Ever since its initial release in 2014, Swift has been embraced with open arms by iOS application development service providers across the world. Today, this highly intuitive programming language is widely used for enterprise application development for Apple’s OS such as iPadOS, macOS, iPhone, tvOS, and watchOS. Swift’s popularity can be attributed to its unique set of features that enhance application performance, streamline the development process, and prioritize security. Furthermore, Swift has unlocked several doors of opportunities for enterprises to bring their ideas to life in a quick turnaround time.
Before the advent of Swift, iOS mobile application development used to be an arduous and infuriating task for developers. Also, the probability of mobile application crashing was comparatively high. However, Swift adoption has revolutionized iOS application development, particularly within enterprise environments, where the stakes for speed, performance, and reliability are significantly higher. Some of the popular mobile applications developed in Swift include Airbnb, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Instagram, Slack, Dubsmash, Truecaller, Khan Academy, and more.
5 Strong Reasons Why Swift is Ideal for Enterprise App Development
Swift truly justifies the name by being super-fast and secure. It comes with a host of advanced features that let an iOS application development company create robust, feature-rich, and scalable mobile app solutions that deliver high-performance. Now, let’s dive deep into the reasons why enterprises choose Swift over other programming languages for custom iOS application development.
1. Less Coding = Faster Development
Swift application development has drastically changed the way coding is done. Unlike other programming languages wherein developers need to write several lines of code, Swift, on the other hand, has a clean, expressive, and developer-friendly syntax, which reduces the complexity of code, making it easier for developers to craft enterprise-grade applications quickly and more efficiently. Furthermore, this popular programming language is less prone to critical errors since developers need to write only fewer lines of code.
Lyft, a popular ridesharing company in the United States, adopted Swift for rewriting its mobile application from scratch and the results were staggering. The humongous 75000 lines of codes of the mobile application reduced to just 25000.
Swift vs. Objective-C: Choosing the Right Language for iOS App Development
2. Low Maintenance
Swift app development is easy to maintain, and this is one of the strong reasons why enterprises prefer this programming language over others. Earlier, Objective-C was used by iOS application developers, and they encountered umpteen roadblocks. Since Objective-C is a subset of C language, it lacks the ability to evolve independently. However, Swift language is free from such dependencies, making it easy to maintain.
In both C and Objective-C programming languages, iOS application development company had no choice but to keep two separate files in a bid to improve the efficiency and build time. Swift, on the contrary, combines these two separate files in a single code file (.swift.), making it easy to maintain.
3. Better Stability, Security, and Safety
Building a safe and secure mobile application is the top priority of all enterprises. Fortunately, Swift’s advanced error handling capacities, makes it less prone to programming errors as compared to Objective-C. Furthermore, iOS application developers when writing code in Swift can easily spot errors owing to the exceptional error tracking functionality and small feedback loops. Unlike Objective-C, custom iOS application development with Swift reduces crashes and this may be the reason why Swift is preferred over Objective-C for enterprise app development.
4. Future Ready
Another strong reason why enterprises prefer Swift for application development is its ability to future-proof iOS applications. The open-source nature of this programming language fosters a large and vibrant community of developers that actively contributes to the language’s improvement. This simply means that the language readily adapts to the latest technological advancements, while addressing emerging needs over time. Furthermore, Apple’s strong backing ensures that Swift stays compatible with the latest iOS advancements and performs optimally as the technological landscape evolves.
5. Large Talent Pool
The rising popularity of Swift has fostered a large talent pool of seasoned mobile application developers. This translates to several business benefits for enterprises. Firstly, it allows enterprises to tap into a strong talent pool of developers with varying levels of expertise, enabling them to onboard developers having skills specific to project requirements. Secondly, the large talent pool can lead to more competitive hourly rates and potentially reduced app development costs. Lastly, it reduces the time required to onboard new developers, which in turn accelerates project timelines.
Final Words
Being a modern programming language, Swift has not only established its strong foothold but also acquired a decent share of the application development market. It offers a wide gamut of new features, allowing iOS application development services providers to write clean code and build feature-rich, secure, and intuitive mobile applications. As the mobile landscape continues to evolve, enterprises embracing Swift will be well-positioned to develop robust and high-performing iOS applications that meet their unique business objectives and ever-evolving user expectations.