What are the cases in which I should still use Objective-C instead of Swift?
Generated on 7/30/2024
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While Swift is a powerful and modern language, there are still some cases where you might consider using Objective-C instead:
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Legacy Codebases: If you are working on a project with a significant amount of existing Objective-C code, it might be more practical to continue using Objective-C, especially if the codebase is stable and well-tested.
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Interoperability with C/C++: Although Swift has good interoperability with C and C++, there might be scenarios where the integration is more straightforward in Objective-C. For example, certain C++ features and libraries might be easier to use directly in Objective-C.
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Performance Considerations: In some performance-critical applications, you might find that certain low-level optimizations are easier to achieve in Objective-C. For instance, managing memory manually can sometimes be more efficient than relying on Swift's Automatic Reference Counting (ARC).
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Dynamic Features: Objective-C's runtime is highly dynamic, allowing for features like method swizzling, dynamic method resolution, and more. If your application relies heavily on these dynamic features, Objective-C might be a better fit.
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Third-Party Libraries: Some third-party libraries and frameworks are still written in Objective-C. While you can use these libraries in Swift, you might find it easier to work with them directly in Objective-C.
For more details on Swift's performance and interoperability, you can refer to the sessions from WWDC:
These sessions provide insights into Swift's capabilities and how it compares to Objective-C in various scenarios.
Platforms State of the Union
Discover the newest advancements on Apple platforms.
Explore Swift performance
Discover how Swift balances abstraction and performance. Learn what elements of performance to consider and how the Swift optimizer affects them. Explore the different features of Swift and how they’re implemented to further understand the tradeoffs available that can impact performance.
SwiftUI essentials
Join us on a tour of SwiftUI, Apple’s declarative user interface framework. Learn essential concepts for building apps in SwiftUI, like views, state variables, and layout. Discover the breadth of APIs for building fully featured experiences and crafting unique custom components. Whether you’re brand new to SwiftUI or an experienced developer, you’ll learn how to take advantage of what SwiftUI has to offer when building great apps.
Analyze heap memory
Dive into the basis for your app’s dynamic memory: the heap! Explore how to use Instruments and Xcode to measure, analyze, and fix common heap issues. We’ll also cover some techniques and best practices for diagnosing transient growth, persistent growth, and leaks in your app.
A Swift Tour: Explore Swift’s features and design
Learn the essential features and design philosophy of the Swift programming language. We’ll explore how to model data, handle errors, use protocols, write concurrent code, and more while building up a Swift package that has a library, an HTTP server, and a command line client. Whether you’re just beginning your Swift journey or have been with us from the start, this talk will help you get the most out of the language.
What’s new in Swift
Join us for an update on Swift. We’ll briefly go through a history of Swift over the past decade, and show you how the community has grown through workgroups, expanded the package ecosystem, and increased platform support. We’ll introduce you to a new language mode that achieves data-race safety by default, and a language subset that lets you run Swift on highly constrained systems. We’ll also explore some language updates including noncopyable types, typed throws, and improved C++ interoperability.
Go small with Embedded Swift
Embedded Swift brings the safety and expressivity of Swift to constrained environments. Explore how Embedded Swift runs on a variety of microcontrollers through a demonstration using an off-the-shelf Matter device. Learn how the Embedded Swift subset packs the benefits of Swift into a tiny footprint with no runtime, and discover plenty of resources to start your own Embedded Swift adventure.