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Swift Vs Python

By KnowledgeHut

Programming Languages: Their popularity Every passing year witnesses changes in the preferences of programming languages. Some of them get knocked off the perch, while others continue growing. In recent years, two programming languages stand out from the rest and are rapidly growing in popularity. Those two are Swift and Python. In this article, we will talk about the attributes of Swift and Python, their pros and cons and how they are similar to each other. Read along to know more. What they are Swift and Python. One is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm, object-oriented, functional, imperative and block-structured language while the latter is a widely-used general-purpose, high-level programming language. Python was originally designed by Guido van Rossum in 1991 and further developed by Python Software Foundation. It was developed to stress code readability along with its syntax enables programmers to code less to express their concepts. It helps coders to speed up the workflow and integrate systems more efficiently. In a survey by Stack Overflow in 2017, Python was the fastest-growing programming language. This resulted in numerous companies prominently using Python as their programming language, the list including Quora, Netflix, Dropbox, Reddit, Facebook, Spotify, Instagram, etc. In terms of Python’s usability shown above, Data analysis goes first, followed by web development, machine learning, and DevOps. However, Python is less used for educational purposes, prototyping, and Quality Assurance Services. Now talking about Swift, it was designed and released in 2014 after conducting fresh research on programming languages and by using a modern approach to safety, software design patterns by Apple Inc. It is a completely new programming language for the iOS application, macOS application, watchOS application, tvOS application. Needless to say, it quickly grew to be one of the top 5 programming languages and became the most used programming language among the Apple developer community within a short span of than 5 years, also effectively replacing the previously used Objective C. Let us share an important piece of information with you. According to a survey done on the most popular programming languages, Python takes the first spot with overwhelming popularity with a share of 25.36%, whereas Swift is climbing up the ladder at the 9th spot with 2.69% share. The table is mentioned below:Advantages and disadvantages of using Python Advantages In this section, we will focus on the criteria that make Python a truly developer-friendly language. As we learnt that Python has its uses in numerous lines of work, we will find out how it ticks the checkboxes of the required criteria. Simplicity and readability One of the prime benefits of using Python is that it is simple to code and read. Of course, it is not a repetitive language to follow but is very similar to English and hence is easy to follow. Moreover, Python is a good choice for beginners in programming Multi-paradigm It is a programming language that is object-oriented as well as procedural. Its procedural paradigm allows reuse code and object-oriented methodology allows varied inheritances and summarising data and functions as one Open-source As Python is open source, you can download and modify its source code. This versatile feature led to the formation of a strong community that keeps growing stronger Integration with other languages Being an extensible and embeddable language, programmers can easily integrate Python to Java applications, C, and C++ Portability and compatibility Python is compatible with various platforms. If required, users do not require to change the code before moving the project. to be moved to another platform Vast collection of libraries Being in the game for a long time, Python boasts having a strong community with a vast range of libraries and frameworks for different purposes. providing programmers with a wide spectrum of opportunities. Additionally, libraries like Pandas, Plotly, NumPy, Pipenv, and others and are included as well. Django, Flask, CherryPy, and PyTorch are.among the most famous frameworks. Disadvantages With the pros come the cons. There is also the other side of a coin that needs attention. In spite of having a long history in the programming world, Python still has several weak sides. Not ideal for Mobile development Python is not a good solution for mobile developers. However, a come-around solution with a few challenges is Kivy - a cross-platform