What is Task

In the context of the WWDC sessions, a "task" can refer to different concepts depending on the session topic:

1. In the context of Swift concurrency (from the session "A Swift Tour: Explore Swift’s features and design"), a task represents an independent concurrent execution context. Tasks are lightweight and can be created in large numbers. They can execute concurrently, perform asynchronous operations, and can be suspended to yield the CPU to other tasks. This is particularly useful for handling operations like HTTP requests in a server environment. Swift uses the async and await syntax to manage task suspension and execution.

2. In the context of Xcode's build system (from the session "Demystify explicitly built modules"), tasks refer to the processes involved in building modules. The build system uses tasks like "scan tasks" and "compile module tasks" to manage the compilation process. These tasks are top-level and can be shared between targets, allowing for more efficient and reliable builds by making the build system aware of module dependencies and execution lanes.

If you are interested in more details about tasks in Swift concurrency, you might want to check the A Swift Tour: Explore Swift’s features and design session starting at 18:33. For tasks related to Xcode's build system, refer to the Demystify explicitly built modules session starting at 08:37.