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Still Using Objective-c For Ios App Development? Here’s How You Can Switch To Swift!

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The iPhone app development industry is experiencing a surge in terms of demand. iOS app development companies are offering a variety of unique alternatives. Moreover, with the help of simple, yet cutting-edge, development software offered by HokuApps, brilliant iPhone apps can be created in an inexpensive, fast and efficient manner. As more and more iPhone apps developers are switching over from Objective-C to Swift, we must study the benefits and drawbacks of each language.
 
First and foremost, it is imperative to understand one thing: Objective-C and Swift do not have to be used mutually exclusively. Yet, the general verdict is that Swift is easily the more powerful open-language and employs increasingly advanced features as compared to its predecessor. While interoperability between the two languages is feasible, making a complete transition to Swift is achievable and highly recommended.
 
Why Switch to Swift?
There are various reasons why iOS app developers have been flocking toward Swift ever since it was introduced. Swift offers an array of advantages over other object-based languages like having to write fewer codes, less maintenance of the iOS app as well as a higher resemblance to the simple English language. It has been lauded for its clean syntax, making it extremely user-friendly for iPhone app developers. Furthermore, features like superior speed and automatic quality-control give the undoubted edge to Swift.
 
iOS app development companies, as well as independent developers and tech bloggers, have long debated the advantages and disadvantages of Swift, with Facebook’s iOS app still retaining Objective-C. However, iPhone apps like Weather, Yahoo, and LinkedIn have completely migrated to Swift.
 
Here is how you can successfully migrate your iOS app to Swift:
 
Clean-up Your Code
The first step must involve cleaning up your Objective-C code and ensuring that most parts of it are compatible with Swift. Above all, ensure that your Objective-C codebase has been modernized so that you can achieve optimum compatibility with Swift.
 
Working with Converters
Next step would be using the converter offered by Xcode. By engaging modern Objective-C converter, it will be easy to almost automatically switch the language of your iOS app using the iOS software development tools in Xcode. However, you must ensure that you check all results picked out by the converter manually, because often times the converter does not recognize the semantics of the code, but simply detects the potential changes.
 
One Class at a Time
As you begin the conversion in Xcode, it is advisable to convert one class at a time. The reason behind this is that the two languages have certain primary distinctions. For example, Objective-C contains subclasses and separate files for interface and implementation (.h file and .m file) which Swift does not. So it is advisable to carry out the conversion process for each class at a time instead of running the entire code at once.
 
As mentioned before, it is possible to use an integrated hybrid of the two languages while conducting your iOS app development. So, when you start adding an Objective-C code to a Swift target, Xcode will provide you with the option of bridging head. Choose the option “Create Bridging Header” to continue the conversion process.
 
Conduct Nil Checks
In Objective-C, when you send a message to a nil object, the resultant value is zero. In order to check that, you must conduct the nil checks and edit it as per your requirements in the new Swift version of the app.
 
Post-conversion on Xcode, an important step is to compile the project and fix the bugs (if any). This can be easily achieved by employing the command “Editor → Fix All in Scope” in Xcode for auto-fixing errors. Lastly, you have to create and run the project. Now all your Objective-C codes have been translated to the more condensed Swift files. You may now eliminate all Objective-C files.
 
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