Python framework for developing mobile apps Design restrictions There are specific design limitations in Python. Being dynamically typed language using duck typing, Python automatically identifies a type of a variable and can cause runtime errors Although it is not frequent, it does make errors at times. Memory consumption Python consumes high memory and is definitely not a good option to run intensive memory tasks. Swift pros and cons Being a relatively new programming language, Swift was launched at the WWDC conference in 2014. According to Apple, the primary features of Swift is that it is fast, modern and interactive. Swift's creator Chris Lattner his creation was a result of ideas inspired by different languages such as C#, Ruby, and especially by Python. That's why we can easily find a couple of similarities between Swift and Python. Nevertheless, let’s see what the pros and cons of Swift are. Advantages Easy to read and maintain The Swift program codes are based on English as it acquired syntaxes from other programming languages, thus making the language more expressive Scalable More features to Swift, so it is a scalable programming language. Swift has already replaced Objective C and Swift is what Apple is relying on Concise Swift does not include long lines of code and that favours the developers who want a concise syntax, thus increasing the development and testing rate of the program Safety and improved performance Almost 40% better than the Objective-C, Swift is handier to tackle the bugs that lead to safer programming when speed and performance is concerned Cross-device support This language can handle a wide range of Apple platforms such as iOS, iOS X, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS Automatic Memory Management This feature prevents memory leaks and helps in optimising the application’s performance that is done by using Automatic Reference Counting. Disadvantages Compatibility issues The updated versions Swift is observed to be a bit unstable with the newer versions of Apple leading to a few issues. Switching to a newer version of Swift is the fix but that is costly Speed Issues This is relevant to the earlier versions of the Swift programming language Less in number: The number of Swift developers is limited as Swift is a new programming language Delay in uploading apps Developers will be facing delays over their apps written in Swift to be uploaded to the App Store only after iOS 8 and Xcode 6 are released. The estimated time for release is reported to be September-October, 2014. Common attributes of Swift and Python Swift and Python are predominantly contrasting languages. Despite that, the do possess some common traits. Let’s see what they are. Both Swift and Python have a distinct syntax and are very similar to the English language. Missing semicolons while coding in either Swift or Python will not result in errors. Both languages have a REPL environment that aids in detecting errors in code and debugging Both are multi-paradigm programming languages They have additional tools to facilitate learning. What makes Swift and Python different from each other? From the previous discussions in this article, it is crystal clear that Swift and Python are fundamentally different from each other. Apple’s Swift is ideal for developing software for the Apple ecosystem while Python can be utilised for use cases but is mainly applied in back-end development. Moreover, as Apple claims, Swift is 8.4x faster than Python in terms of performance. Choosing between Swift and Python depends on the intent of the programmer. If the purpose is developing mobile applications that need to work flawlessly in the Apple platforms, then Swift is the ultimate choice. However, if the intentions are to develop artificial intelligence, design a prototype or build the backend, then Python is the one. In the end, what matters is the intent So now we see that in fact choosing Python or Swift for coding mostly depends on your purpose. If you are fond of developing mobile applications that will work seamlessly on Apple operating systems, you should definitely choose Swift. Python is good in case you want to develop your own artificial intelligence, build the backend or create a prototype. There is no hiding the fact that both Swift and Python are good at what they do. While Python has been a game-changer for years, Swift has been rapidly rising up the ranks. Comparing the two directly is a bit unjust as each one of the two has their own uses. The best person to select the right programming language is you! So be the judge of your decision. Good luck!

