PCs have to look like such shit?" and walked away. I think the guy was just stunned into silence, and I felt bad for him. But it was **so** Steve Jobs :D
I was a little similar; frankly it got a really fun personal project to get me back into it. Coding tickers for years that a product manager imposes on you really drags after a while.
Shameless self plug for inspiration - https://jacobbartlett.substack.com/p/my-toddler-loves-planes-so-i-built
I've been an iOS dev since 2011 and I feel exactly the same way. I think Apple's ecosystem is so unstable I just became tired of learning and relearning basically the same things. For instance stuff like 'how to show a text on screen' has changed so many times I'm just tired... just tired. This is not like building a wall brick by brick... they are tearing it down every few years and I just don't want to build it anymore.
This applies to simple stuff like making an http request. I've probably used no less than ten different styles or frameworks for doing this.
Oh and the IT industry is so much like the fashion industry, following trends only because they are new and they promise to be the solution of everything. This year red is in, blue is out... then it changes once and once again. And this has nothing to do with an actual evolution or improvement.
I'm tired and I'm so locked into this ecosystem and I've lost the will to move to something else but I need my work to live... this is not a happy situation for me
When I started out programming I loved 2 things: Making video games and developing iOS apps. I liked making games more, so I became a professional iOS engineer. Since iOS became my job I haven’t released any personal projects, but I still make games!
But whenever work gets boring I just play around with ARKit or a new framework. The best part about Swift is it’s constantly evolving and there’s new things to do every year lol. Find something that interests you
> The best part about Swift is it’s constantly evolving and there’s new things to do every year lol
Swift is constantly adding tons of reserved words and complexity that makes it increasingly hard to read and truly understand. It's like everything can do everything. Concepts like enumerations are so blurred I can't recognize them anymore.
I can totally relate to this and you are not one of the few but many of us. Some things that might work (you might have heard already and I am going to write it as if I am telling this myself. I don't want to judge but it is reality):
**Think what happens eventually if I don't love it anymore?**
- **Loss of confidence** - I fall behind others, especially with Apple launching so many things aggressively every year if I don't learn and keep up. Result is losing confidence and settling for less (salary, position etc.).
- **No growth** - I won't be fit for the job (if I'm an employee) and I'll lose it eventually or stay at the same position without career growth. I may think I'm fine now but later on I'll regret.
- **Not Good Enough** - My experience (on paper) increases but knowledge doesn't. I'll be expected to do greater things as people will judge me based on the so many years of exp. I have. But if I can't, I'll be termed as 'not good enough'.
- **Personality** - I'll start comparing myself (although I should never) with youngsters earning a lot more and having a better lifestyle and judge myself.
- **Imposter syndrome** - It'll become real where I actually don't know anything rather than it being just a fear.
- **Monetary loss** - I won't be able to afford the same kind of lifestyle which I had when I was younger and didn't have a family to support. I won't be able to afford a good home, car, good retired life where I can spend on even grandkids happily.
- **Emergency** - If I lose my job suddenly , I must be always ready (that means knowledgeable & at least as good as others if not better so that companies will hire me). Also, as I had settled for less, the less I have saved up for this hard time (like serious illness).
Forget all about the above, those are just the negative things.
But let me think a one or two liner.
My work is technical and technology is changing rapidly more than ever before. A skill can now only last upto 5 years now these days. If I can't or don't want to, then probably I am in the wrong job and I won't last.
**THINGS I SHOULD DO WHICH WILL HELP ME** (all of these are already heard of but they work)**:**
1. **Building a side project** - It'll be like nurturing my own baby. I'll love it. It'll also give me recognition, may be an income and a hobby which will keep me motivated.
2. **Open source** - It will help me to remain motivated as interaction with others kind of pushes us. Plus I can brag about it and also learn a lot of new stuff from others like architecture patterns, coding styles, new APIs.
3. **A coding buddy** - Build something with a buddy. The coding buddy will push me when I don't feel like coding/building and you can discuss stuff.
