What is Swift?

Swift is a general-purpose programming language introduced by Apple in 2014. It is intended to be quick, secure, and interactive, making it an excellent choice for developing software for Apple's various platforms server applications. In this article, we'll dive deep into Swift's history, benefits, components, and how to become a Swift developer.

Swift History 

The history of the Swift programming language began in 2014 at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference where it was officially released. It was intended to be an alternative to Objective C, which had been used for over 30 years to develop apps for Apple's platforms. It was developed by an Apple engineering team led by Chris Lattner. Its main purpose was to be more expressive, faster, and enjoyable than Objective C. 

Swift's initial release, version 1.0, underwent a significant upgrade to become Swift 2 at WWDC 2015. On December 3, 2015, its updated version 2.2 was released as open-source software for Linux and Mac platforms under the Apache License 2.0. Swift 3.0 saw a considerable evolution compared to previous versions as it involved changing its syntax. In the first quarter of 2018, Swift outperformed Objective C in terms of popularity. Swift underwent a number of changes in Swift 4.0, and you may use the migration mechanism included in Xcode to update code created with earlier versions of Swift.

In its brief history, Swift has become one of the most popular programming languages since its introduction, and it is widely used for developing apps and software for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

Why Swift?

Swift continues to be a dominant player in the development market and has a number of benefits over other programming languages. However, its speed is one of its most significant advantages. Swift is faster than Objective C, as well as many other programming languages. This speed is due to a number of factors, including the use of type inference, which reduces the amount of code required, and the use of a highly optimized compiler.

Swift is also secure. It is intended to be a safe programming language, making it less prone to errors and crashes. Swift achieves this level of safety by employing a type system that detects type errors at compile time rather than run time. This means errors are caught before the code is executed, making software development and debugging easier and ensures clients remain satisfied in the long run.

Even though, both Swift and existing Objective C are programming languages used to create apps and software for Apple's operating systems there are several differences between them. 

The following are some variations between the two:

• Syntax: Swift's syntax is shorter and more straightforward than existing Objective C. Swift is easier to understand and learn for inexperienced developers since it utilises less letters to accomplish the same purpose.
• Performance: Because to its contemporary syntax and optimised compiler, Swift performs better than Objective C programming language. Swift also makes it simpler for developers to construct high-performance code since it is safer and more effective than existing Objective C.
• Interoperability: Objective C and Swift can communicate with each other without any issues. App Developers can take advantage of their current Objective C code while switching to Swift by using both languages in the same project without a running into a compile time error.
• Memory management: Reference counting must be used by developers to manually control memory in Objective C programming language. Swift, in contrast, uses automated reference counting (ARC) as well as a Timeline Assistant, which simplifies and reduces error-prone memory management.
• Open-source: As Swift is a free and open-source programming language, anyone can use it and contribute to its development and advancement on systems other than Apple platforms.

What Does a Swift Developer Do?

A Swift developer is responsible for creating and maintaining apps for Apple's platforms, including iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Here are some of the jobs that a Swift developer might do:

• Developing apps: The primary responsibility of a Swift developer is to create applications in Swift and other programming languages such as Objective C.
• Designing user interface: In most cases, Swift developers are frequently involved in the design of user interfaces for applications, which can include using Apple's interface builder or creating interfaces programmatically.
• Debugging and testing: They are responsible for debugging and testing software to ensure they are functional and error-free.
• App Integration: Swift app developers may need to integrate their applications with other technologies, such as databases, web services, and third-party libraries.
• Collaborating with other developers: They frequently work as part of a team, collaborating with an even broader range of developers, designers, and project managers to deliver high-quality applications.
• Maintaining apps: Swift developers may be required to maintain apps by adding new features, fixing bugs, and ensuring compatibility with new versions of Apple platforms.
• Keeping up with the latest developments: Registered Apple developers must keep up with the latest developments in Swift and even broader range of other application development technologies. Participating in online communities, attending conferences, participating in online communities, and reading industry publications may all be part of this.

How to Become a Swift Developer? 

If you're interested in becoming a Swift developer, here are some steps you can take:

Learn the Fundamentals of Programming

Before diving into Swift, having a strong foundation in programming fundamentals like algorithms, data structures, and object-oriented programming is critical.

Learning iOS Swift

You can begin learning Swift once you have a solid foundation in programming fundamentals. After that, Swift can be learned using various resources, including online tutorials, books, and video courses.

Build Projects

Begin building projects to apply what you've learned as you learn Swift. In addition, building projects will allow you to gain hands-on experience and improve your problem-solving abilities. Building with Swift will give you access to a vast and capable framework, boosting your career as a developer.

Interact With the Swift Community

Connect with other Swift developers by joining online communities and attending local meetups. This can help you keep up with the latest Swift developments and get feedback on your projects.

Gain Real-World Experience

Look for hands-on experience opportunities, such as internships or freelance writing projects. This will help you apply your knowledge an ean even broader range of Swift applications, helping you build your portfolio and gain real-world Swift experience.

Obtain Certification

Apple offers certification programs for developers who want to demonstrate their knowledge of Swift and other Apple technologies like the Apple watch. Consider getting certified to show off your skills and stand out in the job market.

Advantages of Swift Programming Language

Let's discuss some benefits of Swift programming language:

Easy to Learn

Learning Swift is intended to be simple, even for those new to programming. Its syntax is simple, making it suitable for beginners. In addition, Swift has a serious focus on high readability, meaning code is easier to understand, maintain, and debug.