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Swift Vs Python

by KnowledgeHut
02 Dec 2019

Programming Languages: Their popularity Every pas... Read More

Top 10 Python IDEs and Code Editors

By Priyankur Sarkar

Over the years, Python language has evolved enormously with the contribution of developers. Python is one of the most popular programming languages. It was designed primarily for server-side web development, software development, evaluation, scripting and artificial intelligence. For this feature Python encloses certain code editors and IDEs that are used for software development say, Python itself. If you are new to programming, learning Python is highly recommended as it is fast, efficient and easy to learn. Python interpreters are available on various operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS. This article provides a look into code editors and IDEs along with their features, pros and cons and talks about which are the best suited for writing Python codes. But first let us see what are code editors and IDEs. What is a Code Editor? A code editor is built for editing and modifying source code. A standalone text editor is used for writing and editing computer programs. Excellent ones can execute code as well as control a debugger as well as interact with source control systems. Compared to an IDE, a good dedicated code editor is usually smaller and quicker, but is less functional. Typically they are optimized for programming languages. One major feature of a text editor is that they are designed to modify various files and work with whatever language or framework you choose. What is IDE? IDE (Integrated Development Environment) understands the code significantly better than a text editor. It is a program exclusively built for software development. It is designed with a set of tools that all work together: Text editor Compiler Build automation Debugging Libraries, and many more to speed up the work. These tools integrate: An editor designed to frame codes with text formatting, auto-completionetc., build, execution, debugging tools, file management and source and version control. It reduces manual efforts and combines all the equipment in a typical framework. IDE comes with heavy files. Hence, the downloads and installation is quite tedious. IDE requires expertise along with a lot of patience. How does an IDE and Code editor differ from each other? An IDE is distinctive from code editors in the following ways: Integrated build process:The user does not have to write his own scripts to build apps in an IDE. File management: IDE has an integrated file management system and deployment tool. It provides support to other framework as well. On the other hand, a Text editor is a simple editor where source code can be edited and it has no other formatting or compiling options. Development Environment: An IDE is mainly used for development purposes as it provides comparatively better features than a text editor. It allows you to write, compile and debug the entire script. Syntax Highlighting:The editor displays the text message and puts the source code in different colours to improve its readability. Even error messages are displayed in different colours so that the user understands where he has written the wrong code. Auto completion:It identifies and inserts a common code for the user instantly. This feature acts as an assistance for the programmer. The code suggestion automatically gets displayed. Debugger: This tool helps the programmer to test and debug the source code of the main program. Although IDEs have far better features than a Text editor one major significance of Text editor is that it allows modifying all types of files rather than specifying any definite language or types. Features For a good software development, we need code editors and IDEs which help the developer to automate the process of editing, compiling, testing, debugging and much more. Some of the features of these editors are listed below: Good user interface: They allow users to interact and run programs easily. Incredibly fast: Although these IDEs need to import heavy libraries, compile and debug, they offer fast compilation and run time. Syntax stylizing: Codes are colorized automatically and syntax is highlighted. Debugging tool: Itruns the code, set breakpoints, examine the variables. Provides good language syntax: IDEs usually work on a specific language but the others are designed for multi-language support. Code editors are designed with multi-language support. Good source and version control environment: IDEs come with source control feature to keep a track of changes made in source code and other text files during the development of any software. Intelligent code completion:This feature speeds up the coding process by automatically suggesting for incomplete codes. It reduces typos and other common mistakes. Why do we need a good coding environment? For a good software development one seeks a better coding environment. Although features vary from app to app, a definite set of features is required for one. There are many other things involved such as source code control, extension tools, language support etc. Listed below are the core features which make a good coding environment : Retrieve files: All the codes written in an IDE get saved. Also, the programmer can retrieve his code file at the same state where the work is left off. Run within the environment: It should be able to compile and run within the environment where the codes are written. No external