swift build process

Generated on 8/25/2024

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The Swift build process has seen several improvements, particularly with the introduction of explicitly built modules. This change enhances parallelism, provides better diagnostics, and speeds up debugging without requiring changes to your code. Explicitly built modules transform implicit build steps into explicit ones, allowing module builds to be performed in parallel and making them visible in the build log. This results in more predictable and reliable builds, and the debugger can share binary modules with the build, leading to faster debugging.

In Xcode 16, explicit modules are enabled by default for C and Objective-C, while for Swift, you need to opt-in through the build settings. This new approach splits the processing of each compilation unit into three phases: scanning, building modules, and building the original code. These phases are now clearly represented in the build log, providing a detailed breakdown of the build process and helping to optimize it.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the session Demystify explicitly built modules (08:37) and What’s new in Xcode 16 (06:26).

What’s new in Swift

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.

Demystify explicitly built modules

Demystify explicitly built modules

Explore how builds are changing in Xcode 16 with explicitly built modules. Discover how modules are used to build your code, how explicitly built modules improve transparency in compilation tasks, and how you can optimize your build by sharing modules across targets.

Migrate your app to Swift 6

Migrate your app to Swift 6

Experience Swift 6 migration in action as we update an existing sample app. Learn how to migrate incrementally, module by module, and how the compiler helps you identify code that’s at risk of data races. Discover different techniques for ensuring clear isolation boundaries and eliminating concurrent access to shared mutable state.

Meet Swift Testing

Meet Swift Testing

Introducing Swift Testing: a new package for testing your code using Swift. Explore the building blocks of its powerful new API, discover how it can be applied in common testing workflows, and learn how it relates to XCTest and open source Swift.

Extend your Xcode Cloud workflows

Extend your Xcode Cloud workflows

Discover how Xcode Cloud can adapt to your development needs. We’ll show you how to streamline your workflows, automate testing and distribution with start conditions, custom aliases, custom scripts, webhooks, and the App Store Connect API.

What’s new in Xcode 16

What’s new in Xcode 16

Discover the latest productivity and performance improvements in Xcode 16. Learn about enhancements to code completion, diagnostics, and Xcode Previews. Find out more about updates in builds and explore improvements in debugging and Instruments.

Platforms State of the Union 5-Minute Recap

Platforms State of the Union 5-Minute Recap

Watch a quick recap of the newest advancements on Apple platforms.