Is Swift as Solid as Objective-C? A Safe Choice for iOS App Development

After successfully developing several iOS applications using Swift, it is evident that the language has matured and offers a reliable alternative to Objective-C.

Swift's Solid Reliability

With Swift, the elegance and rich feature set outshine the initial effort required to migrate code to the new syntax. Swift is solid as a programming language, especially in terms of its type safety, which sets it apart from Objective-C.

The Pragmatic Approach

The decision to use Swift should not be made in isolation. As a language, Swift is safer, but the choice to commit to Swift brings along potential challenges. Many of the world's biggest apps remain in Objective-C due to the unpredictable nature of Swift updates and the constant need for refactoring.

Continuous Upgrades and Refactoring

The shift to Swift isn’t a one-time event. Maintaining a Swift project requires constant vigilance, as Swift syntax and class names are subject to change with every new version of Xcode. This means that, at least once a year, you will need to go through your codebase, updating syntax and names to keep up with the evolving nature of Swift.

Dependency Management

External dependencies and libraries also present challenges. Swift’s binary interface is not yet locked down, meaning that you will need to ensure that all dependencies are updated to the latest version of Swift just to compile your project. This adds another layer of complexity to the development process.

Safe Choice for Small Projects

For smaller projects, where the codebase is manageable and you are the sole developer, Swift is a much safer choice. The language is continually improving, and it’s unlikely that Swift will become obsolete anytime soon. However, for larger, more complex projects with significant plans for future growth, sticking with Objective-C might be more prudent.

Further Insights

To gain a more in-depth technical perspective on Swift's current capabilities and challenges, you should read this blog post I wrote for the LinkedIn Engineering blog. It discusses our experience with Swift in the SlideShare app, providing valuable insights into the language and its practical use in real-world applications.