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Swift (iOS/macOS) is back on top: why do developers love it more than any other?
StackOverflow's annual developer survey has once again confirmed the status of Swift as one of the most desired and loved tools in the programming world. In 2024, Swift took leading positions in the "Most Loved" category — a language that developers would want to use again and again. This is not a coincidence, but a natural result of the evolution of the Apple ecosystem and the language itself.
What did the StackOverflow 2024 survey show?
More than 65,000 developers from around the world participated in the survey. Swift confidently entered the top 3 most loved languages, maintaining its position for the last few years. Notably, Swift consistently outperforms languages such as Rust, Python, and JavaScript in terms of developer satisfaction.
- Swift (iOS/macOS) — 73% of respondents using Swift stated that they love this language.
- Rust — 72% (eternal competitor for first place).
- Python — 68% (popularity is growing due to Data Science).
- Kotlin — 67% (main competitor in mobile development).
Why do developers love Swift so much?
The reasons for the high love for Swift lie in several key aspects:
- Modern syntax — Swift offers clean, expressive, and safe code. Developers note that writing in Swift is "pleasant" — it is concise and readable.
- Safety and performance — strong typing and memory management (ARC) reduce the number of errors, and execution speed approaches C++.
- SwiftUI — a declarative framework for creating interfaces for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. It radically simplifies UI development and makes code more predictable.
- Apple ecosystem — Swift is the primary language for all Apple platform development. Stability and long-term support from Apple provide confidence in the future.
- Community and open source — Swift has been open source since 2015, attracting developers from around the world. Regular updates and community involvement keep the language alive.
Swift — not just for mobile applications
Although Swift is traditionally associated with iOS/macOS, its application extends far beyond mobile development:
- Server-side development — the Vapor framework allows you to create high-performance web servers in Swift.
- Education — Apple actively promotes Swift in schools and universities through the "Everyone Can Code" program.
- Tools and libraries — Swift Package Manager (SPM) simplifies dependency management, and SwiftLint and other utilities make development comfortable.
What does this mean for developers?
Swift's leadership in the StackOverflow ranking is a signal to the market. If you are looking for a language that:
- Is highly valued by employers (especially in the iOS/macOS field).
- Promises a long-term career thanks to the stable Apple ecosystem.
- Brings enjoyment to the programming process.
then Swift is your choice. Even if you currently work with Python or JavaScript, getting to know Swift will broaden your horizons and add