Fast

Swift's speed is one of its primary advantages. It is intended to be fast and efficient. This is accomplished through various optimizations, such as eliminating runtime overhead, generating optimized code, and employing low-level programming constructs. Swift is also memory-safe, which reduces the possibility of memory-related bugs that slow down the application.

Safe

Swift programming language has a number of features that make it safe and secure to use. Options assist developers when a variable may have no value and are one of the most important features. the Swift programming part also includes automatic memory management, eliminating developers' need to deallocate memory manually. Swift also has bounds checking, which aids in the prevention of buffer overflow and other memory-related bugs.

Interoperable

Swift is compatible with Objective C, another programming language used to create applications for Apple's platforms. This means developers can use Swift and Objective C code in the same project, making the transition from Objective C to Swift easier.

Modern

Swift is a modern programming language with many features not available in other programming languages. Swift supports a numerous features including functional programming constructs, pattern matching, and closures. Swift's modern features make it easier for developers to write more concise and expressive code.

Open Source

Swift is an open-source language, meaning that anyone can contribute to its development and use it to create their own projects. Being open-source also means that the development Swift community can identify and fix issues quickly, which can lead to faster bug fixes and improvements and faster development of server applications.

Community Support

The large and active developer Swift community shares knowledge, resources, and best practices. This makes learning the language easier for beginners and keeping up with the language and latest developments easier for experienced developers. The community also offers up access to a wealth of resources, such as tutorials, documentation, and open-source Swift libraries, to assist developers in becoming more productive and efficient.

Installation of Swift

The first step to using Swift programming language is downloading and installing the compiler and other required components. Then, go to the Download page and follow the instructions for your target platform. The next installation steps vary according to your operating system, so it is best to follow the official documentation step by step.

Components of Swift

Swift programming language has several components that work together to make it a powerful and flexible programming language. Here are the main components of Swift:

Syntax

Learning Swift and writing code is easy because it has a contemporary, and expressive syntax. It is inspired by a variety of programming languages, including Objective C, Rust, and Haskell.

Compiler

The Swift compiler converts Swift code into machine code that a computer can execute. It is performance-optimized and generates fast and efficient Swift source code too.

Standard Library

Swift includes a standard library that collects common data types, algorithms, and utilities for your apps. The library is intended to be user-friendly and provide a high abstraction level.

Package Manager

Swift programming language includes a package manager that makes it simple to manage dependencies as well as build, test, and distribute Swift code. The package manager is built into the Swift compiler and uses a simple, declarative syntax to define dependencies and targets.

Swift Playgrounds

Swift includes Playgrounds, which allows you to experiment with code in a real-world development environment first. Swift Playgrounds allow you to test new ideas and interactively explore language features quickly.

Debugging Tools

Swift includes a comprehensive set of debugging tools that make locating and correcting errors in your code simple. In addition, the Xcode IDE includes a powerful debugger that lets you step through your code while inspecting variables and memory.

These are some of Swift's main components, but its many other features and tools make it a powerful and versatile programming language for app as well as server applications development.

Development Best Practices

Follow the Swift Language Guidelines

Swift works by having a set of official coding styles and formatting guidelines. These guidelines assist in ensuring consistency and readability throughout your source code. You can find the guidelines at https://swift.org/documentation/api-design-guidelines/.

Use Optionals Carefully

Swift has a powerful feature called optionals that allows you to represent a value's absence. Overuse of optionals, on the other hand, can make your Swift code difficult to understand. Therfore, when writing Swift code, use optionals only when necessary and not in excess.

// Good Swift Code
var name: String?
if let unwrappedName = name {
    print("Name: \(unwrappedName)")
} else {
    print("No name input")
}

// Bad Swift Code
var name: String!
print("Name: \(name)")

Write Clear and Concise Swift Code

Swift is intended to be a concise programming language, and you should strive to write simple code to read and understand. For example, use descriptive variable and function names, avoid unnecessary source code duplication, and separate logical blocks of Swift code with whitespace.

Use Type Inference Where Appropriate

Swift programming language has powerful type inference capabilities; you should take advantage of them wherever possible. For example, let the compiler infer it for value types for your source code instead of explicitly specifying the type of a variable or constant.

// Good
let greeting= "Hello world!"

// Bad
let greeting: String = "Hello world!"

Test Your Code Thoroughly

The Swift system provides excellent testing support, which you should take advantage of. Write unit tests for your code and use a continuous integration system to ensure your tests are automatically run after each commit. Let's look at a simple Swift code test:

func testCalculateTotalPrice() {
    let total = calculateTotalPrice(price: 2.50, quantity: 3)
    XCTAssertEqual(total, 7.50)
}

Use Swift Package Manager

Swift Package Manager is Swift's official package manager, making managing dependencies, building code, and running tests simple. It can be used to manage and implement Swift project dependencies and the build process.

Follow the SOLID Principles

The SOLID principles are a set of design principles that can help you write Swift code that is easy to maintain and extend. Follow these principles when you design and write your Swift code, and you'll be able to create flexible, testable, and reusable code.

// Good Swift Code
protocol Vehicle {
    func drive()
}

class Car: Vehicle {
    func drive() {
        print("Driving")
    }
}

// Bad Swift Code (No abstraction, tightly coupled)
class Car {
    func drive() {
        print("Driving")
    }
}