AI Tools for Swift (iOS/macOS) Development: 2024 Overview

Artificial Intelligence on the Side of the Swift Developer: Top Tools of 2024

Developing for iOS and macOS is not just SwiftUI and Combine, but also a huge amount of routine: writing boilerplate ViewControllers, configuring network requests with Codable, generating tests. In 2024, the Swift developer's arsenal has been replenished with powerful AI assistants. We tested four main tools and prepared an objective review for pythonlib.ru readers.

1. GitHub Copilot — a veteran with new tricks

The most popular neural network for code now perfectly understands Swift 5.9 and async/await. Copilot X, based on GPT-4, can not only complete lines but also explain someone else's code, refactor, and even write UI components in SwiftUI.

• Pros: deep integration with Xcode via a plugin; understands the entire project, not just the open file; generates correct modifiers and animations.
• Cons: paid subscription ($10/month); sometimes suggests outdated APIs (e.g., UIKit instead of SwiftUI).

2. Cursor AI — an editor that thinks for you

A specialized IDE based on VS Code with a powerful AI core. Cursor is great for Swift development if you work with SPM packages or macOS scripts. The main feature is the "Composer," which can rewrite an entire module based on a text instruction.

• Pros: works with any projects (including Xcode projects via the file system); context menu with "Explain Code" and "Fix Bug".
• Cons: no native support for Interface Builder; requires manual switching to Xcode for building.

3. Codeium — a free alternative to Copilot

For those who don't want to pay but need autocompletion. Codeium supports Swift, SwiftUI, and even Playgrounds. It works as an extension for Xcode via a third-party plugin.

• Pros: completely free for individual developers; fast autocompletion; good support for Swift Regular Expressions.
• Cons: less accurate than Copilot on complex constructs (e.g., Combine or Metal Shaders); sometimes suggests syntactically incorrect code.

4. Apple MLX — open-source framework for custom models

Not quite a ready-made tool, but rather a platform. Apple MLX allows you to train and run your own language models on a Mac with an Apple Silicon chip. Ideal for teams that want to train an AI on their own codebase.

• Pros: runs natively on Metal (uses the GPU most efficiently); open source; can be adapted to corporate coding standards.
• Cons: requires knowledge of Python and ML; not suitable for beginners; no ready-made models for Swift yet.

What to choose?

For a quick start and writing SwiftUI screens — go with GitHub Copilot. If the budget is limited — Codeium. For freelancers and working with CLI utilities on macOS — Cursor. And if you want to create your own "Swift bot" tailored to your project's specifics — study Apple MLX.

Follow the news on pythonlib.ru — we will continue testing neural networks for developers and publishing honest reviews.