8 Foolproof Reasons to Use Swift for iOS App Development

By William Spencer

When it came to iOS app development, Objective-C was the main programming language used for the longest time. In 2014 however, Apple introduced the world a new programming language, Swift, which they described as “Objective-C, without the C”.

Three words accurately describe Swift: safe, fast, and modern. It’s a programming language that makes syntax much simpler and allows for a whole new level of app development, by being extremely interactive. In short, Swift completely redefines iOS mobile app development. Here’s why:

It’s Easier to Read

In order to understand the difference between types and keywords, and C types, Objective-C used the “@“ symbol to introduce new keywords. Swift doesn’t do this, though. As it is not assembled in C, it’s able to consolidate every keyword and get rid of all the “@“ symbols that have been placed ahead of all the Objective C keywords and types.

Furthermore, Swift eliminates the need for legacy conventions. Hence, semicolons at the end of lines, or parentheses to envelop conditional expressions in else/if sentences. In addition to this, Swift also doesn’t require method calls to fit inside one another, which helps get rid of innumerable brackets. This results in the language having more clarity, with uncomplicated grammar and syntax. Because of this, Swift’s language is closer to regular English, which makes it easier to read, thereby making iOS app development much simpler.

Maintenance is Simpler

Swift has no dependencies, unlike Objective-C that requires the evolvement of C, in order to evolve itself. This makes Swift a lot simpler to maintain. By dropping the two-file requirement that C has, Swift automatically becomes a lot more convenient for iOS mobile app development.

It combines the Objective-C implementation files (.m), and the header (.h). This allows programmers to spend a lot more time developing app logic. Furthermore, when it comes to iOS app development, developers can keep improving their code, as well comments and the supported features.

It’s Safer than Objective-C

In a world where mobile apps are becoming more and more important each and every day, their security is also becoming increasingly more important. As Swift eliminates the possibility of a number of code mistakes, as it calls for simpler syntax and language constructions, it’s deemed to be a more stable platform, which in turn, makes it a safer one. In addition to this, Swift is faster than Objective-C, in terms of testing for bugs — another reason why it’s a safer programming language for iOS app development.

It Calls for Fewer Codes

As Swift is a more concise programming language, it requires less code. As mentioned in one of the aforementioned points, fewer codes result in readability that is much better. However, this doesn’t mean that the code is simple. But less code equals less legacy, which is a great benefit and makes Swift more convenient than Objective-C when it comes to iOS app development.

It’s Prone to Fewer Errors

As Swift’s syntax is much simpler than that of Objective-C, writing it becomes much easier. Being able to easily write the code means a developer is likely to make fewer mistakes. This, in turn, prevents the iOS app from crashing and behaving in an unpredictable manner. It’s basically a great way to QC your code. That’s why, when it comes to good iOS mobile app development, Swift has proved to be an extremely safe programming language for it.

It’s Open-Source

There was a time where the only open source OS platform was Android. Enter Swift! Swift was first created mainly for iOS app development, and the development of apps on other Apple platforms such as OS X, watchOS, and tvOS. However, it’s now gradually expanding so that it can be used to build on Linux.

Moreover, there are now solutions that allow for the backend writing on Swift. This is why, when it comes to a comparison between Swift and Objective-C, Swift is way more convenient, as it’s portable to a variety of platforms.

It’s More Interactive

Swift Playgrounds have given developers a plethora of great new opportunities. For instance, developers are now able to test their codes whenever they feel like, without having to create the whole application or even compile large bits of it. This is something that can really make iOS app development way easier.

Swift Playgrounds are also able to fully visualize all the data so that programmers can instantly check everything, make the necessary corrections, and further develop the app. Convenient, right?

It’s Similar to Other OS Development Platforms

If you’re looking to develop the same app on different platforms, then Swift is great for you. This modern programming language by Apple is extremely simple to understand, as it’s really clear. This is why developers who aren’t familiar with iOS app development don’t have to spend a great deal of time trying to understand the language. This, in turn, helps increase productivity.

Besides, developers can use Swift as a scripting language, which allows iOS developers to consolidate the writing of build scripts. Moreover, it allows developers to use a single platform for all their iOS mobile app development requirements.