Apple wants to improve Android apps with Swift language

There are distinct differences between how iOS apps are developed versus how Android apps are developed. Specifically, iOS apps are built on Swift, while Android apps primarily use Kotlin. This also makes the overall experience of an app different across the two platforms. Now, Swift is officially making its way to the Android world — and it could have a big impact on the app ecosystem.

 

Swift Officially Supports Android

Apple's open-source programming language Swift is expanding its reach to the Android operating system. The initiative is led by the Swift Project's "Android Working Group," which is tasked with establishing Swift for Android app development. While developers have previously been able to write Android apps in Swift through third-party tools, this is the first time the Swift Project has officially adopted and supported the Android platform.

 

The Android Working Group has set out a clear 'charter' with several key goals to help Swift 'establish itself as a first-class citizen' in the Android programming world. The main goal is to improve and maintain Android support in the official Swift distribution, which will remove the need for developers to rely on unofficial or modified versions of the language. The group will also focus on enhancing core Swift packages like Foundation and Dispatch to better integrate with the established conventions of the Android platform. This will be crucial to ensuring that Swift apps not only run on Android, but also feel native to the operating system.

 

Additionally, the Android Working Group will work with the Platform Steering Group to formally define the level of support Android will receive and will work to meet those standards. Other important tasks of the group include defining the scope of Android API levels and supported processor architectures, and establishing continuous integration for the Swift project including rigorous testing on Android.

In summary, the main objectives of the project include:

1. Upgrade and maintain Android support in the official Swift distribution, eliminating the need to use unofficial versions
2. Optimized Swift core packages (Foundation, Dispatch) for better integration with Android development conventions
3. Work with the Platform Steering Group to determine the level of official support for Android
4. Defines support for Android API levels and processor architectures
5. Set up a continuous integration (CI) pipeline with rigorous testing on Android

This is a major step forward: While most major apps support both Android and iOS, developers often prioritize iOS as their primary market. Swift's official Android support will:

1. Does not mean "minimal effort" to port apps between two platforms (due to many differences beyond the source code)
2. Significantly optimize development process
3. Makes it easier to port apps from iOS to Android

We'll have to wait and see what the concrete results are in real-world implementation, but the initiative promises to bridge the gap between the two largest mobile platforms, make it easier for developers to build cross-platform apps, and ultimately spur innovation in the Android ecosystem.