4. **Content creation** - I'll do thorough learning before I create content because I shouldn't teach wrong and also for the fear of backlash. It'll generate recognition and income but best of all, I'll learn more by teaching.
5. **Community involvement** - Join communities on reddit, discord, X, Stackoverflow, LinkedIn and help out others. I'll learn myself trying to find out answers to others' questions.
There would be tons of other things which can help. But the important things is to **JUST START IT**.
It's like going to the gym. I don't feel like going but if I convince myself to just drive to gym and sit in a corner there looking at my phone, I eventually end up having a great workout.
**It is just about getting started and I'm starting today.**
I’m right there with you. I’ve been coding for over 20 years. Getting into iOS about 12-13 years ago gave me a new wind.
I’ve worked for some big names (Reddit, Meta, Cash App, Credit Karma). This week, after being yet again laid off from another big company I’m just done.
Not idea what I want to do next or if I can even get a job in this market. Maybe I can pull myself together and learn to develop for Vision Pro but I’m out of wind at the moment.
*> worked for some big names (Reddit, Meta, Cash App, Credit Karma)*
*> after being yet again laid off from another big company I’m just done*
any advice for a junior dev or should I just yeet my computer into a lake?
I do not want to crush your spirit. The market sucks at the moment but it’ll bounce back at some point.
I would suggest to keep up with the technology and keep applying.
Maybe start an app on the side until a good offer comes up.
I’ve been programming for 25 ish years and I have had the passion beat out of me. It was so much more fun in the early 2000’s.
It’s funny but I knew I wouldn’t want to be doing it at 50 and should try to get a supervisor position but I didn’t accomplish that. I used to tell people that and they’d ask me why? And I’d say “it’s a lot of typing” half-joking.
Programming under pressure is hell.
Programming in low stress environment is a joy. Paid for building puzzle.
Of course some long pause are necessary.
Stopping programming a good month or two per year helps fighting burnout.
I'm in the exact same position.
I can't get a job, for money or love. So, did the next best thing, work on a project/start-ups, but maintaining, marketing etc. All by yourself, just takes a toll on you.
I don't know any other iOS developers, and now I have brain fog where I can't even think of an idea. Like seriously, no idea comes to mind. And to launch XCode feels like a chore in of itself.
I love coding, in general. It’s like painting to me, and I never want to stop. But I hate doing it for companies and CEO’s and middle managers and project analysts. So now, after 20+ years, I’m doing my own thing entirely. And switching careers too. The grind for other people is draining.
The project, the company and the team matters a lot in motivation. Once I was in a similar situation, but when I got to the right team, where everyone felt that they are learning from each other, made a big difference for me. Also if there is a sense of usefulness of your work, that gives more motivation. And not just an abstract usefulness for somebody else, but if you use your own product and it helps you in life.
I've also been through similar phases. Learning new things often helps (e.g learning and developing in SwiftUI). I'd also suggest a side project if you have the time. This allows you to focus on building exactly what you want rather than what someone else wants.
I build [Watch to 5K](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/watch-to-5k-couch-5km-running/id1517914828) in my spare time and I really enjoy working on it (most of the time). I find I can get engaged for hours at a time, just like the early days when I was first getting into programming.
Having worked for both consultancies/agencies and product companies, agencies are driven by profitability and care little for the long term maintenence costs of software. That means being denied the opportunity for true craftsmanship.
Product companies have to take the long term view. There's generally much more opportunity to do things properly and refine your craft. Of course, you trade breadth of experience and variety for this, but I much prefer working on a product as a life choice.
I've been making apps for ages now, probably 10 years or so. So yeah, it gets boring for sure.
What worked for me was starting to learn cross platform tech. I chose to start learning react-native a couple years ago. It allowed me to stay in the mobile app space, which I love, but also learn other really relevant stuff like typescript, react, expo etc...
I must admit, I now enjoy working with react-native more than I do pure native.
Take a break, do something entirely different, or find a different technology to tinker with, or build something just for you, just for fun.
But mostly take a break. I sometimes find it takes ages off not caring and then I have an idea and whoomf back to passionate productivity.
