In a June 10 keynote presentation at Apple’s World Extensive Builders Convention, Ted Kremenek, Apple director of languages and runtimes, argued that Swift is the most effective programming language to switch C++.
Swift was launched by Apple in 2014 because the successor to Goal-C, and Kremenek believes it should overtake C++ as properly. “Swift’s security, velocity, and approachability, mixed with built-in C and C++ interoperability, imply Swift is your best option to succeed C++,” Kremenek mentioned.
C++ and C have drawn fireplace from the White Home, which launched a report in February urging builders to maneuver to memory-safe programming languages. Apple is dedicated to adopting Swift in its personal C++ code bases, Kremenek mentioned. Previous to Swift, software program on Apple’s units was written utilizing C, C++, and Goal-C.
Apple this week introduced plans emigrate Swift to a devoted GitHub group, github.com/swiftlang. Swift 6, which is deliberate for launch this yr, guarantees to make concurrent programming safer and simpler by way of full knowledge race security. A knowledge race occurs when completely different components of code attempt to modify and entry the identical knowledge on the identical time.
“Swift 6 eliminates these sorts of bugs by diagnosing them at compile time,” Kremenek mentioned. A brand new language mode in Swift 6 language mode will allow compile-time knowledge race security. As a result of knowledge race security might require modifications to code, the brand new Swift 6 language mode is opt-in. Apple beforehand highlighted knowledge race security in Swift 5.10 in March, advising that the opt-in mode deliberate for Swift 6 enforces full knowledge isolation by default.
Additionally deliberate for Swift 6 is expanded Linux help, overlaying the Debian and Fedora Linux distributions, and improved help for Home windows. Generics are also eyed for enchancment in Swift 6, with a brand new subset deliberate for concentrating on constrained environments comparable to OS kernels and microcontrollers. Apple is also investing in Swift help in Microsoft’s Visible Studio Code editor and different editors that leverage the Language Server Protocol.
With the creation of github.com/swiftlang, Apple believes it’s creating an much more conducive setting for collaboration and innovation. As a primary step, Apple was set to maneuver the swift-evolution repository on June 10, with different repositories transitioning in coming weeks. Tasks such because the Swift compiler and key libraries will likely be hosted on the GitHub web site.
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