It was for fairly a very long time that Apple working techniques for cellphones, tablets, and computer systems had been primarily developed with Goal-C.
The yr 2014 flipped all the pieces round with the presentation of Swift – a contemporary, sooner, and simpler-to-implement programming language. It’s been greater than 10 years because the Swift 1.0 launch, and now, iOS builders predict the Swift 6.0 launch to carry much more highly effective options.
Swift has proved to be a viable various to Goal-C for a lot of tasks, and now, many corporations 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 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 embrace an entire line of options like iOS for cellphones, macOS for computer systems, iPadOS for tablets, watchOS for smartwatches, and tvOS for Apple TV. Subsequently, there may be a variety of software program purposes 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 shortly gained recognition, and in 2015, it grew to become open supply. Many builders admit that this programming language is way less complicated 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 beloved 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 discovered that 42% of the highest 110 apps are developed with the Swift programming language to a better or lesser extent.
The apps with the biggest proportion 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 Growth with Swift
As with all language, Swift has its personal professionals and cons for. Regardless of some shortcomings, many builders nonetheless want implementing the Swift code extra for fast and efficient iOS growth. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at some great benefits of Swift.
Open-Supply Availability
Swift is an open-source growth language. This implies it’s obtainable for everybody who desires to dive into iOS growth.
Swift builders can contribute to language growth, sharing their options regarding bug fixing, greatest items of code, and varied language enchancment concepts. In simply a number of years after turning into an open-source resolution, Swift acquired a robust and supportive group and an in depth variety of third-party growth instruments.
Quick Growth
To shortly construct purposes, Swift gives 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 accordance to 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 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 put in writing much less code to create the identical duties in Swift relatively than in Goal-C. This leads to sooner coding, speedy error dealing with, and simple upkeep as a consequence of a fewer variety of errors within the code.
Apart from, Swift consists of 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 occasions.
Security Options
Swift additionally helps builders shortly outline and eradicate bugs earlier than code compilation. To forestall code from crashing, it initializes variables earlier than their use, checks arrays, and integers for overflow, and manages reminiscence with ARC robotically.
Furthermore, Swift has enhancements in its nil pointer which prevents its objects from being nil by default. This leads to a cleaner and safer code that doesn’t result in any errors throughout its compilation.
Enhanced Staff Scalability
With Swift, mission 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 as a consequence of 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 very helpful for big and long-lasting tasks the place software program builders can leverage the outdated and trendy options of the 2 languages in a single mission.
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 growth, making Swift a stable possibility for many 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 steady software binary interface (ABI) that permits Apple to offer robust assist for the language throughout the Apple platforms.
Swift Disadvantages
As for the disadvantages, there aren’t so lots of them. Nonetheless, they’re necessary to think about so as to create first rate iOS purposes.
Instability
Swift is a younger growth language that undergoes varied modifications and experiments. Which means it has few normal 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 shortly compared to different programming languages.
Swift Model Compatibility Points
As Swift builders introduce many language modifications 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 might discover some difficulties, together with the need to rewrite their app’s code.
To deal with this concern, Swift builders have created a Swift Migration Software for XCode that makes code migration from model to model a lot simpler.
Outdated 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++ Assist
Final however not least, earlier than selecting Swift in your subsequent mission, be certain it doesn’t depend upon the C++ programming language, as Swift and C++ aren’t interoperable.
How It All Began At SCAND
In June 2014, the SCAND cell growth workforce, along with different software program growth specialists, had been watching the annual Apple Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC).
At that convention, Craig Federighi introduced Swift for the primary time. Our workforce was excited concerning the new language, which generated heated discussions concerning the future and views of iOS growth.
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 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 an increasing number of skilled within the language.
The SCAND specialists had been studying Swift and evaluating it to the event of then current Goal-C. This helped us make an in depth research 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 varied industries, together with FinTech, m-commerce, healthcare, leisure, and others.
Furthermore, our workforce has studied one of the best practices for utilizing Swift along with Goal-C to contribute essentially the most to the app growth tasks.
Why Goal-C Is Nonetheless Standard
Swift is shortly conquering the OS growth subject, 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 trendy instruments and properties, Goal-C will stick with us for longer.
The actual fact is Goal-C has a big codebase, and plenty 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 steady than Swift.
Apple builders have discovered a approach to unite the 2 languages. It’s to enhance compatibility between the 2. Subsequently, Goal-C creators nonetheless replace this language to higher regulate it to Swift.
There are a number of instances when Goal-C works higher than Swift for OS growth:
- A big codebase written in Goal-C, e.g., in case your mission has greater than 100,000 code traces written on this language, it’s not value switching to Swift;
- In case you 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 tasks 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, shortly growing programming language constructed with efficiency in thoughts. Many software program builders want this programming language because it’s a lot simpler to put in writing and skim, debug, and keep, and it affords trendy growth instruments.
In the meantime, many companies are additionally beginning to rent cell builders who work with Swift because it permits constructing highly effective and efficient iOS software program options a lot sooner and at an affordable value.