file shall be needed to be downloaded for the execution of the programs. Good Debugging Tool: An IDE or editor should be able to diagnose and troubleshoot the programmer’s works and highlight the lines with errors if any. A pop-up window should display the error message. This way the programmer can keep a track of his errands and diagnose them. Automatic formatting tool: Indentation is done automatically as soon as the programmer moves onto the next line. It keeps the code clean and readable. Quick highlighting: keywords, variables and symbols are highlighted. This feature keeps the code clean and easy to understand. Also, pops up the variables making them easy to spot. This makes it a whole lot easier to pick out portions of code than simply looking at a wall of undifferentiated text. Some of the IDEs and code editors There are various Python IDEs and text editors. Some of the IDEs and text editors along with their features and pros and cons are mentioned below: IDLEKey Features: It is an open source IDE entirely written in Python. It is mainly supported by WINDOWS, LINUX, MAC OS etc.. IDLE is a decent IDE for learning because it is lightweight and quite simple to use. IDLE is installed by default as soon as installation of Python is complete. This makes it easier to get started in Python. IDLE features include the Python shell window(interactive interpreter), auto-completion, syntax highlighting, smart indentation, and a basic integrated debugger. It is however not suitable for the completion of larger projects and best suitable for educational purposes only. Pros A cross-platform where a developer can search within any window, search through multiple files and replace within the windows editor Supports syntax highlighting, auto code completion, smart indentation and editable configurations Includes Python shell with highlighter Powerful Integrated Debugger with continuous breakpoints, global view, and local spaces Improves the performance Call stack visibility Increases the flexibility for developers Cons Used for programming just for beginners Limited to handle normal usage issues. Supports basic design Large software development cannot be handled Sublime text Key Features: It is a source code editor, supported on all platforms. It is a very popular cross-platform and a better text editor. It possesses a built-in support for Python for code editing and packages to extend the syntax and editing features. All Sublime Text packages are written in Python and also a Python API. Installation of the packages often requires you to execute scripts directly in Sublime Text. it is designed to support huge programming and markup languages. Additional functions can be applied by the user with the help of plugins. Pros More reliable for developers and is cross-platform Supports GOTO anything to access files Generates wide index of each method, class, and function. AllowsUser interface toolkit Easy navigation to words or symbols Multiple selections to change things at one time Offers command palette to sort, edit and modify the syntax and maintain the indentation. Offers powerful API and package ecosystem Great performance Highly customizable Allows split editing and instant project switch Better compatibility with language grammar Custom selection on specific projects Cons Not free Installation of extensions is quite tricky Does not support for direct executing or debugging code from within the editor Less active GIT plugin AtomKey Features: It is an open source code editor developed by Github. It is supported on all platforms. It has features similar to that of Python. It has a framework based on atom shells which help to achieve cross platform functionality. With a sleek interface, file system browser, and marketplace for extensions, it offers a framework for creating desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML, CSS . Extensions can be installed when Atom is running.It enables support for third party packages. Its major feature is that although it is a code editor,it can also be used as an IDE. It is also used for educational purposes. Atom is being improvised day by day, striving to make the user experience rewarding and not remain confined to beginners use only. Pros Cross-platform Smooth editing Improves performance of its users Offers built-in package manager and file system browser Faster scripting Offers smart auto-completion Smart and flexible Supports multiple pane features Easy navigation across an application Simple to use Allows user interface customization Full support from GitHub Quick access to data and information Cons For beginners only Tedious for sorting configurations and plugins Clumsy tabs reduce performance Slow loading Runs on JavaScript process Built on Electron, does not run as a native application VimKey Features: Categorized as a stable open source code editor, VI and VIM are modal editors. As it is supported on almost every platform such as: Windows, LINUX, MAC OS, IOS, Android, UNIX, AmigaOS, MorphOS etc. it is highly configurable. Because of its modal mode of operation, it differs from most other text editors. It possesses three basic modes: insert mode, normal or command mode and command line mode. It is easily customized by the addition of extensions and configuration which makes it easily adaptable for Python development. Pros Free and easily accessible Customizable and persistent Has a multi-level undo tree Extensions are added manually Configuration file is modified Multi-buffers support simultaneous file editing Automated