Swift, first released in 2014, was developed by Apple Inc. and the open-source community. Its purpose is to serve as a replacement for Apple’s previous programming language, Objective-C, which — at the time of Swift’s development — lacked modern language features. However, an important aspect of Swift’s design is the ability to interoperate with existing Objective-C code previously developed for Apple products.
Swift employs modern programming concepts and offers a simpler syntax than that of Objective-C. Some additional features of Swift include closure support, string support, access control, optionals and chaining, value types, protocol-oriented programming, libraries, runtime, and development, memory management, and debugging.
The Apple website states, “Swift is a fast and efficient language that provides real-time feedback and can be seamlessly incorporated into existing Objective-C code. So developers are able to write safer, more reliable code, save time, and create even richer app experiences.” Famous apps built using Swift include Lyft, Khan Academy, LinkedIn, Kickstarter, and Eventbrite.
But even for its benefits, Swift has some disadvantages. The most notable include poor interoperability with third-party tools and IDEs and lack of support for earlier iOS versions. Additionally, some experts express concern that the language is limited to native libraries and tools and becomes unstable after every release.
Swift has been compared to various other languages, especially Python because they are both highly popular and simple to use with a clear syntax that resembles the English language. Additionally, they both have a RELP environment, which helps in debugging. And they are both multi-paradigm and include tools to make learning easier. They are also different in that Swift is more appropriate for developing software for the Apple ecosystem, while Python is mainly used for backend development.
In this article, you will learn, among other things, how to hire a Swift developer.
Technical expertise and Apple design sensibilities
One of the biggest challenges of working with a newer language is that the talent pool for it is still limited and significantly smaller than that for other, more established languages. Yet, that doesn’t mean there aren’t good Swift developers.
Those that are familiar with the language are typically good at spatial reasoning, which is essential for app development. A good Swift developer also appreciates Apple’s design guidelines and is able to adhere to them.
The ability to think like the end-user, along with user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) knowledge are also essential. Good Swift developers are very attuned to design concepts generally and are able to create unique app designs.
Good Swift developers are also aware of JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) and understand how data is exchanged. They also understand Core Data, which is essential for a smooth user experience.
How to choose a Swift developer
Swift developers should exhibit the skills mentioned above and have the right soft skills as well. They include the ability to work well on a team, the ability to clearly communicate their ideas to colleagues and clients, an innovative mindset, patience, and dedication to the task at hand. Choose a developer who has these attributes, and they will likely be a good addition to your team.
Interview Questions
The following questions are just a few employers can use to assess the skill level of potential Swift developers.
What is iOS Swift?
Swift is a programming language developed by Apple that helps developers create mobile and desktop apps. The Swift language works with Cocoa Touch and Cocoa and supports many operating systems, including FreeBSD, Linux, and Darwin. It’s compatible with the Objective-C library and Cocoa framework.
What are some differences between Swift and Objective-C?
- Swift is object-oriented and functional, while Objective-C is a class-based object-oriented programming language.
- Swift is open-source, while Objective-C isn’t.
- Semicolons are required in Objective-C, but not in Swift.
- Swift supports Tuples, but Objective-C doesn’t.
- Swift supports dynamic libraries, but Objective-C doesn’t.
- Swift uses the “let” keyword to declare for constant while Objective-C uses “int.” Additionally, Swift uses the “var” keyword to declare for a variable while Objective-C uses “NSString.”
- Swift allows developers to define methods of structure, classes, or enumeration. Objective-C doesn’t allow it.
What are the common execution states for a Swift iOS app?
- Not running – the app isn’t launched or is completely switched off
- Inactive – the app is running in the background and not able to receive events
- Active – the app is running and able to receive events
- Background – the app is running and able to execute code in the background
- Suspended – the app is running in the background and can’t execute code
What is a tuple?
A tuple is an ordered list of elements, a group of values within a single compound value. You can access the object data in a tuple by name or by position. A tuple can support values of both integer and string types.
Job Description
We are looking for Swift developers to join our development team and participate in a variety of projects. We are seeking team players who can handle being part of a passionate, driven group. This position is an excellent opportunity for individuals to use their high-level skills and results-oriented attitudes to provide the best experiences to clients.
Responsibilities
- Design and build applications for iOS and OS X
- Ensure the performance, quality, and responsiveness of applications
- Collaborate with a team to define, design, and ship new features
- Identify and correct bottlenecks and fix bugs
- Help maintain code quality, organization, and automatization
- [Add other relevant responsibilities here]
Skills and Qualifications
- Proficient in Swift, with a good knowledge of its ecosystems
- Solid understanding of object-oriented programming
- Experience with Cocoa APIs on OS X
- Good knowledge of performance limits and characteristics
- Knowledge of memory management and multi-threading
- Experience with embedded databases and other system datastores
- Familiarity with RESTful APIs to connect to back-end services
- Good sense of UI design and a user-oriented focus
- Knowledge of low-level C-based libraries is a plus
- Implementation of automated testing platforms and unit tests
- Knack for benchmarking and optimization
- Understanding of Apple’s design principles and interface guidelines
- Proficient understanding of code versioning tools, including Git, Mercurial, and SVN
- Familiarity with continuous integration
- [Mention any frameworks, libraries, or any other technology relevant to your project]
- [List education level or certification you require]
