>Designers don't do things in code, they use the UI panel designer.
Because designers aren't coders. If you're after the coveted designgineer, good luck. They don't exist. Designers design things using the best tools for their job. Coders implement the design using the best tools for their job. Thinking that designers and implementers work on the same level is toxic.
the crux of the issue is the files used to store UI design data.
the OP says that apple's NIB/XIB format actually makes a change to the file every time you open it, making uncommitted changes.
with android's XML, you make changes via the designer or otherwise. As far as I'm aware, simply reading/opening the files does not create random changes to the files.
Designers don't do things in code, they use the UI panel designer. end of story.