It was for fairly a very long time that Apple working techniques for cell phones, tablets, and computer systems had been primarily developed with Goal-C.
The 12 months 2014 flipped all the things round with the presentation of Swift – a contemporary, sooner, and simpler-to-implement programming language. It’s been greater than 10 years for the reason that Swift 1.0 launch, and now, iOS builders predict the Swift 6.0 launch to convey much more highly effective options.
Swift has proved to be a viable various to Goal-C for a lot of initiatives, and now, many firms are constructing their iOS apps with Swift tech stack. On this article, we’ll dive into Swift’s particulars and discover out when to make use of this programming language and if current Goal-C continues to be related.
What Is Swift?
Swift is a programming language developed by Apple Inc. and used for constructing native apps that run on the Apple and Linux working techniques.
Whereas Linux is a stand-alone platform, Apple working techniques embody a complete line of options like iOS for cell phones, macOS for computer systems, iPadOS for tablets, watchOS for smartwatches, and tvOS for Apple TV. Subsequently, there may be a variety of software program functions that may be developed with Swift.
The Swift language first appeared in 2014 instead resolution to Goal-C, which was omnipresent on all of Apple’s platforms. Since its introduction, Swift has rapidly gained recognition, and in 2015, it turned open supply. Many builders admit that this programming language is far easier to code and simpler to learn.
In the present day, Swift has reached the highest place within the worldwide charts of programming languages. For instance, the TIOBE Index for April 2025 has ranked Swift twenty sixth among the many high 50 programming languages.
Whereas within the PYPL PopularitY of Programming Language Index, Swift charted at quantity 11, and the Stack Overflow Developer survey talked about Swift because the sixteenth most beloved improvement language.
Within the survey of 2019, software program developer Andrew Madsen examined the highest 110 apps within the App Retailer with a Python script for leveraging Swift of their supply code. The developer came upon that 42% of the highest 110 apps are developed with the Swift programming language to a higher or lesser extent.
The apps with the most important share of Swift-based code seemed to be Walmart for iOS, with 80% of Swift, Microsoft Outlook, and Postmates utilizing 67% of the language, Tinder has 47% of it, and Starbucks consists of 35%.
Actually, a a lot bigger variety of world-known manufacturers construct their apps with Swift, and it’s anticipated to proceed rising in recognition within the close to future.
Benefits of App Improvement with Swift
As with all language, Swift has its personal execs and cons for. Regardless of some shortcomings, many builders nonetheless want implementing the Swift code extra for fast and efficient iOS improvement. Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the benefits of Swift.
Open-Supply Availability
Swift is an open-source improvement language. This implies it’s accessible for everybody who needs to dive into iOS improvement.
Swift builders can contribute to language improvement, sharing their options regarding bug fixing, greatest items of code, and varied language enchancment concepts. In simply a number of years after changing into an open-source resolution, Swift acquired a powerful and supportive neighborhood and an intensive variety of third-party improvement instruments.
Quick Improvement
To rapidly construct functions, Swift offers software program builders with LLVM instruments, a set of modular and reusable compilers, and toolchain applied sciences. These instruments compile meeting code into machine code, leading to sooner code processing.
Furthermore, in keeping with Apple Inc., Swift is 2.6 occasions sooner than Goal-C and as much as 8.4 occasions sooner than Python.
Easy to Learn, Straightforward to Preserve
Swift makes use of easy and expressive syntax and grammar. It’s a lot simpler to learn and write than Goal-C.
Software program builders want to write down much less code to create the identical duties in Swift reasonably than in Goal-C. This ends in sooner coding, speedy error dealing with, and simple upkeep attributable to a fewer variety of errors within the code.
In addition to, Swift consists of an Automated Reminiscence Counting (ARC) characteristic. It tracks and handles the reminiscence utilization within the developed apps, excluding the need to do it manually. This fashion, Swift automates the routine processes of reminiscence administration, assuaging and accelerating the event course of many occasions.
Security Options
Swift additionally helps builders rapidly outline and eradicate bugs earlier than code compilation. To stop code from crashing, it initializes variables earlier than their use, checks arrays, and integers for overflow, and manages reminiscence with ARC mechanically.
Furthermore, Swift has enhancements in its nil pointer which prevents its objects from being nil by default. This ends in a cleaner and safer code that doesn’t result in any errors throughout its compilation.
Enhanced Group Scalability
With Swift, challenge managers can simply scale their improvement groups and add extra builders as wanted. It’s potential because of the simplicity, brevity, and readability of the programming language.
The specialists in Java, Python, C#, and C++ can code in Swift to some extent attributable to its proximity to those languages and English and shallow studying curve.
