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Definitely seems like Swift is losing right now to things like React Native and Cordova, but it's not because Swift isn't good, but it isn't Javascript. Put as
by 0xCMP 8y ago
Definitely seems like Swift is losing right now to things like React Native and Cordova, but it's not because Swift isn't good, but it isn't Javascript.
Put aside feelings about Javascript and realize that everything is heading towards Javascript for websites, apps, scripts, command line tools, browsers, and etc.
It's hard for Swift to compete, like Go and Rust are for instance, when it's current best use is to make apps for a single platform. They don't have the vast number of libraries and active maintainers Javascript has. That along with Swift itself constantly changing (along the same timeframe Go has maintained it's 1.x guarantee and Javascript has maintained compatibility at all costs) and I've just recently heard that while Swift appears like a more powerful Javascript at first the more complicated features rapidly intermingle in strange ways that the code does not do enough to make clear.
Swift by no means is dead, but it's not the right tool right now for most people. Most have to develop the backend and web app first and then they go to iOS. With React Native many don't even need to know Swift to do the 2nd step.
- briandear 8y agoEverything is not moving towards JavaScript. In some large subset of development, sure. And server-side Swift is incredible and still relatively obscure. Where performance at scale matters, JavaScript is often a bad choice despite ubiquity.
- 0xCMP 8y agoYes, maybe not _everything_ but the trends of Javascript being used everywhere and for replacing Swift & co. are there. While I prefer native apps over JS ones it certainly seems that developing on JS apps, whether they're Electron, React Native, or other, has a much faster development cycle and they're winning on flexibility, features, and ease of customization.
- mamcx 8y agoI wish Apple were more proactive to support swift on linux/windows, even without UI, just all the core and non-UI libs. If iOS is their cash-cow it will allow to make a stronger case for people that are apple-first, lure some from other places and any potential loss will become small. And if suddenly any other (MS? Google?) improve on it it will validate it more.