Excerpts from how we developed (and subsequently open sourced) Uber's cross-platform mobile architecture framework, RIBs , going from Objective-C to Swift in the process for iOS: https://github.com/uber/RIBs
Uber’s new application architecture (RIBs) extensively uses protocols to keep its various components decoupled and testable. We used this architecture for the first time in our new rider application and moved our primary language from Objective-C to Swift. Since Swift is a very static language, unit testing became problematic. Dynamic languages have good frameworks to build test mocks, stubs, or stand-ins by dynamically creating or modifying existing concrete classes.
Needless to say, we were not very excited about the additional complexity of manually writing and maintaining mock implementations for each of our thousands of protocols.
The information required to generate mock classes already exists in the Swift protocol. For Uber’s use case, we set out to create tooling that would let engineers automatically generate test mocks for any protocol they wanted by simply annotating them.
The iOS codebase for our rider application alone incorporates around 1,500 of these generated mocks. Without our code generation tool, all of these would have to be written and maintained by hand, which would have made testing much more time-intensive. Auto-generated mocks have contributed a lot to the unit test coverage that we have today.
We built these code generation tools ourselves for a number of reasons, including that there weren’t many open source tools available at the time we started our effort. Today, there are some great open source tools to generate resource accessors, like SwiftGen. And Sourcery can help you with generic code generation needs:
https://eng.uber.com/code-generation/https://eng.uber.com/driver-app-ribs-architecture/
(GitHub : https://github.com/uber/RIBs )
FAQs
Other important factors to consider when researching alternatives to Xcode include user interface and software development. We have compiled a list of solutions that reviewers voted as the best overall alternatives and competitors to Xcode, including Visual Studio, Eclipse, NetBeans, and Android Studio.
Is VSCode better than Xcode? ›
Choosing between Xcode and VSCode
However, VS Code is better if you work as a web developer or software developer in a language other than Swift and ObjC. Programming Language: Xcode integrates well with Apple's preferred programming languages, Swift and Objective-C.
Which IDE is best for Swift? ›
CodeRunner
This is one of the best and most popular Swift IDEs you can use to build iOS applications. CodeRunner is devised only for iOS, so it doesn't extend cross-platform support. However, you can use this IDE when working on multiple Swift projects. It helps focus on multiple projects and task panes at once.
Which is better, Xcode or Swift? ›
Swift is a cross-platform programming language for Apple devices, Linux, and Windows. XCode only supports iOS devices like iPhone, iPad, MacOs, tvOS, and WatchOS. Swift is a modern language. It uses shorter syntaxes than other programming languages.
Is AppCode better than Xcode? ›
If you're deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and primarily work with Swift and Objective-C, Xcode is a strong choice due to its official support and seamless integration. However, if you value advanced code assistance, cross-language support, and extensive refactoring capabilities, AppCode could be the IDE for you.
Do you really need Xcode? ›
For those who want to create high-quality content, XCode can make the process easier for you if you're working with anything Apple-related. It offers a fully unified workflow that focuses on the user interface. That means everything from design, coding, and testing to debugging.
Is Swift better than Python? ›
Swift is comparatively faster than Python. Python language has a high processing time as compared to Swift, C++ or Java. Swift is a general-purpose, powerful and compiled programming language. Python is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language.
Can Xcode run C++? ›
Apple supports C++ with the Apple Clang compiler (included in Xcode) and the libc++ C++ standard library runtime (included in SDKs and operating systems). The compiler and runtime are regularly updated to offer new functionality, including many leading-edge features specified by the ISO C++ standard.
Why is VS Code so popular? ›
At its heart, Visual Studio Code features a lightning fast source code editor, perfect for day-to-day use. With support for hundreds of languages, VS Code helps you be instantly productive with syntax highlighting, bracket-matching, auto-indentation, box-selection, snippets, and more.
Should I start with Swift or SwiftUI? ›
Some beginners wonder whether they should learn Swift or SwiftUI. The answer is yes. Jokes aside, SwiftUI is a framework that allows you to build user interfaces for your apps. As the name suggests, it's based on the Swift language, which you should learn first.
The decision between Swift and Flutter ultimately comes down to the needs of your project and your long-term objectives. Some businesses even mix the two, utilizing Flutter for some UI elements or cross-platform functionalities and Swift for essential functions.
What is the best known IDE used by iOS developers? ›
Swift applications can be made for iOS devices using Xcode, a tool that Apple has released.
Can I write Swift without Xcode? ›
But now I wanted something more light-weight than Xcode for quick, un-sandboxed scripts. And so I looked into Visual Studio Code and Swift. Turns out, writing a command line swift App can easily be done on macOS, Linux and Windows with VS Code, some extensions and just a few dependencies.
Is Swift as powerful as C++? ›
Swift is an evolution of Objective C, whereas C++ is an evolution of C. C++ is known to many for its excellent performance and is typically somewhat faster than Swift code but due to Apple's OS dominance in the mobile space, creating mobile apps with C++ may be futile.
Can you do iOS development without Xcode? ›
Native iOS applications can only be built in Xcode (which can only run on a Mac), and you need a developer membership in order to deploy those on an actual device (which costs about $100 a year). So, that's the caveat: You can't make native apps.
Can I make an app without Xcode? ›
You can write code even in Windows or Linux, but you can't build and sign it there. Non-native platforms, like Flutter or React Native, won't make iOS builds without Mac either. Storyboards can be edited only in Xcode, so development without Xcode means development without Storyboards.
Do you need Xcode to make iOS apps? ›
To develop iOS apps, you need a Mac computer running the latest version of Xcode. Xcode is Apple's IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for both Mac and iOS apps. Xcode is the graphical interface you'll use to write iOS apps.
Is Xcode best for iOS development? ›
The best IDE for iOS development for you depends on your needs and preferences. Xcode is a good option if you are a beginner because it is the officially supported IDE. If you are an experienced developer, consider using a different IDE, such as AppCode or Xamarin.
