Swift was created to replace Objective-C as it has been in use since 1983. Apple claims that Swift is much better than its predecessor and offers much more that will help developers create great apps for users. But it’s really like that, let’s find out.
Is Swift the future of iOS app development?
In a very short time, almost all mobile app development companies have adopted Swift. According to a recent survey, 59% of developers are building an iOS app with Swift, yet 39% prefer Objective-C for this process.
The main benefit of using Swift is that it has a fairly simple and small code that allows application developers to quickly create fully functional applications. Yahoo Weather and LinkedIn were the first to create the Swift-based app. Plus, iOS apps written with Swift are easier to maintain, lighter, and future-ready.
Here are some of the main advantages of using Swift over Objective-C to build applications:
1. Swift is faster: C++ is known as one of the fastest coding languages in the industry and Swift’s performance is very similar to C++. In addition, Apple regularly releases updates that aim to improve the speed and stability of Swift so that iPhone app development can run smoothly. Objective-C is slower than Swift because it contains the legacy C API.
2. Swift is easier to read: Objective-C has been in use for three decades and therefore has a more clunky syntax, while Swift, on the other hand, is quite easy to read and learn. Just like C++, C#, JavaScript, and Python, Swift codes are also flexible and simple. Application developers who are familiar with the languages mentioned above will choose Swift.
3. Swift Playground encourages interactive coding: This playground is a new tool that has proven beneficial for hobbyist coders. It offers an interactive coding environment where developers can test run their code, without having to build the entire project.
4. Swift requires less code: Swift-based applications can be developed with very little code. While Objective-C is full of code that makes learning hectic, especially for newbies. Other than that, Objective-C uses string manipulation and Swift uses string interpolation without using tokens or placeholders. Less code equals better readability and high reusability.
5. Swift is more secure: Unlike Objective-C, Swift codes don’t use pointers. These flags can sometimes lead to vulnerabilities in application security. Pointers can create a barrier to identifying and fixing bugs that sometimes slow down the performance of an application. With Swift, app developers feel more secure and can protect their app from unwanted bugs.
6. Swift is a full-featured coding language: Recently, Apple released the second version of Swift which comes with several major changes. One of the significant changes is that developers can now use any operating system to develop iOS apps. Along with that, you can now bring your Objective-C based project to Swift without compromising quality.
