It was for fairly a very long time that Apple working techniques for cell phones, tablets, and computer systems have been primarily developed with Goal-C.
The yr 2014 flipped all the pieces round with the presentation of Swift – a contemporary, quicker, and simpler-to-implement programming language. It’s been greater than 10 years because the Swift 1.0 launch, and now, iOS builders expect the Swift 6.0 launch to carry much more highly effective options.
Swift has proved to be a viable different to Goal-C for a lot of tasks, 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 present Goal-C remains 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. Due to this fact, there’s a variety of software program functions that may be developed with Swift.
The Swift language first appeared in 2014 in its place answer 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.
At the moment, 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 liked growth 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 better or lesser extent.
The apps with the most important share of Swift-based code gave the impression 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 contains 35%.
Definitely, 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 Growth with Swift
As with all language, Swift has its personal professionals and cons for. Regardless of some shortcomings, many builders nonetheless choose implementing the Swift code extra for fast and efficient iOS growth. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the benefits of Swift.
Open-Supply Availability
Swift is an open-source growth language. This implies it’s out there for everybody who needs to dive into iOS growth.
Swift builders can contribute to language growth, sharing their options regarding bug fixing, finest items of code, and numerous language enchancment concepts. In simply a number of years after turning into an open-source answer, Swift acquired a robust and supportive group and an in depth variety of third-party growth instruments.
Quick Growth
To rapidly construct functions, Swift supplies 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 quicker code processing.
Furthermore, in accordance to Apple Inc., Swift is 2.6 instances quicker than Goal-C and as much as 8.4 instances quicker than Python.
Easy to Learn, Simple to Keep
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 jot down much less code to create the identical duties in Swift somewhat than in Goal-C. This ends in quicker coding, fast error dealing with, and straightforward upkeep attributable to a fewer variety of errors within the code.
Moreover, Swift contains an Automated Reminiscence Counting (ARC) function. 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 instances.
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 routinely.
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 Staff Scalability
With Swift, undertaking managers can simply scale their growth groups and add extra builders as wanted. It’s doable 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 doable 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 big and long-lasting tasks the place software program builders can leverage the outdated and fashionable options of the 2 languages in a single undertaking.
Common Updates
In 2024, Swift builders launched its 5.10.1 model and we are able to await one thing new quickly. Apple often invests in language growth, making Swift a stable choice for individuals who construct iOS apps frequently.
This fashion, builders can use Swift to construct apps for numerous Apple merchandise. Above all, ranging from Swift 5.0, it features a secure software binary interface (ABI) that enables Apple to offer sturdy help for the language throughout the Apple platforms.
Swift Disadvantages
As for the disadvantages, there are usually not so a lot of them. Nonetheless, they’re necessary to contemplate with a purpose to create respectable iOS functions.
Instability
Swift is a younger growth language that undergoes numerous adjustments and experiments. Which means that it has few customary libraries and a few growth frameworks.
Although the Swift group is rising quick and has many specialists, it nonetheless could not all the time be doable 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 liable to model compatibility points. This fashion, if a developer decides to shift to a more recent model of Swift, they could discover some difficulties, together with the need to rewrite their app’s code.
To deal with this situation, 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 growth 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 tasks, software program builders have to make use of a longstanding Goal-C.
Lack of C++ Help
Final however not least, earlier than selecting Swift in your subsequent undertaking, be sure that it doesn’t rely upon the C++ programming language, as Swift and C++ are usually not interoperable.
How It All Began At SCAND
In June 2014, the SCAND cellular growth workforce, along with different software program growth specialists, have been watching the annual Apple Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC).
At that convention, Craig Federighi introduced Swift for the primary time. Our workforce was excited in regards to the new language, which generated heated discussions in regards to the future and views of iOS growth.
Though the primary model was fairly uncooked, we understood that Swift would have nice potential. Due to this fact, with the primary Swift documentation and tutorial launch, our iOS workforce dug into its particulars and began studying this new programming language.
We started creating prototypes primarily based on Swift 1.0 and, with time, began discovering new growth practices, turning into increasingly skilled within the language.
The SCAND specialists have been studying Swift and evaluating it to the event of then present Goal-C. This helped us make an in depth examine of the variations between the 2 growth languages, their very own professionals and cons, and for what tasks it’s higher to make use of one language over one other.
Now, SCAND builders extensively use Swift for iPhone app growth. This programming language permits the constructing of highly effective and efficient apps for numerous industries, together with FinTech, m-commerce, healthcare, leisure, and others.
Furthermore, our workforce has studied the perfect practices for utilizing Swift along with Goal-C to contribute probably the most to the app growth tasks.
Why Goal-C Is Nonetheless Standard
Swift is rapidly conquering the OS growth area, however does it imply that the time of Goal-C has handed? Though Swift is less complicated 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 doable 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 growth market and is way more secure than Swift.
Apple builders have discovered a strategy to unite the 2 languages. It’s to enhance compatibility between the 2. Due to this fact, Goal-C creators nonetheless replace this language to higher alter it to Swift.
There are a number of circumstances when Goal-C works higher than Swift for OS growth:
- A big codebase written in Goal-C, e.g., in case your undertaking has greater than 100,000 code traces written on this language, it’s not price switching to Swift;
- In the event you plan to construct a framework or SDK, then Goal-C is a more sensible choice because of the lack of Swift ABI stability, which can lead to poor communication between the weather within the equipment code;
- In case your tasks are constructed with C or C++ third-party frameworks, as Swift isn’t suitable 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 choose this programming language because it’s a lot simpler to jot down and skim, debug, and keep, and it provides fashionable growth 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 quicker and at an affordable value.
