Apple Swift

Swift is the multiparadigmenny object-oriented programming language created by Apple company for IOS and OS X. Swift developers works with frameworks of Cocoa and Cocoa Touch and is compatible to the main code base of Apple written on Objective-C. Swift thought as safer language in comparison with Objective-C.

2015

Opening of the source code of the Swift language

On December 3, 2015 the Apple corporation opened the source code of the Swift programming language and also added support of Linux.

Many practices connected with the Swift language, including the code of the compiler, standard and basic libraries of functions, the debugger and the package manager of Swift Package Manager, became property of the public. The source code opened under the licenses Apache 2.0 is laid out in GitHub service.

"After Apple provided Swift, it became one of the most fast-growing programming languages in the history. Using Swift it is easy to write the software, incredibly fast and safe. Now, when Swift has an open source code, you can help to make the best programming language for the general needs available everywhere", said in the statement of Apple.

Apple opened the source code of the Swift programming language and also added support of Linux

Within transformation of Swift into the Open Source project the website swift.org which during the first hours had problems with access in connection with big influx of visitors was started. On this portal developers can communicate and leave comments on the projects created through Swift.

Using possibilities of this programming language, it is possible to develop applications for all operating systems of Apple, including iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS. The Swift tools are available not only to OS X, but also to Linux.

Swift will develop as the full open project under the direction of Apple which by the beginning of December, 2015 is his only developer. In process of involvement in the project of independent participants and other companies, managing positions the programmers who are not connected with Apple will be able to take in it.

Statement for plans of opening of the Swift code

On June 8, 2015 the Apple company announced opening of the source codes which are the cornerstone of the Swift programming language. This Open Source project is not the first for the American producer, but the largest.

According to the statement which was made by the senior vice president of Apple for the software Craig Federighi at the WWDC 2015 conference (on June 8-12) in San Francisco, source codes of Swift will be opened until the end of 2015. This announcement caused a storm of applause in the hall where the most part of attendees was made by developers.

Apple took a big step towards open technologies, having announced distribution of Swift within the Open Source project

Apple will open source codes of the compiler Swift and standard libraries under one of permissive open licenses approved by the OSI organization (Open Source Initiative). Tools for writing of software in this programming language will be delivered not only for iOS and Mac OS X, but also for Linux. Porting of language on Windows is in the future possible. The company did not confirm it and only noted that Apple intends to urge developers to make a contribution to development of Swift and to encourage them.

Though the American corporation offers several open software products long ago, the most part of its software does not belong to the class Open Source. Moreover, Apple is known for the closed ecosystem. Having given to community an opportunity to expand functionality of Swift by means of the tools, the Californian giant took a big step towards open technologies.

"Thinking of Apple begins to change — the analyst of IDC Al Hilwa says. — The company understands that Open Source and strategy sending to Swift to other platforms are the best method of distribution of language. The open source code assumes a set of advantages to producers".

As notes the Bloomberg agency, about what to wait from disclosure of source codes of Swift for, it will be clear only after Apple provides more parts. There is a set of different licenses under which open projects can extend, and each of them assumes certain opportunities for developers. Besides, open is a question concerning the strategy of interaction of Apple with community.^[1]

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