What is Swift?

Swift is a programming language created by Apple for building apps that run on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. It is designed to be easy to read, safe from common mistakes, and fast enough for high-performance apps.

Let's break it down

  • Swift: The name of the language; think of it as a set of rules for telling a computer what to do.
  • Programming language: A way for people to write instructions that a computer can understand.
  • Created by Apple: The company that makes iPhones and Macs also built this language.
  • Open-source: Anyone can see the code that makes Swift work and can help improve it.
  • Easy to read: The words and symbols look similar to everyday English, so beginners can pick it up quickly.
  • Safe: It catches many errors while you’re writing code, preventing crashes later.
  • Fast: It runs quickly, so apps feel smooth and responsive.

Why does it matter?

If you want to make apps for the huge Apple ecosystem, Swift is the most direct and supported way to do it. Its safety features help you write reliable code faster, and its speed ensures a good user experience, which is crucial for keeping users happy.

Where is it used?

  • Building iPhone and iPad apps you download from the App Store.
  • Creating Mac desktop software, such as productivity tools and games.
  • Developing server-side applications with frameworks like Vapor, allowing Swift to run on web servers.
  • Writing apps for Apple Watch, Apple TV, and even cross-platform UI with SwiftUI.

Good things about it

  • Modern syntax that is easy for beginners to read and write.
  • Strong safety checks reduce runtime crashes.
  • High performance comparable to compiled languages like C++.
  • Integrated tightly with Apple’s development tools (Xcode) and frameworks.
  • Growing open-source community that expands its use beyond Apple platforms.

Not-so-good things

  • Primarily focused on Apple platforms, so its job market is narrower than languages like JavaScript or Python.
  • Still relatively young, so some libraries and resources are less mature than those for older languages.
  • Learning curve for advanced features (e.g., generics, concurrency) can be steep for complete beginners.
  • Requires a Mac for the best development experience, which can be a barrier for some users.