indentation Good user interface Recognition and conversion of file formats Exclusive libraries including wide range of languages Comes with own scripting language with powerful integration, search and replace functionality Extensive system of plugins Allows debugging and refactoring Provides two different modes to work: normal and editing mode Strings in VIM can be saved and reused Cons Used as a text editor only No different color for the pop-up option Not good for beginners PyDev Key Features: It is also categorized as an open source IDE mainly written with JAVA.Since it is an eclipse plugin, the Java IDE is transformed into Python IDE. Its integration with Django gives a Python framework. It also has keyword auto-completion, good debugging tool, syntax highlighting and indentation. Pros Free open source Robust IDE feature set Auto-completion of codes and analysis Smart indentation Interactive console shortcuts Integrated with Django configuration Platform independent Cons: User interface is not great Visual studioKey Features: It is categorized as an IDE, is a full-featured IDE developed by Microsoft. It is compatible with Windows and Mac OS only and comes with free as well as paid versions. It has its own marketplace for extensions. PTVS(Python Tools for Visual Studio) offers various features as in coding for Python development, IntelliSense, debugging, refactoring etc. Pros Easy and less tedious installation for development purposes Cons Spacious files Not supported on Linux Visual studio code Key Features: VS code is a code editor and is way more different from VS. It is a free open source code editor developed by Microsoft can be run on platforms such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. It has a full-featured editor that is highly configurable with Python compatibility for software development. Python tools can be added to enable coding in Python.VS code is integrated with Git which promotes it to perform operations like push, commit directly from the editor itself. It also has electron framework for Node JS applications running on the Blink browser engine. It is enclosed with smart code completion with function definition, imported modules and variable types. Apart from these, VS code also comes with syntax highlighting, a debugging console and proprietary IntelliSense code auto completion. After installing Python, VS code recognizes Python files and libraries immediately. Pros Free and available on every platform Small, light-weight but highly extensible Huge compatibility Has a powerful code management system Enables debugging from the editor Multi-language support Extensive libraries Smart user interface and an acceptable layout Cons Slow search engine Tedious launch time Not a native app just like Atom WingKey Features: Wing is also one of the powerful IDEs today and comes with a lot of good features. It is an open source IDE used commercially. It also is constituted with a strong framework and has a strong debugger and smart editor for Python development making it fast, accurate and fun to perform. It comes with a 30 day trial version. It supports text driven development with unit test, PyTest and Django testing framework. Pros Open source Find and go-to definition Customizable and extensible Auto-code completion Quick Troubleshoot Source browser shows all the variables used in the script Powerful debugger Good refactoring Cons Not capable of supporting dark themes Wing interface is quite intimidating Commercial version is expensive Python-specific IDEs and Editors Anaconda - Jupyter NotebooksKey Features: It is also an open source IDE with a server-client structure, used to create and edit the codes of a Python. Once it is saved, you can share live code equations, visualizations and text. It has anaconda distribution i.e., libraries are preinstalled so downloading the anaconda itself does the task. It supports Python and R language which are installed by default at installation. This IDE is again used for data science learning. Quite easy to use, it is not just used as an editor but also as an educational tool or presentation. It supports numerical simulation, machine learning visualization and statistical modelling. Pros Free Open source Good user interface Server-client structure Educational tool- Data science, Machine learning Supports numerical simulation Enables to create, write, edit and insert images Combines code, text and images Integrated libraries - Matplotlib, NumPy, Pandas Multi-language support Auto code completion Cons Sometimes slow loading is experienced Google Colaboratory Key Features: It is the simplest web IDE used for Python. It gives a free GPU access. Instead of downloading heavy files and tedious launch time, one can directly update the files from Colab to the drive. All you need to do is log in to your google account and open Colab. There is no need for extra setup. Unlike other IDEs no files are required to download. Google provides free computation resources with Colaboratory. It is designed for creating machine learning models. For compilation and execution, all you need to do is to update Python package and get started. Pros Available to all Code can be run without any interruption Highly user interactive No heavy file downloads Integrated libraries Multi-language support Updated in google drive Update the Python package for execution Runs on cloud Comments can be added in cells Can import Jupiter or IPython notebooks Cons All colaboratory files are to be stored in google drive Install all specific libraries