Technology RadarTechnology Radar
This item was not updated in last three versions of the Radar. Should it have appeared in one of the more recent editions, there is a good chance it remains pertinent. However, if the item dates back further, its relevance may have diminished and our current evaluation could vary. Regrettably, our capacity to consistently revisit items from past Radar editions is limited.
Adopt

Development Language

Swift is a modern, powerful programming language developed by Apple for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS app development. It was introduced in 2014 as a replacement for Objective-C, offering a more intuitive syntax, safety features, and performance optimizations.

For new iOS projects, Swift is the preferred choice for several reasons:

  1. Modern Syntax: Swift features a clean and concise syntax that makes code easier to read and write compared to Objective-C. Its modern features, such as optionals, generics, and type inference, streamline development and reduce the likelihood of errors.

  2. Safety Features: Swift incorporates safety features like optionals and type inference, which help developers write more robust and reliable code. Additionally, Swift's strong type system helps catch errors at compile-time, reducing the risk of runtime crashes.

  3. Performance: Swift is designed to deliver high performance, with optimizations that make it comparable to Objective-C in terms of execution speed. Its modern compiler and runtime leverage advanced techniques to optimize code for efficiency.

  4. Active Development: Apple continues to invest in Swift, regularly releasing updates and improvements to the language and its development tools. This ensures that Swift remains compatible with the latest iOS features and technologies.

  5. Community Support: Swift has a vibrant and growing community of developers who contribute libraries, frameworks, and resources to the ecosystem. This community support makes it easier for developers to find solutions to common problems and share best practices.

Overall, Swift offers a modern, safe, and efficient platform for iOS app development, making it the recommended choice for any new project in the Apple ecosystem.

Docs