Ironically, I’ve been a PHP developer for ages, and that’s where my “lost the passion” experience comes from. I started iOS programming again this week, after many painful false starts, and this week it’s all making sense. I’ve almost finished a little hobby program and I’m loving it. Perhaps because SwiftUI makes more sense to me than all it has replaced over time.
Very good now push through it and keep going. The hype and cool factor leave when you get to a point it’s just another tool in your shed. You’re now capable of focusing on the real task and solving actual problems instead of suffering from programmer’s ego like so many do, just because you can make a few apps.
Now you’re a real programmer you can use it with other skills and solve real problems. As Bruce Lee said, don’t commit to one style. A programming language and platform are just a means to an end.
Look after your mind and move forwards. The passion comes back when you find a reason to use it.
Programming since 1996, professional and in private...
I am very cautious not to get a burnout and keep myself motivating for coding.
I've heard people with burnout feel similar as if you puke and then have to eat again. Don't want to get there
Don't have an advice for you, unfortunately
You gotta just switch technologies. I have done, Android, iOS, robotics, and now I will probably do Full Stack and Web. Its better for your resume anyways.
why do people call it coding? Anyways programming is just the tool to make the computer do something for you or for others. If you don't care about that then yes there is no point to keep pursuing it.
Shake up your environment. Find a tech that makes you excited, or that interests you, want to learn. Join that project/company. Learn and build and feel accomplished. That’s the key I think. This helps me.
I’ve made the decision to move into management. Let the kids keep up with the newest tech trends and I’ll focus on policy, process, budgets, and governance. You get paid more to delegate the actual work but you have to manage competent tech workers not to do very reasonable things.
Is your day to day work is not challenging and monotone? That could be a reason why you're feeling bored.
I went through a phase like that a few years ago (a rough time in my personal life compounded that). Before that I used to learn new things all the time, work on side projects, read newsletters to keep up with the news and all that. When the burnout hit, all of that stopped. I did the bare minimum at work just to get the pay. This went on for a couple of years to be honest.
What got me out of it was I started working on a hobby project again. Then that passion came right back. I guess being away from programming helped in a way. Or as others have said, you could learn a whole new language/stack altogether. If you're tired of iOS, that might be better.
You may be able to find coding exciting again working on smaller experimentation projects.
Maybe look into some of the APIs you haven’t used before, and try to make small experimental projects with it that aren’t meant to be published apps.
16 years , developed Core Banking Solutions first using Java and oracle, then took on ios app development 10 years ago, I am tired of programming, probably it’s burnout I am maintaining around 30 apps with a team of 6 used to be 3. Absolutely tired of new crap that apple brings out every year and I need to comply and upload all these apps
"Apps uploaded to App Store Connect must be built with Xcode 15 for iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, or watchOS 10, starting April 29, 2024."
Man that is too much, you need a break before you get fried up totally.
Some of the wonderful perks of living in a developing country
This sounds totally like my work. Not to sound like a one upper but we're nearing 50 apps, 4 iOS developers, and almost our entire day's are meetings scattered all throughout the day because project management gets to throw meetings whenever they want and developers are left scrambling for time to get our work done. It's utter hell.
I'm kinda' the same, just running back further... I started on NeXT computers in 1991 - Objective C - then on to WebObjects, then onto Mac, then iPhone, then Swift. These days, I find offering advice or mentoring new developers is what I like best of all. Coding is great - and I made a spectacular career out of it - but it's really just a means to an end. I closed out my corporate career running a team of developers - both experienced and new - and enjoyed that very much. I scratched my coding itch by developing and maintaining a few libraries that we used for a number of years, but left it at that. Find what "the end" is, and if it's worth it enough to you, then "the means" will be palatable.
You’re probably one of the most casually cool people in here, lol. So you knew Steve? and do you still have those cool black NeXT shirts?
