How does Xcode load the main storyboard?

Look at your Target settings for the Project

Notice the Main Storyboard setting.

If you wanted to do this in code yourself, you would do something like.

- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions
{

   UIStoryboard *storyboard = [UIStoryboard storyboardWithName:@"MainStoryboard" bundle:[NSBundle mainBundle]];
   UIViewController *vc = [storyboard instantiateInitialViewController];

   // Set root view controller and make windows visible
   self.window.rootViewController = vc;
   [self.window makeKeyAndVisible];

   return YES;
}