The Apple programming language Swift resolution: will drive the great changes in application development

The Apple programming language Swift resolution: will drive the great changes in application development   The following is the full article:

Many people may have forgotten that the "D" in Apple WWDC represents the "developer". This is a developer's conference where programmers attending the conference can learn about new technologies.

This year WWDC returns to its roots and focuses on two main areas: software and software developers.

While many are disappointed that Apple has not released any hardware products on this year's WWDC, it is important to point out that the key to making these hardware attractive is software. Many of the news that Apple is releasing today will make it easier for developers to work, which will bring more and better applications.

So far, the most important news for developers this year WWDC is the new programming language Swift. The language is designed to make application development simpler, faster and more stable, while ensuring better quality for the final application. From the most basic point of view, is it possible for swift to implement all the functions for all programmers?

Swift's performance remains to be seen, but according to what is seen today, the language has enormous potential.

The best language?

Scripting languages, such as Python, are often easy to write and test, but are not very powerful and difficult to bring high-quality programs. If you want to write a game that takes full advantage of the performance of your device, this language is not ideal. Traditional programming languages, such as objective-c, enable developers to make better use of device performance and develop more complex applications, but are often more difficult to master and more cumbersome to compile and test.

Swift wants to address all these inconveniences. The SWIFT program is faster than the Python and objective-c programs, says Apple, at least in terms of several key indicators. Nonetheless, this language supports the so-called "stadium (Playground)" In the Xcode development environment, enabling real-time visualization of Swift code like a scripting language.

In one example today, a developer wants to write a game in which balloons can move up and down in a natural pattern. To achieve this, he wants to use a simple mathematical function: the sine function. The sine function can produce an arc that swings up and down, similar to a floating balloon.

With Swift, the developer can easily assign a sine to the balloon and then observe the change in the value of the application during execution in a simple graph. This makes it easy for developers to see the pattern of balloon motion and whether it fits the expectations. If there is a problem, the developer can make an immediate adjustment. In the past, developers needed to run the code through a compiler and then execute the program, hoping for normal results. Depending on the size of your application, this process can take a few seconds, a few minutes, or even longer.

Advantage

Testing your applications quickly and easily will help developers develop complex applications faster. In the past, the process of compiling and testing was extremely cumbersome for larger-scale applications. If Swift can bring about significant improvements in this area, application developers will be able to publish more thoroughly tested applications faster.

In addition, Swift is a very concise language. Like Python, you don't have to write a lot of code to achieve powerful functionality. This also helps to improve the speed of application development.

Finally, if the swift application executes faster than the OBJECTIVE-C application, we will see a more compelling picture in the game (with the help of Apple's new metal interface), while other applications will be more responsive. At the same time, we don't have to buy new phones.

Problem

Not everything is beautiful. As many developers have said, Swift's biggest problem is requiring users to learn a whole new language. Programmers often like to master the latest and best language, but there is now a complete industry on how to guide people to write iphone applications. After Apple released Swift, everything was overturned. (You can still develop objective-c apps, but no one wants them.) )

On the other hand, if the programming language is easier to learn and use, then the threshold for application development will be reduced, leading to more novice developers participating in the industry. This may not be a good thing. This is entirely possible, but this has been the case for the software development industry that developed since the 40. Yes, in some cases, some people still think that developers who do not use punch cards are amateurs.

Still need to test

If Swift is as advertised by Apple, then we will see more, faster and more stable applications.

Ultimately, how Swift's performance still needs to be tested through practice. Apple likes to announce indicators and data on stage to highlight the advantages of a product relative to its competitors. But for programming languages, the situation is more subtle. It takes time for people to understand what the advantages of Swift are. This will be a radical change, and perhaps the most important change in the Apple developer community since the App Store was launched.

The end user may not see any change, which is normal. But now you can at least explain to other people why Swift deserves our excitement.