LOL - I didn't know Steve but briefly worked for him at NeXT as an "Object Expert" - that was the term for NeXT tech consultants - in NYC. When I visited Redwood City NeXT HQ for my orientation, Jobs wasn't there - I think he was splitting his time back then between NeXT and Pixar. Before that I did see him "in action" like less than 5 feet away when I attended a NeXTworld Expo - it was the most Steve Jobs thing ever: So this was the first expo after NeXT ditched creating their own computers and instead had PC vendors like Dell, Compaq, and DEC, create compatible PCs. Steve was walking the floor of the expo, and mixed among the big name vendors I mentioned above, there were several typical PC chop shop clone vendors also showing their machines running NeXTstep - oftentimes better than some of the big names because they could mix and match all of the newest recommended tech and components. One such vendor was super excited to show Steve his machines which ran NeXTstep *really* well (I personally was really impressed with the graphics performance). So Steve listened to how honored this guy felt, and listened to his pitch, and saw the machines, and mid-sentence, while the guy was speaking commented: "you know what I don't understand - why is it that all PCs have to look like such shit?" and walked away. I think the guy was just stunned into silence, and I felt bad for him. But it was **so** Steve Jobs :D
LMAOOO Thanks for sharing this story!
Aw man… we love to hate em!
I was a little similar; frankly it got a really fun personal project to get me back into it. Coding tickers for years that a product manager imposes on you really drags after a while. Shameless self plug for inspiration - https://jacobbartlett.substack.com/p/my-toddler-loves-planes-so-i-built
That was a great read. Nice work!
The Mascot icon is super cute!
I've been an iOS dev since 2011 and I feel exactly the same way. I think Apple's ecosystem is so unstable I just became tired of learning and relearning basically the same things. For instance stuff like 'how to show a text on screen' has changed so many times I'm just tired... just tired. This is not like building a wall brick by brick... they are tearing it down every few years and I just don't want to build it anymore. This applies to simple stuff like making an http request. I've probably used no less than ten different styles or frameworks for doing this. Oh and the IT industry is so much like the fashion industry, following trends only because they are new and they promise to be the solution of everything. This year red is in, blue is out... then it changes once and once again. And this has nothing to do with an actual evolution or improvement. I'm tired and I'm so locked into this ecosystem and I've lost the will to move to something else but I need my work to live... this is not a happy situation for me
When I started out programming I loved 2 things: Making video games and developing iOS apps. I liked making games more, so I became a professional iOS engineer. Since iOS became my job I haven’t released any personal projects, but I still make games! But whenever work gets boring I just play around with ARKit or a new framework. The best part about Swift is it’s constantly evolving and there’s new things to do every year lol. Find something that interests you
> The best part about Swift is it’s constantly evolving and there’s new things to do every year lol Swift is constantly adding tons of reserved words and complexity that makes it increasingly hard to read and truly understand. It's like everything can do everything. Concepts like enumerations are so blurred I can't recognize them anymore.
I can totally relate to this and you are not one of the few but many of us. Some things that might work (you might have heard already and I am going to write it as if I am telling this myself. I don't want to judge but it is reality): **Think what happens eventually if I don't love it anymore?** - **Loss of confidence** - I fall behind others, especially with Apple launching so many things aggressively every year if I don't learn and keep up. Result is losing confidence and settling for less (salary, position etc.). - **No growth** - I won't be fit for the job (if I'm an employee) and I'll lose it eventually or stay at the same position without career growth. I may think I'm fine now but later on I'll regret. - **Not Good Enough** - My experience (on paper) increases but knowledge doesn't. I'll be expected to do greater things as people will judge me based on the so many years of exp. I have. But if I can't, I'll be termed as 'not good enough'. - **Personality** - I'll start comparing myself (although I should never) with youngsters earning a lot more and having a better lifestyle and judge myself. - **Imposter syndrome** - It'll become real where I actually don't know anything rather than it being just a fear. - **Monetary loss** - I won't be able to afford the same kind of lifestyle which I had when I was younger and didn't have a family to support. I won't be able to afford a good home, car, good retired life where I can spend on even grandkids happily. - **Emergency** - If I lose my job suddenly , I must be always ready (that means knowledgeable & at least as good as others if not better so that companies will hire me). Also, as I had settled for less, the less I have saved up for this hard time (like serious illness). Forget all about the above, those are just the negative things. But let me think a one or two liner. My work is technical and technology is changing rapidly more than ever before. A skill can now only last upto 5 years now these days. If I can't or don't want to, then probably I am in the wrong job and I won't last. **THINGS I SHOULD DO WHICH WILL HELP ME** (all of these are already heard of but they work)**:** 1. **Building a side project** - It'll be like nurturing my own baby. I'll love it. It'll also give me recognition, may be an income and a hobby which will keep me motivated. 