Well, there stands no doubt in the fact that the iPhone is not just a device. It is the mark of social standards for some people, and for some developers, it’s a dream to build an application for the iPhone. Apple is an ace brand that has revolutionized the smartphone industry with its first iPhone release back in 2007.
Over the years, Apple has created its powerful position to use its own programming language to develop applications. Swift is the programming language that is required to develop native applications. Now there are different platforms available, such as React Native for ios app development & mobile app development still, the frequently asked question is, which is the better platform- Swift or React Native.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SWIFT
Swift is a modern programming language launched by Apple back in the year 2014. This general-purpose language works smoothly for all the projects that require to have native iOS attributes, in-app payment, and other complicated infrastructures. It is said that if you create an application that is compatible with all the existing Apple products, then Swift is highly recommended.
It has 7.71k GitHub forks and 48.2k GitHub stars, and it supports Objective-C code also. Swift is a relatively new language that functions with Apple’s Cocoa & Cocoa Touch framework and is distributed on the Apache License. Below mentioned is the list of merits and demerits of Swift.
Merits of Using Swift
- Error Handling:
The typing and error detecting system of Swift is quite advanced, making the applications created via this language bug-free and exceptional. The error handling feature of Swift takes care of code crashing also.
- Open Source Community:
in the year 2015, Apple declared Swift to be used as an open-source programming language for iOS. This has made the language more developer-friendly as fixing bugs, adding new features, etc. has become quite effortless.
- Easy Coding:
Unlike other programming languages, there is no need to create different codes for similar tasks because Swift is a concise language.
- Speedy Development:
Swift runs 2.6 times faster than Objective C programming language. This results in developing applications that are fast in nature.
Demerits of Using Swift
- Young Community:
Since it’s been only six years that Swift has launched, that’s why despite being an open-source community, it is not as strong and vast as it should be. Undoubtedly it is growing at quite a good pace, but many developers are working with Swift.
- Compatibility:
It is disappointing to mention that there are few issues with this programming language’s stability and compatibility. Here it becomes vital to mention that the new version of Swift does not support the earlier versions.
EVERYTHING ABOUT REACT NATIVE
React Native is a software architecture supported by Facebook. This language is based on JavaScript, and developers can use and share the codes created on different platforms such as iOS, web applications, and Android. The sharing features have reduced the developing time and cost for cross-platform mobile application development.
React Native has 17.5k forks on GitHub and 78.3k GitHub Stars. It is a much more established technology that is supported by Walmart, Facebook, Shopify, etc. Below are some merits and demerits of React Native:
Merits of React Native
- Efficiency: The “hot reloading” feature of this language provides time efficiency for the developers. With this feature, you can quickly see the changes that you have made in the codes. It works like a preview where you can visualize the layout and design of the app quickly.
- Fast Performing: Pointing bugs in React Native requires fewer efforts. The functionality of the app can be amplified using various customized JavaScript modules and controls.
- Money efficient: As mentioned earlier, the codes can be shared on cross platforms; it helps in saving cost and other resources as well. Working with React Native becomes a budget-friendly approach for ios app development & mobile app development in the long run.
Demerits of React Native
- Small Collection of Components: Lack of readymade components is one of the most popular disadvantages of React Native. Due to this, developers cannot build simple and basic applications.
- Not easy to Learn: If you are new to JavaScript, it can be a little hard for you to learn this programming language compared to other options available.
SWIFT VS REACT NATIVE
You can consider the below-mentioned comparison in order to make your opinion regarding which programming language is better for your purpose:
- Speed: When it comes to the speed of coding, Swift is a much effortless way to create applications for iOS platforms. The process and challenges are lesser as compared to Objective-C. On the other hand, React Native is based on JavaScript, and it is easy to make web applications with it. However, as far as Android apps are concerned, you can copy the codes in React Native, whereas, in Swift the process begins from developing the new codes.
- Performance: Native applications built through Swift perform conveniently on all the possible platforms. On the other hand, with React Native, application developers must create their modules, thereby adding a third party. This can hamper the performance of the application.
- User Interface and Experience: While using Swift for creating an application, it is required to type and form codes from zero. Therefore for different screens, the application is structured accordingly. On the other hand, with React Native, developers use JavaScript because it is easily adjustable to all screen sizes and orientations.
- Community: JavaScript is one of the most popularized programming languages used for mobile application development and web application development. Over the years, JavaScript has created a very strong position in the eyes of developers. On the other hand, despite being backed by Apple, its community is comparatively smaller.
To Sum Up:
Depending on the structure and type of the application that you wish to make, you can choose your programming language. You can consider HireIndianProgrammers’ services for ios app development & mobile app development; we are one of the leading experts in the industry. We have got the experience and a team of designers and developers for your project. Schedule a consultation today to discuss your requirements and we would be happy to serve you.
