Swift Achieved Dynamic Linking Where Rust Couldn't (2019)

I have heard great things about Swift but haven't spent a second looking into it because I assumed it's an Apple exclusive language - making it unsuitable for my use case of services deployed on Linux, developed from any OS.

To what extent, if any, is Swift exclusive to Apple devices?

Re: Swift Achieved Dynamic Linking Where Rust Couldn't (2019)

#5

Post by ChrisMarshallNY » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 11:37 PM UTC

This is an excellent write-up!

Re: Swift Achieved Dynamic Linking Where Rust Couldn't (2019)

#6

Post by ChrisMarshallNY » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 11:38 PM UTC

apatheticonion wrote: post #4

I have heard great things about Swift but haven't spent a second looking into it because I assumed it's an Apple exclusive language - making it unsuitable for my use case of services deployed on Linux, developed from any OS. To what extent, if any, is Swift exclusive to Apple devices?

I'd say that it isn't particularly useful, outside of the Apple ecosystem, but I do know that there has been Linux, and even Windows, support.

In my case, I don't really care, as I program Apple native.

I think it's an excellent language. I enjoy writing in it. I write Swift, every day.

Re: Swift Achieved Dynamic Linking Where Rust Couldn't (2019)

#7

Post by stalfosknight » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 11:38 PM UTC

apatheticonion wrote: post #4

I have heard great things about Swift but haven't spent a second looking into it because I assumed it's an Apple exclusive language - making it unsuitable for my use case of services deployed on Linux, developed from any OS. To what extent, if any, is Swift exclusive to Apple devices?

It’s open source under the Apache license. It has support for Windows, Linux, and Android too.

Re: Swift Achieved Dynamic Linking Where Rust Couldn't (2019)

#8

Post by zyang » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 11:43 PM UTC

apatheticonion wrote: post #4

I have heard great things about Swift but haven't spent a second looking into it because I assumed it's an Apple exclusive language - making it unsuitable for my use case of services deployed on Linux, developed from any OS. To what extent, if any, is Swift exclusive to Apple devices?

Swift is backed by LLVM and Linux solid is pretty solid. The cross platform problem has always been the core libraries. Fortunately a pure Swift core foundation rewrite is underway. https://www.swift.org/blog/future-of-foundation/

Re: Swift Achieved Dynamic Linking Where Rust Couldn't (2019)

#9

Post by zokier » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 11:47 PM UTC

apatheticonion wrote: post #4

I have heard great things about Swift but haven't spent a second looking into it because I assumed it's an Apple exclusive language - making it unsuitable for my use case of services deployed on Linux, developed from any OS. To what extent, if any, is Swift exclusive to Apple devices?

At one point IBM attempted to make swift viable on the sever-side: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21808619

Re: Swift Achieved Dynamic Linking Where Rust Couldn't (2019)

#10

Post by jeroenhd » Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 11:55 PM UTC

zyang wrote: post #8

apatheticonion wrote: post #4

I have heard great things about Swift but haven't spent a second looking into it because I assumed it's an Apple exclusive language - making it unsuitable for my use case of services deployed on Linux, developed from any OS. To what extent, if any, is Swift exclusive to Apple devices?

Swift is backed by LLVM and Linux solid is pretty solid. The cross platform problem has always been the core libraries. Fortunately a pure Swift core foundation rewrite is underway. https://www.swift.org/blog/future-of-foundation/

Looks like I may eventually give Swift a try once the rewrite is done! I've been watching Swift for a while now but I don't have a Mac so I haven't had a reason to try it.

Do you happen to have any idea about UI library support? Will UI still be Apple only?