Every iOS app development project starts with one key decision: choosing the right programming language. When it comes to native iOS app development, there are two possibilities: Objective-C and Swift. Let's delve into the differences between Objective-C and Swift, the pros and cons of each. Find out which is the best choice for your project. Let's take a look.
Objective-C is a well-established programming language developed by the Stepstone Company in the early 1980s. As an object-oriented programming language, it makes it easy for developers to manage complex systems and functions. However, the Objective-C syntax can be quite complex, making it a challenge for those new to the language.
Swift is a relatively new programming language developed by Apple employee Chris Lattner in 2010, and presented to the public in 2014. It is an extension of Objective-C, designed to simplify code writing and maintenance.
Objective-C syntax is notoriously complex and verbose. The language is filled with square brackets and squares, making it difficult for developers to focus on the essence of the code. Swift, on the other hand, offers a clean, concise syntax that resembles plain English, making it easier to understand and learn.
Developers can use Swift to write code more efficiently and concisely, thanks to its simplified syntax. This not only speeds up the development process but also reduces the chances of coding errors, resulting in more robust and secure apps.
The features of the programming language have a huge impact on the performance aspects of iOS app development, especially in terms of speed. Between Swift and Objective-C, app development can be done faster with Swift.Using Swift generics and higher order functions results in cleaner, more reusable code, while optionals and type inference shift responsibility for code safety from programmer to compiler. Besides, Swift uses syntax that is concise and does not require two blocks of code for object interface and implementation.
It has been around for over three decades and has been thoroughly tested. In fact, there are millions of lines of code written in Objective C, and many well-documented, third-party systems. There's also an answer to almost every question about Objective-C: Stack Overflow has over 321,899 Swift questions, 292,632 of which are tagged with the Objective-C tag.
It is very compatible with C and C++. Because Objective-C is a superset of C, it works relatively well with C and C++ code.
It can also lose its age. Since Swift has partially replaced Objective-C, many of its libraries and tools are no longer maintained.
Goal-C is more difficult to achieve. It is very different from modern programming languages. For example, aspects like memory management are harder to understand than Swift. That makes it easier for beginners and Objective-C developers to learn Swift, and vice versa.
Swift is the safest. Because of its features (generics, optionals, and type inference), apps developed in Swift are less prone to errors and crashes than apps developed with Objective-C.
Apple is focused on developing Swift. Apple is constantly developing the language, regularly adding new features, and actively supporting its users. Every WWDC (Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference) has technical information about Swift, and a thriving developer community has been built around the programming language including frameworks that enable developers to use Swift as a backend language.
It's still relatively new. While robust and secure to use, frequent Swift updates can introduce incompatibilities with older versions of iOS. That can be a driving force for updating your apps to a newer version of iOS, but it could also mean dropping support for older devices (which are typically over six years old).
Cross-platform support is uneven. While Swift supports all Apple platforms, Linux, and Windows (as of 2020), it's still best to leave cross-platform apps for React Native, Xamarin, and Flutter. It is possible to use Swift with Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile, but it is still in the early stages of development.
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