One of the many possible ways to build an iOS app is through the programming language Objective C. Built in the 1980s, Objective C has had a great journey providing the programming support to many programs on devices made by Apple. Looking at its popularity and how well it understood Apple devices, it was only a matter of time before Apple acquired the company that owned the rights of the programming language based on C.
Despite having 4 different programming language options to build programs for iOS devices, Apple seems to have a soft corner for its oldest member in the club. Both Swift and Xcode are modern day languages that are intuitive and fast. But it's Objective C that powers most iOS apps in today’s times.
Benefits of an App Made of Objective C
With the introduction of Swift in 2014, there were lots of speculations about Objective C being obsolete. Not only that has not happened, Objective C has gained more popularity due to the rise in the number of apps used in a device. This could be down to the legacy and also the simplicity of the language. But there are some key benefits of an app that is built on Objective C. Let us have a look at some of them here.
Compatible with APIs
APIs are the new age solutions to every problem when it comes to building apps. There are many instances while developing an app you would come across a functionality that is repetitive and lengthy in codes. Many times you would want to add a functionality much after the coding is finished. For all those instances, incorporating an API is the ideal solution.
Objective C works very fine with APIs when you need to add a custom solution to your program. Objective C is easier to connect and better compatible with private APIs compared to let’s say Swift.
Cross Platform
While Swift is specific to apps on iOS, any app developed on Objective C can also be compatible with other platforms. This is quite helpful if a business wants to have two versions of the same app. In that case, all the files, codes and other supporting material can be used for the other platform as well.
This versatility makes Objective C a popular choice among both businesses as well as developers offering iOS app development service as they only have to build an app once. The only thing they have to take care of is the adaptability in the user interface across the platform as much of the backend remains the same.
Compatible with Swift
Apple claims apps developed on Swift to be a lot faster than the ones developed on Python or Objective C. Despite the tall claims, Apple is a bit soft on cross compatibility. Programs written in Swift run smoothly on an app that is developed on Objective C. This is a deliberate effort to not lose out on hundreds of thousands of apps that are already built on Objective C.
Legacy Support
Objective C is probably one of the oldest programming languages out there. It has a direct cohesion with C and C++. Since it belongs to the same ownership that also makes the iOS software and devices, the support on offer is second to none. There are forums, discussion panels and an official blog to figure out any possible query you may have regarding the language.
Apart from that, what matters the most is the stability. Objective C is a tried and tested language. It does not have rapid and wholesome updates like many younger programming languages do. Swift for instance has introduced some features in the form of updates that require a lot of modification on the programming aspect of the app. Objective C on the other hand offers subtle changes and updates that do not force you to overhaul your code.
Verdict
There are times when running behind the future does not make a lot of sense. Both Swift and Objective C are among the 20 most used programming languages in the world. While Apple seems to be betting hard on Swift, it is worth noting that programmers still have not showered their love on it yet. For the last decade and a half, Objective C has been the de facto programming language for building apps on iOS devices. This has built a certain legacy that is difficult to overcome for platform specific technologies like Swift. Whatever the future may be, at present, Objective C continues to serve businesses just fine.