Interoperability
It’s potential to combine Swift with the Goal-C and Cocoa framework. Software program builders can interchangeably use Goal-C in Swift and Swift in Goal-C. This interoperability is particularly helpful for giant and long-lasting initiatives the place software program builders can leverage the outdated and fashionable options of the 2 languages in a single challenge.
Common Updates
In 2024, Swift builders launched its 5.10.1 model and we are able to await one thing new quickly. Apple continuously invests in language improvement, making Swift a strong possibility for individuals who construct iOS apps frequently.
This fashion, builders can use Swift to construct apps for varied Apple merchandise. Above all, ranging from Swift 5.0, it features a secure utility binary interface (ABI) that permits Apple to supply robust help for the language throughout the Apple platforms.
Swift Disadvantages
As for the disadvantages, there usually are not so a lot of them. Nevertheless, they’re vital to contemplate to be able to create first rate iOS functions.
Instability
Swift is a younger improvement language that undergoes varied adjustments and experiments. Because of this it has few customary libraries and a few improvement frameworks.
Although the Swift neighborhood is rising quick and has many consultants, it nonetheless could not all the time be potential to search out all of the programming options rapidly compared to different programming languages.
Swift Model Compatibility Points
As Swift builders introduce many language adjustments in its newer variations, it’s susceptible to model compatibility points. This fashion, if a developer decides to shift to a more moderen model of Swift, they could discover some difficulties, together with the need to rewrite their app’s code.
To deal with this subject, Swift builders have created a Swift Migration Instrument for XCode that makes code migration from model to model a lot simpler.
Previous OS Model Compatibility Points
As Swift is a brand new improvement language, it doesn’t work with the outdated OS working techniques. It begins solely with iOS 7, macOS 10.9, and helps later variations. For legacy initiatives, software program builders have to make use of a longstanding Goal-C.
Lack of C++ Help
Final however not least, earlier than selecting Swift on your subsequent challenge, be certain that it doesn’t rely upon the C++ programming language, as Swift and C++ usually are not interoperable.
How It All Began At SCAND
In June 2014, the SCAND cellular improvement crew, along with different software program improvement consultants, had been watching the annual Apple Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC).
At that convention, Craig Federighi offered Swift for the primary time. Our crew was excited concerning the new language, which generated heated discussions concerning the future and views of iOS improvement.
Though the primary model was fairly uncooked, we understood that Swift would have nice potential. Subsequently, with the primary Swift documentation and tutorial launch, our iOS crew dug into its particulars and began studying this new programming language.
We started creating prototypes based mostly on Swift 1.0 and, with time, began discovering new improvement practices, changing into increasingly more skilled within the language.
The SCAND consultants had been studying Swift and evaluating it to the event of then current Goal-C. This helped us make an in depth examine of the variations between the 2 improvement languages, their very own execs and cons, and for what initiatives it’s higher to make use of one language over one other.
Now, SCAND builders broadly use Swift for iPhone app improvement. This programming language permits the constructing of highly effective and efficient apps for varied industries, together with FinTech, m-commerce, healthcare, leisure, and others.
Furthermore, our crew has studied one of the best practices for utilizing Swift along with Goal-C to contribute probably the most to the app improvement initiatives.
Why Goal-C Is Nonetheless Fashionable
Swift is rapidly conquering the OS improvement area, however does it imply that the time of Goal-C has handed? Though Swift is simpler to study and, in comparison with Goal-C, has extra fashionable instruments and properties, Goal-C will stick with us for longer.
The very fact is Goal-C has a big codebase, and lots of apps nonetheless have this language at their core. It’s hardly potential to rebuild all these options and libraries developed with Goal-C only for the sake of utilizing a brand new language.
Furthermore, this programming language has existed for greater than 20 years within the improvement market and is way more secure than Swift.
Apple builders have discovered a solution to unite the 2 languages. It’s to enhance compatibility between the 2. Subsequently, Goal-C creators nonetheless replace this language to raised alter it to Swift.
There are a number of circumstances when Goal-C works higher than Swift for OS improvement:
- A big codebase written in Goal-C, e.g., in case your challenge has greater than 100,000 code strains written on this language, it’s not price switching to Swift;
- If you happen to plan to construct a framework or SDK, then Goal-C is a better option because of the lack of Swift ABI stability, which is able to end in poor communication between the weather within the equipment code;
- In case your initiatives are constructed with C or C++ third-party frameworks, as Swift isn’t appropriate with these programming languages.
Conclusion on Swift Programming Language
Swift is a younger, rapidly creating programming language constructed with efficiency in thoughts. Many software program builders want this programming language because it’s a lot simpler to write down and browse, debug, and keep, and it presents fashionable improvement instruments.
In the meantime, many companies are additionally beginning to rent cellular builders who work with Swift because it permits constructing highly effective and efficient iOS software program options a lot sooner and at an inexpensive value.
