Is Swift easier to learn than Objective C?

Answer 1

TLDR: Yes if you're new to iOS / coding. Not that much easier, if you're building applications at scale / are well versed already in Objective-C.

I would agree with Liam in that difficulty depends on your experience. As a current iOS Engineer, I code almost exclusively in Swift though I initially learned iOS using Objective-C.

If you are new to iOS / coding in general or picking up a new language, I would say that Swift's syntax can be easier to digest and write. It reads like a scripting language, without compromising Type Safety.

If you're transitioning from an Objective-C background, it can be a bit more challenging. I've noticed some seasoned iOS devs sometimes struggle around broader concepts like moving from Inheritance-based Object Oriented to the Protocol Oriented pattern encouraged by Swift.

There are many more nuances to this, but hopefully I answered at least some of your question. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Good luck!

Answer 2

If you are starting from scratch and don't know either one, I'd say Swift is slightly easier. The syntax is a little simpler and more like normal written English. But, in the scheme of things, it's really just learning different syntax. Swift has a few added bells and whistles but knowing good programming fundamentals is 90% of the battle.

Answer 3

Hello, Lee. I don't know either language, but I have known their shared ancestor, C, since 1992, and have learned and used numerous programming languages since 1983.

How you learn a thing, and the difficulty of learning, depends on your past experience. Seymour Papert as a small boy was fascinated by gears. Later, this enabled him to understand other concepts in terms of analogies to gears. Papert wrote this ( http://www.papert.org/articles/GearsOfMyChildhood.html ) in the book Mindstorms, and that book was used as a textbook for staff in a computer programming day camp I attended and later staffed in my teen years. And now, decades later, I am understanding learning in terms of Seymour Papert and his gears.

Your motivation is a factor, too. When you are strongly motivated, whether by practical concerns or because the language is pleasing to you, it'll be easier to learn.

Community also helps. Do you know people, in person or online, who know the language and are supportive?

You'll get additional answers, but hopefully my answer will also be helpful alongside theirs. Best wishes to you!