In June 2014 in the world of Apple, something happened that no one expected: Apple has introduced a new object-oriented programming language – Swift, which should replace Objective-C, previously used to develop applications for OSX & iOS. So you must be comparing objective C Vs swift.

Since the new iOS app programming language has been launched, disputes about Swift advantages and disadvantages continue to simmer till now.

Is it worth to make the switch to the more approachable, full-featured (as Apple Corp. claims) Swift for iOS or continue to use Objective-C in your projects?

What are advantages of Swift over Objective-C? Which one should you choose for your project?

This article will help you understand Objective-C vs. Swift differences and make clear what it means not only for developers but your business in particular.

Swift vs. Objective-C: 10 major differences

1. Optionals
2. Control Flow
3. Type Inference
4. Tuples
5. String Manipulation
6. Guard and Defer
7. Functional Programming Patterns
8. Enumerations
9. Functions
10. Do Statement

There are two key differences between Objective-C and Swift languages:

• Swift is not a strict superset of the C language. It means that Swift is free to make use of syntax constructs. For instance, this allows it to implement custom operators in Swift.
• It is statically typed, not dynamically typed. It can take advantage of many of the recent advances in type systems.

Swift advantages over Objective-C

• Apple and IBM move forward with Swift.
• Less code, less legacy.
• Unified with memory management
• Less error-prone.
• Faster.
•  Open-source.
•  Interactive.
• Closer to other platforms.

Good about Objective-C

• Code, written in Objective-C and C, can be used in Swift, but not vice versa.
• C++ code cannot be used in Swift. It is, however, possible to use Objective-C++.
• Objective-C can be compiled into static libraries and dynamic frameworks, while Swift can be compiled only into dynamic frameworks.
• The syntax of Objective-C is stable while Swift syntax is still improving.
• Xcode does not support refactoring of Swift code. It should be done manually. This feature is available only for Objective-C.

Summary

These are the more common factors developers need to address when deciding between Objective-C and Swift for new and existing app projects. Your project may include additional considerations that aren’t normally faced by the bulk of apps. Remember that the most important actions in choosing a programming language are examining the project context and discussing the decision with your team members. Being open to the benefits and drawbacks of both languages and brainstorming options with other developers will help you make the right call when it matters.