No access to unsaved files once the session is over Pycharm Key Features: Developed by Jet Brains and one of the widely used full-featured Python IDE, this is a cross-platform IDE for Python programming and is well-integrated with Python console and IPython Notebook. It is supported by Windows, Linux, Mac OS and other platforms as well. It has massive productivity and saves ample amount of time. It comes with smart code navigation, code editor, good debugging tool, quick refactoring etc. and supports Python web development frameworks such as Angular JS, JavaScript, CSS, HTML and live editing functions. The paid version offers advanced features such as full database management and a multitude Framework than the community version such as Django, Flask, Google App, Engine, Pyramid and web2py. Pros Great supportive community Brilliant performance. Amazing editing tools Robust debugging tool Smart code navigation Quick and safe refactoring Built in developer tools Error detection and fix up suggestions Customizable interface Available in free and paid version Cons Slow loading Installation is quite difficult and may hang up in between SpyderKey Features: It is an open source IDE supported on all platforms. Ranked as one of the best Python compilers, it supports syntax highlighting, auto completion of codes just like Pycharm. It offers an advanced level of editing, debugging, quick diagnose, troubleshoot and many data exploration features. To get started with Spyder, one needs to install anaconda distribution which is basically used in data science and machine learning. Just like Pycharm it has IntelliSense auto-completion of code. Spyder is built on a structured and powerful framework which makes it one of the best IDE used so far. It is most commonly used for scientific development. Pros Free open source IDE Quick troubleshoot Active framework Smart editing and debugging Syntax is automatically highlighted Auto completion of codes Good for data science and machine learning Structured framework Integrates common Python data science libraries like SciPy, NumPy, and Matplotlib Finds and eliminates bottlenecks Explores and edits variables directly from GUI Performs well in multi-language editor and auto completion mode Cons Spyder is not capable to configure a specific warning Too many plugins degrades its performance ThonnyKey Features: Thonny is another IDE best suited for beginners for Python development and provides a good virtual environment. It is supported on all platforms. It gives a simple debugger with F5, F6 and F7 keys for debugging. Also, Thonny supports highlighting errors, good representation of function calls, auto code completion and smart indentation. It even allows the developers to configure their code and shell commands. by default, in Thonny Python is pre-installed as it downloads with its own version of Python. Pros Simple Graphical user interface. Free open source IDE Best for beginners Simple debugger with F5, F6, F7 Keys Tackles issues with Python interpreters Highlights syntax error Auto-completion of code Good representation of function calls User can change reference mode easily Step through expression evaluation Reply and resolve to comments Cons Interface is not that good for developers Confined to text editing No template support Slow plugin creation Too basic IDE for software development Which Python IDE is right for you? Requirements vary from programmer to programmer. It is one’s own choice to pick the right tool that is best suited for the task at hand. Beginners need to use a simple tool with few customizations whereas experts require tools with advanced features to bring new updates. Few suggestions are listed below:- Beginners should start with IDLE and Thonny as they do not have complex features and are pretty easy to learn. For data science learners Jupyter Notebooks and Google Colaboratory is preferred. Generally, large scale enterprises prefer the paid versions of IDEs like PyCharm, Atom, Sublime Text etc. in order to get extensive service support from the company. Also, they provide easy finance options and manpower. On the other hand, middle and small scale enterprises tend to look for open source tools which provides them with excellent features. Some of such IDEs are Spyder, Pydev, IDLE and Visual Studio. Conclusion Today, Python stands out as one of the most popular programming languages worldwide. IDE being a program dedicated to software development has made it easier for developers to build, execute, and debug their codes. Code editors can only be used for editing codes whereas an IDE is a feature rich editor which has inbuilt text editor, compiler, debugging tool and libraries. Different IDEs and code editors are detailed in this article along with their merits and demerits. Some are suitable for beginners because of their lightweight nature and simplicity like IDLE, Thonny whereas experts require advance featured ones for building software. For learning purposes say data science, machine learning Jupyter and Google Colaboratory are strongly recommended. Again there are large scale enterprises who prefer PyCharm, Atom, Sublime Text for software development. On the other hand, small scale enterprises prefer Spyder, Pydev, IDLE and Visual Studio. Hence,the type of IDE or code editor that should be used completely depends upon the requirement of the programmer . To gain more knowledge about Python tips and tricks, check our Python tutorial and get a good hold over coding in Python by joining the Python certification course.

