Mobile app programming is very fashionable today, obviously due to the enormous success of smartphones and their constant spread like wildfire. We are talking about a sector that is truly full of opportunities, not only for users but also for those looking for their own path in the world of work. If you want to learn how to develop apps dedicated to the iOS universe, it is good to know that there is a system to do it, and it is made available directly by Apple. We are talking about Swift, an open-source programming language that deserves proper study.
What is Swift and what are its potential
Swift, as mentioned above, is an open-source programming language, therefore open and able to adapt to any need of programmers. It is compatible with developing apps for the iOS operating system as it was released directly by Apple. The known “bitten apple”, then, provides an app known as Swift Playgrounds, which allows you to program directly on the platform, without having to become an expert in programming languages.
Before delving into this universe, it would still be advisable to already have some knowledge of the world of coding: a sector that, among other things, is constantly expanding. Precisely for this reason, if you are driven by the desire to learn but do not yet possess the right skills, you can think of following an intensive web developer course in order to start this journey in the world of programming. Finally, it should be emphasized again that Swift is an open-source language and is available everywhere.
What does it do?
Swift’s function is to replace Objective-C where previously if a developer wanted to create native applications for iOS and other Apple devices, he had to use this programming language.
Then what’s wrong with the Objective-C programming language?
Writing in Objective-C is more complex, even than writing in C or C++ languages. If someone has ever learned C/C++ he will find that Objective-C coding is more complex. But what if a company already builds an app with Objective-C? Should they rewrite their codes? The answer is no because, like Kotlin and Java, Swift can be combined with Objective-C in one project. Due to its nature, the topic of Swift versus Kotlin has always been a hot topic among developers.
Its benefits
Swift is a language that has recently been born. For that reason, it is up-to-date, modern, and clean. Users don’t even need to use semicolons (;) like in other programming languages. This makes Swift easier to read. In addition, the possibility of users writing incorrectly can also be minimized.
This programming language is also claimed to be more secure. For information, Swift does not have a group of codes that irresponsible people have the opportunity to destroy. And to add to the advantages of Swift, this programming language already uses LLVM compiling technology. This technology makes it fast to read, and as a result, every program that is made can run much faster. Compiling technology is a technology that facilitates the process of reading a programming language by a computer, by converting the language into a series of commands.
However, just like any human creation, Swift has its flaws. This programming language can be considered “young” and therefore has many gaps, thus time-consuming updates should be done more frequently.
Apple’s commitment to developers
Apple is a forward-looking company, which perfectly understands the role and importance of developers. Not surprisingly, it continues to strive to make all the necessary resources available to programmers to be able to program on its platforms. We are obviously talking about Swift and Playgrounds, but also about the free code guide on iBooks for example. The guide in question offers a series of tutorials that explore the structural features of the Swift programming language, along with all the references you need to know in order to use it.
There are several examples of apps created with this language, which have quickly achieved success: we refer to LinkedIn, but also to other must-haves such as Kickstarter and AirBnB. Furthermore, it is good to specify that Swift is also liked (and very much) by schools and universities: in fact, numerous institutes have introduced this programming language in their programs and in coding or computer science lessons.
