Are We Saying Goodbye To Objective-C?

We all know that a programmer typically has their favorite coding language. One that is their go-to and where they feel comfortable. Some programmers swear up and down about their coding preference, while others will use what they are asked to at a slower speed. However, programmers today may need to pull out their textbooks and sharpen up their skills. Newer program language developments, specifically Swift programming, may be well on their way to pushing their antiquated forefathers like Objective-C out of the way completely for iOS app development on iPhones.

It was only a matter of time before more recent programming languages came around, trying to unseat the long-standing favorites. However, are these new languages, like Swift, powerful enough to do the job and take over languages like Objective-C which has been around for decades? While there is no certainty that Objective-C will completely disappear, there is evidence that Swift coding is gaining popularity, and in the long-term, its use could put Objective-C out on the chopping block.

What is Objective-C?

Launched in the 1980s, Objective-C was the standard programming language for Apple OS X and iOS. As one of the oldest programming languages for this platform, Objective-C was created to build a flexible object-related language focusing on code reusability.

As one of the most wildly used programming languages worldwide, Objective-C has been used with many projects, systems, and APIs. It requires fewer updates than other programming languages and can solve specific custom solutions. However, Objective-C can be complicated to learn, and its creation and management are more complex for new users. Nevertheless, many programmers who use this language have been doing so for many years, and newer coders have opted to learn Swift instead due to its ease of use and applications.

The New Kid On The Block: Swift Programming

In 2014, Swift was a newer language released by Apple that is not based within the C language like Objective-C. It was developed from elements of Objective-C, Rust, Haskell, Ruby, Python, C#, CLU and many others. It was designed to be a faster way to develop Apple programs and has scraped away the more complicated language syntaxes of Objective-C. Swift is also built with open source and offers a powerful array of tools and solutions for modern coders that are simple, safe, and easy to learn. Swift is not just limited to Apple projects like Objective-C. Its open-source and cross-platform language has flexibility and usability that Objective-C does not have. However, its programming mechanics require it to be updated with newer versions, and these constant updates can be costly and time-consuming.

Will Swift Replace Objective C?

Remember when we talked about programmers who were more comfortable with one language over the other? Well, in this case, the comfort of coders may be a reason that Objective-C will hang around. Objective-C may be a dinosaur of a language, but it is robust and works well. Coders who use Objective-C might object to changing their coding language and become resistant to change. Others may need to switch to Swift due to factors out of their control, such as a company requiring the Swift language or specific projects that require Swift. In addition, Apple will provide better support for Swift libraries than Objective C going forward. Swift can operate over 2.6x faster than an Objective C search algorithm.

Also, since Objective-C has been used and tested for many years with Apple’s software, it may take time to phase it out completely. Many projects and programmers still rely on Objective-C, and completely removing its coding language from the toolbox will take some time and effort to learn a new programming language. It doesn’t matter how much Apple pushes coders to use Swift or how much they advertise its brilliance – some habits will die hard. And there is no telling if and when Objective-C will find its final death.

Flint Hills Group Can Help With Any Coding Language

At Flint Hills Group, our group of highly experienced, US-based software developers can help your business with the innovative solutions it needs to compete. From migrating your platform to Swift or updating some of your legacy programs with Objective-C, we can do it all. When you choose Flint Hills Group for your project, you can be sure that you are working with a reliable, US-created product. Our team is receptive, highly communicative, and flexible enough to provide solutions in whatever programming language works for your project. No matter how trends and new programming languages rise and fall- our team will provide support through it all. Contact us today to see how our services spanning mobile apps, cloud-hosted software and IoT solutions can help you grow and succeed with your business.