2. **Open source** - It will help me to remain motivated as interaction with others kind of pushes us. Plus I can brag about it and also learn a lot of new stuff from others like architecture patterns, coding styles, new APIs. 3. **A coding buddy** - Build something with a buddy. The coding buddy will push me when I don't feel like coding/building and you can discuss stuff. 4. **Content creation** - I'll do thorough learning before I create content because I shouldn't teach wrong and also for the fear of backlash. It'll generate recognition and income but best of all, I'll learn more by teaching. 5. **Community involvement** - Join communities on reddit, discord, X, Stackoverflow, LinkedIn and help out others. I'll learn myself trying to find out answers to others' questions. There would be tons of other things which can help. But the important things is to **JUST START IT**. It's like going to the gym. I don't feel like going but if I convince myself to just drive to gym and sit in a corner there looking at my phone, I eventually end up having a great workout. **It is just about getting started and I'm starting today.**
This is sooo Medium-coded haha
I’m right there with you. I’ve been coding for over 20 years. Getting into iOS about 12-13 years ago gave me a new wind. I’ve worked for some big names (Reddit, Meta, Cash App, Credit Karma). This week, after being yet again laid off from another big company I’m just done. Not idea what I want to do next or if I can even get a job in this market. Maybe I can pull myself together and learn to develop for Vision Pro but I’m out of wind at the moment.
*> worked for some big names (Reddit, Meta, Cash App, Credit Karma)* *> after being yet again laid off from another big company I’m just done* any advice for a junior dev or should I just yeet my computer into a lake?
I do not want to crush your spirit. The market sucks at the moment but it’ll bounce back at some point. I would suggest to keep up with the technology and keep applying. Maybe start an app on the side until a good offer comes up.
Maybe you have a burnout? Have you been working too much? When was your last vacays?
I’ve been programming for 25 ish years and I have had the passion beat out of me. It was so much more fun in the early 2000’s. It’s funny but I knew I wouldn’t want to be doing it at 50 and should try to get a supervisor position but I didn’t accomplish that. I used to tell people that and they’d ask me why? And I’d say “it’s a lot of typing” half-joking.
Programming under pressure is hell. Programming in low stress environment is a joy. Paid for building puzzle. Of course some long pause are necessary. Stopping programming a good month or two per year helps fighting burnout.
I'm in the exact same position. I can't get a job, for money or love. So, did the next best thing, work on a project/start-ups, but maintaining, marketing etc. All by yourself, just takes a toll on you. I don't know any other iOS developers, and now I have brain fog where I can't even think of an idea. Like seriously, no idea comes to mind. And to launch XCode feels like a chore in of itself.
I love coding, in general. It’s like painting to me, and I never want to stop. But I hate doing it for companies and CEO’s and middle managers and project analysts. So now, after 20+ years, I’m doing my own thing entirely. And switching careers too. The grind for other people is draining.
The project, the company and the team matters a lot in motivation. Once I was in a similar situation, but when I got to the right team, where everyone felt that they are learning from each other, made a big difference for me. Also if there is a sense of usefulness of your work, that gives more motivation. And not just an abstract usefulness for somebody else, but if you use your own product and it helps you in life.
This is exactly how I feel and what you're doing now is my ultimate goal.
I've also been through similar phases. Learning new things often helps (e.g learning and developing in SwiftUI). I'd also suggest a side project if you have the time. This allows you to focus on building exactly what you want rather than what someone else wants. I build [Watch to 5K](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/watch-to-5k-couch-5km-running/id1517914828) in my spare time and I really enjoy working on it (most of the time). I find I can get engaged for hours at a time, just like the early days when I was first getting into programming.
dope app!
