Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

iOS

Posted by Sebastian Velandia
Sebastian Velandia
24,676 Points

Why are 2 courses of iOS development?

Hello Im new here in treehouse and I wonder why are 2 different courses of iOS development...

I see one is working with objetive-c and the otherone is working with swift, I know are different languages but I want to know the differences and advantages, I mean if I learn built apps with objetive-c is necessary learn built apps with swift? are both necessary? or its just a choice of the developer?

Thanks

2 Answers

Ricardo Hill-Henry
Ricardo Hill-Henry
38,443 Points

Swift is Apple's newer language. It was released to the public a few days ago, but developers have been able to work with a beta version for a few months. Simplified, Swift is a more modern, and easier to use version of Objective-C. Because Objective-C was created decades ago, Apple decided it would be a better idea to make a more modern language, instead of trying to make constant updates to Objective-C to make it seem like it was keeping up with the times. If you have no prior programming experience, and want to dabble with iOS development, Swift is a good option to begin with. The entry level is a lot easier than Objective-C, which I would say makes you learn both C and itself to be an efficient iOS developer.

Ideally, you could learn them sort of learn them together. The beauty is, Swift is backwards compatible, so older iOS devices can run Swift code. You can also use Objective-C and Swift code interchangeably in a single project.

Sebastian Velandia
Sebastian Velandia
24,676 Points

Ok so if I will start with swift =b thanks a lot for your answer

Ricardo Hill-Henry
Ricardo Hill-Henry
38,443 Points

I think going through the Swift basics and function course; then go through the simple app project. Afterwards, try switching over to Objective-C, and finishing it's fundamentals course, then the simple app course. This way you can the similarities and differences between the languages, as well how to accomplish the similar tasks in both languages.

There's also a free book in the app store "Swift Programming Language" published by Apple. I recommend downloading it.

Iago Wandalsen Prates
Iago Wandalsen Prates
21,699 Points
Iago Wandalsen Prates
Iago Wandalsen Prates
21,699 Points

Swift is a new language, that Apple released this year, and just came out of beta. If you learn Objective-C, its most likely you wont need to learn Swift, at least for a good amount of time, but the tendency is people start using Swift more and more, as it is a easier language to learn, less error prone, and faster to develop. Objective-C is like 30 years old language, which has a positive side that lots of errors are well documented on how to fix, for example. If you need to deploy a iOS app asap, I'd say go with Objective-C, but if you are going for the long run, Swift is most likely to be more useful.

Sebastian Velandia
Sebastian Velandia
24,676 Points

Thanks for your answer =)