What new feature was added to Xcode this year?

Generated on 8/2/2024

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This year, several new features were added to Xcode:

  1. Dynamic Linking Architecture for Previews: Xcode Previews now uses the same build artifacts for previews and when you build and run, avoiding the need to rebuild your project when switching between the two. This results in a smoother and more productive workflow (Platforms State of the Union).

  2. Generative Models for Code Completion: Xcode 16 introduces a new code completion engine powered by a model specifically trained for Swift and Apple SDKs. This engine predicts the code you need, uses your project symbols to customize suggestions, runs locally on your Mac, and works offline (Platforms State of the Union).

  3. Swiftassist: A new companion tool called Swiftassist can answer coding questions and help with tasks like experimenting with new APIs. It leverages a larger and more powerful model that runs in the cloud (Platforms State of the Union).

  4. Explicit Modules: This feature provides improved parallelism, better diagnostics, and faster debugging without changing a single line of code. For C and Objective-C, explicit modules are on by default, while for Swift, you need to opt-in (What’s new in Xcode 16).

  5. Flame Graphs in Instruments: A new visual way of seeing your call stacks, which helps in finding issues and profiling your app's performance (What’s new in Xcode 16).

  6. Improved Localization Workflows: Enhancements to localization catalogs make it easier to bring your app to more people around the world (Platforms State of the Union).

These features collectively aim to enhance productivity, improve code quality, and streamline the development process in Xcode 16.