SWIFT - Apples Next-Gen Programming Language - Some Features to know

Swift, the innovative programming language of Apple is the result of four years of hard work as well as dedication of developers. It is touted to replace Objective-C so that it becomes the main language for the development of apps on OSX as well as iOS platforms. Swift boasts of incorporating features from several modern languages such as Haskell, C# and Python so that the end result proves to be appealing to young developers. There is full binary compatibility between the language and the current Objective-C libraries; it also works well with Cocoa frameworks. Some distinctive features of the language are given here.

Accessibility- New programmers found it really hard to master the notorious Objective-C which is a far-cry from Swift. The coding is easy as well as interactive with expressive but concise syntax. APIs are easily legible as well as maintainable. The code is cleaner with fewer tendencies for mistakes. Headers are eliminated by modules which provide namespaces. Memory can be managed automatically with no need for typing of semi-colons.

Functions- With functions almost every imaginable feature can be incorporated such as default types, optional types, optional arguments, named arguments, varargs along with awkward parameters which may be altered from the function’s inside. Functions may be used as substitutes for types as well as variables.

Safe designing- With Swift, if the code is unsafe then the entire class will be eliminated. Before the variables are used they are initialized, memory management is done automatically with integers as well as arrays checked for overflow. The safe patterns are minutely tuned. It is really easy to understand and handle cases with nil objects properly. The compiler can stop bugs that are type-related so that certain sites are optimized. The use of vtable dispatch makes a faster running code. All these make the building of apps not only easy but safe as well.

Interactive playgrounds- With playgrounds, writing of Swift code becomes fun as well as simple. Just by typing a single line of code you will get the result immediately. In case, the running of a code is over time like through loops, its progress may be observed in timeline assistant which displays each step with details as well as precision. Playgrounds help in designing of new algorithm and creating new tests which can be verified before they are promoted in the test suite; you can also experiment with APIs so that the coding skills can be honed.

String templating- The templating system of the language becomes sleek with escaped open parenthesis which is then followed by an expression for evaluation. A closed parenthesis is what follows it after. This functionality is in fact offered by just a few keystrokes. This feature is reminiscent of templating system of JSP as well as Cold Fusion.

Extensions- Extensions are quite similar to prototypes in C# or Javascript extension since an existing class can be retrofit with new properties or methods.

Switch statement- The zero default fall through makes switch statement really powerful. This statement can help developers switch on several kinds of conditions that include list of elements, enums, ranges, Boolean expression, etc.

Generics- The feature named by Apple as Generics is a really powerful one that allows the creation of functions which perform generic tasks that may work for several variable types. The programmer can now have a piece of generic code that performs same operation no matter what the type of variable is passed to it; the function is not limited to accept a single variable type.

Since the language has been unleashed recently, the features are still very new to most developers. But since Apple has worked very hard to ensure that developers find everything smooth and easy, adopting it should not pose much problem. Overall, the new methods and tools incorporated in the language certainly allow easy performance of actions with more concise, shorter codes. To get maximum benefits of mobile apps, you may consider hiring services of a certified iPhone app development company.

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Mobile app usage and the surge in android app development

With mobiles as well as smartphones becoming an indispensible part of our lives, so has the concept of mobile apps. This software application is so designed that it can function on hand-held devices such as mobiles, smartphones, tablets, etc. Most of these devices operate on platforms like iOS, Android and Windows OS.

There are two ways to provide several business solutions through the devices- mobile applications as well as WAP or mobile browser. However, according to the recent surveys, it has been seen that most users prefer using native apps instead of the browser. In fact, it is also been seen that each day users spend 2 hours 42 minutes on their smartphones with 2 hours 19 minutes been spent on the applications. The web usage has drastically dropped to 22 minutes. Some of the reasons for which this usage has increased are given here.

• Apps work offline; there is no need for active data connection unlike WAP sites.
• An app provides a much better as well as more powerful experience when compared to the others; it is free from the worries like data connection speed, sizes of various mobile screens and limited storage space.
• Close connectivity is maintained with users through notifications on the release of updated versions. Also since such apps make users stick to the applications, it results in high levels of engagement.

Now most developers when developing mobile applications have to decide which one of the three platforms they have to cater to. These days, the trend is more towards Android. Some reasons for this trend are given here.

Open source- One huge reason for the extreme popularity of Android is that the platform is open source. Thus neither its development can be restricted nor any changes can be introduced that may prove to hamper your interests. Developers can fully access the functionality of the phone including receiving or sending texts, handling phones calls or using cameras. All the brand new technologies can be introduced by several developers working on it.

More users meaning more market share- Each day, thousands of people buy Android phones which are cost-effective and easily accessible. In fact, the number of users is increasing steadily. This means that with more users, when developers address the platform they can tap a larger market share. If the market is larger, then more people can be reached; more people will buy and use your applications and products. Developers may be sure that whatever product they have developed will not remain unused if the platform for which it has been developed loses popularity and Android will not be losing its popularity so soon. In fact, it will only rise due to the cost effectiveness. The amazing price points will only lead to the growth of the market share of Android.

Cheaper app submission- From the developer’s point of view, submitting apps to Android Market is definitely cheaper. The cost for submission to Android Market is just a onetime $25 fee while for the iOS platform it will set you back by an annual fee of $99.

Multiple stores- Android gives you easy access to several app stores; this means you can submit to various markets including China, Korea, etc.

Easy development procedure- By virtue of AppsGeyser you can easily make full native apps within a matter of minutes. This removes a lot of headache from the point of view of the developers.

Mobile apps, especially Android apps are big steps when the innovation angle is being considered. Android acts as the perfect ground for testing so that their apps can be honed as well as refined. In fact even the app store of Amazon is based on Android which makes it easier for developers to submit things to Amazon. If you are planning to hire service of Android development services company India, you must evaluate them to see if they are sufficiently agile or not!

We provide Android mobile app development services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified Android developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.