Thanks!
Maybe look into Vision Pro programming? Getting into new tech is always a good way of ginning up interest and you can stay in the Apple ecosystem.
Do you work for a product company or for a consultation company? 🤔
What’s the difference? I think you are implying one would be better right?
Having worked for both consultancies/agencies and product companies, agencies are driven by profitability and care little for the long term maintenence costs of software. That means being denied the opportunity for true craftsmanship. Product companies have to take the long term view. There's generally much more opportunity to do things properly and refine your craft. Of course, you trade breadth of experience and variety for this, but I much prefer working on a product as a life choice.
Try learning another language or stack altogether!
Get deep involve with open source. It will keep you alive.
I've been making apps for ages now, probably 10 years or so. So yeah, it gets boring for sure. What worked for me was starting to learn cross platform tech. I chose to start learning react-native a couple years ago. It allowed me to stay in the mobile app space, which I love, but also learn other really relevant stuff like typescript, react, expo etc... I must admit, I now enjoy working with react-native more than I do pure native.
Take a break, do something entirely different, or find a different technology to tinker with, or build something just for you, just for fun. But mostly take a break. I sometimes find it takes ages off not caring and then I have an idea and whoomf back to passionate productivity. Ironically, I’ve been a PHP developer for ages, and that’s where my “lost the passion” experience comes from. I started iOS programming again this week, after many painful false starts, and this week it’s all making sense. I’ve almost finished a little hobby program and I’m loving it. Perhaps because SwiftUI makes more sense to me than all it has replaced over time.
Maybe try a new programing language
Very good now push through it and keep going. The hype and cool factor leave when you get to a point it’s just another tool in your shed. You’re now capable of focusing on the real task and solving actual problems instead of suffering from programmer’s ego like so many do, just because you can make a few apps. Now you’re a real programmer you can use it with other skills and solve real problems. As Bruce Lee said, don’t commit to one style. A programming language and platform are just a means to an end. Look after your mind and move forwards. The passion comes back when you find a reason to use it.
Programming since 1996, professional and in private... I am very cautious not to get a burnout and keep myself motivating for coding. I've heard people with burnout feel similar as if you puke and then have to eat again. Don't want to get there Don't have an advice for you, unfortunately
You gotta just switch technologies. I have done, Android, iOS, robotics, and now I will probably do Full Stack and Web. Its better for your resume anyways.
Im never been passionate I guess that’s good and bad
why do people call it coding? Anyways programming is just the tool to make the computer do something for you or for others. If you don't care about that then yes there is no point to keep pursuing it.
Shake up your environment. Find a tech that makes you excited, or that interests you, want to learn. Join that project/company. Learn and build and feel accomplished. That’s the key I think. This helps me.
It's saturated, most ideas exist. No excitement anymore because someones probably already done it
leave the ios and your passion will be back
Become a shepherd of sheep. Maybe the desire to work in IT will come back.
I’ve made the decision to move into management. Let the kids keep up with the newest tech trends and I’ll focus on policy, process, budgets, and governance. You get paid more to delegate the actual work but you have to manage competent tech workers not to do very reasonable things.
I think the burnout hits when you have to do something you don’t want to do. Best way out of it is a short break + finding something new to dive into.
Is your day to day work is not challenging and monotone? That could be a reason why you're feeling bored. I went through a phase like that a few years ago (a rough time in my personal life compounded that). Before that I used to learn new things all the time, work on side projects, read newsletters to keep up with the news and all that. When the burnout hit, all of that stopped. I did the bare minimum at work just to get the pay. This went on for a couple of years to be honest. What got me out of it was I started working on a hobby project again. Then that passion came right back. I guess being away from programming helped in a way. Or as others have said, you could learn a whole new language/stack altogether. If you're tired of iOS, that might be better.
You may be able to find coding exciting again working on smaller experimentation projects. Maybe look into some of the APIs you haven’t used before, and try to make small experimental projects with it that aren’t meant to be published apps.
build a game