code prediction

At WWDC 2024, Apple introduced several enhancements to Xcode, particularly focusing on code prediction and completion. Xcode 16 features a new predictive completion engine that suggests whole statements and methods based on the surrounding code. This engine is powered by a model specifically trained for Swift and Apple SDKs, running locally on your Mac to ensure privacy and fast results, even offline.

The code completion feature in Xcode 16 is designed to be more intuitive, using project symbols and comments to provide context-aware suggestions. This means that the more expressive your comments and variable names are, the better the predictions will be. You can accept these predictions by pressing the tab key or expand them by holding the option key.

Additionally, Apple introduced Swiftassist, a tool that runs in the cloud to help with coding tasks, offering a unique experience in Xcode. Swiftassist can answer coding questions and assist with tasks like experimenting with new APIs, making it a valuable companion for developers.

For more details on these features, you can refer to the Platforms State of the Union session, which covers the introduction of these generative tools and Swiftassist.