what's new in xcode

Xcode 16 introduces several new features and improvements across various aspects of app development. Here are some of the key updates:

1. Code Completion:

   • Xcode 16 features a new code completion engine powered by a specialized coding model trained for Swift and Apple SDKs. This engine uses surrounding code context to provide more accurate suggestions and runs locally on Apple silicon, ensuring privacy and fast results. (What’s new in Xcode 16)

2. Swift 6:

   • Swift 6 introduces a new language mode that provides concurrency safety guarantees, turning data races into compile-time issues, which improves code correctness and safety. (What’s new in Xcode 16)

3. Previews:

   • Xcode Previews now use a dynamic linking architecture that avoids rebuilding projects when switching between previews and builds, resulting in a smoother workflow. A new previewable macro allows the use of dynamic properties like state directly in previews. (Platforms State of the Union)

4. Builds:

   • Xcode 16 introduces explicit modules for improved parallelism, better diagnostics, and faster debugging. For C and Objective-C, explicit modules are enabled by default, while for Swift, they need to be opted in. (What’s new in Xcode 16)

5. Debugging and Performance:

   • The thread performance checker now identifies excessive disk writes and slow app launches, helping developers prioritize performance improvements. The organizer provides diagnostic logs for app launches and disk writes, showing the impact of issues across different app versions. (What’s new in Xcode 16)

6. Instruments and Flame Graphs:

   • Xcode 16 includes a flame graph feature in Instruments, providing a visual representation of call stacks to help identify performance issues. (What’s new in Xcode 16)

7. Swiftassist:

   • Swiftassist is a new feature that leverages a larger and more powerful model running in the cloud to assist with coding tasks, enhancing productivity. (Platforms State of the Union)

8. Localization and Organizer:

   • Enhancements to localization catalogs make it easier to bring apps to a global audience. The organizer in Xcode provides a wealth of analytics while preserving user privacy. (Platforms State of the Union)

For a comprehensive overview, you can watch the full session on What’s new in Xcode 16.