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9953

Top 10 Python IDEs and Code Editors

by Priyankur Sarkar
14 Nov 2019
9 mins read

Over the years, Python language has evolved enormo... Read More

Xcode vs Swift

By KnowledgeHut

Xcode and Swift are two different products developed by Apple for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. While Xcode is an integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS containing a suite of software development tools to develop software for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS, Swift is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm, compiled programming language developed iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, Linux, and z/OS. So it is clear that they can not be compared with each other. On the contrary, Swift is compatible with Xcode as Swift v 5.1, the default version of Swift is included in Xcode v 11. In this article, we will go through what Xcode and Swift are in general and cover their features strengths and weaknesses followed by how Swift is compatible with Xcode. XcodeIt was first released in 2003 as version 1 with the latest stable one being version 10.2.1 released on 17 April 2019. It can be downloaded from the Mac App Store and is free to use for macOS Mojave users. Registered developers may download the preview releases and previous versions of the suite using via the Apple Developer website. Overview of the major featuresSupport: Programming languages such as C, C++, Objective-C, Objective-C++, Java, AppleScript, Python, Ruby, ResEdit (Rez), and Swift are supported by Xcode with source code along with support for a variety of programming models including Cocoa, Carbo, and Java. Not only that, there is additional support via third parties for GNU Pascal, Free Pascal, Ada, C#, Perl, and D Capability: Xcode can build fat binary files that include the code for various architectures in the Mach-O executable format. Known as universal binary files, these allow the application to run on both PowerPC and Intel-based (x86) platforms including both 32-bit and 64-bit codes Compiling and debugging: Xcode uses the iOS SDK to compile and debug applications for iOS that run on ARM architecture processors GUI tool: Xcode comprises of the GUI tool, Instruments that runs dynamic tracing framework on the top of DTrace, a dynamic tracing framework designed by Sun Microsystems and released as a part of OpenSolaris. Advantages and disadvantages of Xcode: Xcode is designed by Apple and will only work with Apple operating systems: macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Since its release in 2003, Xcode has made significant improvements and the latest version, Xcode 10.2.1 has all the features that are needed to perform continuous integration. Let us have a look at the pros of using Xcode: Equipped with a well designed and easy to use UI creator Excellent for code completion Using Xcode, a developer can learn profiling and heap analysis in a natural way Xcode’s simulator lets you easily test your app while you build it in an environment that simulates your iPhone The app store has a wide range of audience who are willing to pay for apps. Now, the cons: Clunky and outdated Objective C makes it more frustrating if you are habituated to use a modern language No support for tabbed work environments makes it difficult to work with multiple windows Hardly any information can be found online to solve problems due to a previous Apple NDA on Xcode development It is a complicated process to export your app onto a device Will only work with Apple operating systems The App Store approval process can be annoyingly lengthy.SwiftSwift was launched at Apple's 2014 Worldwide Developers Conference as a general-purpose, multi-paradigm, compiled programming language for iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, Linux, and z/OS Being a new entry these operating systems, Swift accelerates on the best parts of C and Objective C without being held back by its compatibility. It utilises safe patterns for programming, adding more features to it, thus making programming easier and more flexible. By developing their existing debugger, compiler and framework infrastructure, it took quite some time to create the base for Swift. Furthermore, Automatic Reference Counting was used to simplify the memory management part. The framework stack which was once built upon a solid framework of Cocoa and Foundation has undergone significant changes and is now completely regulated and refurbished. Developers who have worked with Objective-C do find Swift quite similar. Objective-C’s dynamic object model and its comprehensively named parameters provide a lot of control to Swift. Developers can use Swift to have access to the existing Cocoa framework in addition to the mix and match interoperability with an objective C code. Swift uses this common rule to offer multiple new features in combination with object-oriented and procedural portions of the language. The idea is to create the best possible language for a wide range of uses, varying from desktop and mobile apps, systems programming, and scaling up to cloud services. The designing of Swift was done to make sure that developers find it easy to maintain and write correct programs. Coding done in Xcode is safe, fast and expressive. Swift offers a host of features that give developers the control needed to make the code easy to read and write. Furthermore, Apple made Swift to be easily understandable to help developers avoid making mistakes while coding and make the code look organised, along with the modules that give namespaces and eliminate headers. Since Swift uses some features present in other languages, one of them being named parameters written with clean syntax that makes the APIs much easier to maintain and read. Here are some of the additional features of Swift: Multiple return values and Tuples Generics Short and quick iterations over a collection or range Structs that support extensions, methods and protocols Functional programming patterns Advanced control flow Powerful error handling. These features are systematically designed to make them work together resulting in creating a powerful but fun-to-use language. Advantages and disadvantages of Swift: Pros of using the Swift Programming language: Easy to read and maintain: The Swift program codes are based on natural English as it has borrowed syntaxes from other programming languages. This makes the language more expressive Scalable: Users can add more features to Swift, making it a scalable programming language. In the future, Swift is what Apple is relying on and not Objective C Concise: Swift does not include long lines of code and that favours the developers who want a concise syntax, thus increasing the development and testing rate of the program Safety and improved performance: It is almost 40% better than the Objective-C when speed and performance are taken into consideration as it is easy to tackle the bugs which lead to safer programming Cross-device support: This language is capable of handling a wide range of Apple platforms such as iOS, iOS X, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Automatic Memory Management: This feature present in Swift prevents memory leaks and helps in optimizing the application’s performance that is done by using Automatic Reference Counting. Cons of Swift: Compatibility issues: The updated versions Swift is found to a bit unstable with the newer versions of Apple leading to a few issues. Switching to a newer version of Swift is the fix but that is costly Speed Issues: This is relevant to the earlier versions of the Swift programming language Less in number: The number of Swift developers is limited as Swift is a new programming language Delay in uploading apps: Developers will be facing delays over their apps written in Swift to be uploaded to the App Store only after iOS 8 and Xcode 6 are released. The estimated time for release is reported to be September-October, 2014. Conclusion So as we discussed both Xcode and Swift, it is clear that they cannot be compared to each other. In fact, they both complement each other to deliver impressive results without any headaches. Apple relies on both quite a lot and it is certain to have Swift and Xcode the perfect combination of a robust application and a user-friendly programming language.

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Xcode vs Swift

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11 Nov 2019
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Xcode and Swift are two different products develop... Read More

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