Which is the Best Language for iOS Development: Swift vs. Objective-C? Why?

Smartphone app development is one of the rapidly growing industries as IT. In fiscal 2019 year, iPhone users are expected to surpass the 1 billion milestones in 2019 that offers an opportunity for businesses to choose iPhone for reaching a wider audience by creating their own app. Since 1980, Objective-C is primarily known to build iPhone apps while Swift is a new programming language released by Apple back in June 2014. 

If you see an iPhone app development at a glance, you will realize that Objective-C is proven & stable language for app development since years. Whereas Swift, the newest programming language has lots of new features with modern coding standards. Obviously, it creates confusion in any one's mind that for which programming language you should choose for your next iOS app development, Swift vs. Objective-C? 

Don't worry, we have analyzed both languages and created one comparison that will help you to make the best choice among both iOS app development languages.

• Performance:

Apple claims that the latest Swift is 2.6x times faster than old Objective-C. However, some developers say that the performance difference is not as dramatic as you think. Because Swift and Objective-C both use the same iOS app development SDK and the same compiler. Objective-C is not such a fast language just because it uses the runtime compilation instead of compile time. It means whenever one object calls to another; it takes time. However, this process is fast, but still, it's measurable. 

As the name suggests, Swift was made to be swift, and it is the best choice when it comes to performance-sensitive code. Because Swift is a newly launched programming language that is designed to overcome the problem of Objective-C.

• Code Safety:

Since Apple has designed Swift to improve the code safety for their products, better known as type-safe & memory-safe language. Type safety means Swift itself prevents typo errors and memory safety that helps to reduce vulnerabilities. While writing code, many common mistakes happen, which is challenging to locate that make it more useful. Safety is the primary concern when you use Objective-C because it uses null pointers that cause vulnerabilities. It gives higher data access to developers & when you try to call nil pointer method nothing happens, but it is one kind of bug that serves unpredictable results. While Swift doesn’t use pointers and meanwhile if you miss a pointer the app will crash which is helpful for iOS apps developer to find & fix the bug.

• Maintenance of Files:

Previously, using Objective-C, app developers have to maintain two different files while iOS app development but now using Swift it will automatically fulfill dependency and creates an incremental build in the file. In Objective-C, while app development you have to ensure that you have maintained the same thing in two different files that take more time and efforts. 

With a new Swift, LLVM compiler & Xmind ensure needs & autocompletes the incremental builds. It means header file(.h) & implementation file(.m) are now combined in one single code file(.swift).  

• Coding Syntax:

With Swift, Apple's aim was to create one such language that is simple and can be easily learned by anyone who is familiar with C++, JavaScript or Python while Objective-C is better known for its code complexity.

The main reason behind the complex structure of Objective-C is that it contains tons of different symbols, lines, semicolons, and parentheses. While Swift offers a simple coding language style with fewer symbols that makes it quite easy to read and write. Also, it takes less coding and allows you to have clean code by reducing mistakes.

• The complexity of Code:

If you are developing your iOS app using the Objective-C code, you will have to perform several lines of code for printing two lines. Also, iOS app developers have to use predefined string tokens & variables; otherwise, it causes an app crash. While swift offers less code for handling string with its operators. Also, app developers are free to insert variables directly into the line that avoids accidents.

• Memory management:

Both the language uses Automatic Reference Counting (ARC) inside the code for memory without the developer's efforts. In Objective-C, the code isn’t available for procedural C that causes extensive memory leaks. But, in Swift support ARC for all the APIs that provides an efficient way for memory management. The Objective-C issue is now overcome with Switch to save human efforts.

• Libraries support:

There are mainly two kinds of libraries one is dynamic and the other is shared. Dynamic libraries are executable is one kind of code that can be linked to an iOS app during run-time. While shared code is one type of common code that is used with a large number of programs and it doesn't require to recompile even if you update the code.

So when you download any app from the store, dynamic libraries are automatically included in a package and static libraries come with regular OS updates. Previously, Objective-C uses static libraries but because it is larger in size with new Swift Apple has included support for dynamic libraries that comes within the iOS app.

• Long-term Vision:

Since the launch of Swift, Objective-C was the only way for iOS app development. But after Swift entered the race, Apple is continuously trying to turn all their app developers towards Swift. It denotes that in upcoming years, Apple will ultimately switch to Swift by dropping support for Objective-C. Because Swift is not just fast & easy but also the dominant language that helps Apple for sustainable business growth.

• Keep in Mind:

Currently, Swift supports only the latest iOS 7+ versions & macOS 10.9 and higher. So, if you want to provide support for older versions you have no other option left instead of using Objective-C. 

Because Swift is still in development & rapidly acquiring new stuff, every time you have to rewrite your app. Things are more natural if you have a small iOS app but not with big iOS app development projects.

Still, many developers are staying loyal to Objective-C for so many reasons. Also, Swift isn’t a fully developed language at this moment.

Since Swift is entirely open-source, it got remarkable support from its community that helps Apple to fix bugs & improvise on time. So, make sure that you are choosing the right programming language for your next iOS app.