Would you rather work with SwiftUI or UIKit?

UI frameworks are the key component of mobile app architecture. As Apple began utilizing the new SwiftUI framework with iOS 13, it is rapidly taking the place of UIKit which was once extensively used. SwiftUI, which promises to quickly and totally replace the more complicated UIKit, has attracted much attention since its release. Both frameworks have many advantages, but each has a unique set of downsides. Although each project may use SwiftUI or UIKit differently, Apple will probably start deprecating UIKit, considering that SwiftUI is more effectively tuned for modern devices and offers stronger code components.

As previously mentioned, each of these UI frameworks is unique, the critical point being that they are both helping developers create robust applications.

UIKit – CLASSIC

With the help of the UIKit framework, you can create user interfaces (UI) that can manage user, system, and app interactions while handling touch events and inputs. Many of your app\’s essential objects, like those that communicate with the operating system, control the main event loop, and present your content on the screen, are provided by UIKit. Most of these items are used directly or with very little modification. Implementing your program requires knowing which items to edit and when to modify them. Many of the fundamental types you use to define the model objects in your app are provided by the UIKit and Foundation frameworks. For arranging the data structures that belong in a disk-based file, UIKit offers a UIDocument object. The basic objects that represent texts, numbers, arrays, and other data types are defined by the Foundation framework. Many of these types included in the Foundation framework are also available in the Swift Standard Library.

UIKit was created and released using the Objective-C programming language. Even today, when programming for the iOS platform, you frequently encounter Objective-C code. Despite Swift being used by more and more programmers, the UIKit framework was still created with Objective-C in mind.

SwiftUI – WISED UP

Apple stunned every developer at WWDC 2019 by presenting a brand-new framework called SwiftUI. It affects more than simply how you create iOS apps. Since the release of Swift, this represented the most significant change to the Apple developer ecosystem (which includes iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS).

Even though being brand-new, SwiftUI has a familiar look and feel, although the concepts underpinning SwiftUI differ significantly from those of UIKit and AppKit. The framework includes all the elements you\’ll need to create user interfaces, including lists, stacks, buttons, pickers, and many other features you\’re already accustomed to from UIKit and AppKit. Additionally, it gives you the resources you need to add animations, gesture integration, and custom views.

Xcode users may now create an app\’s user interface using declarative Swift syntax, meaning that writing UI code is simpler and more natural. You may construct the same UI with far less code when compared to UI frameworks like UIKit.

With the help of SwiftUI, you can create user interfaces with less code. It is entirely software-based, unlike UIKit, which is frequently combined with storyboards. However, SwiftUI\’s syntax is relatively simple to comprehend, and if you want to inspect a SwiftUI project quickly, you can use Automatic Preview. SwiftUI has several restrictions and performs better on iOS 14 and iOS 15. On the other hand, UIKit allows you to support iOS 9.0. As a result, UIKit is more adaptable. When it comes to backward compatibility, it unquestionably defeats SwiftUI.

A FEW DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO FRAMEWORKS

You may use Interface Builder or code to define your whole UI with UIKit, and you can design a user interface by dragging and dropping numerous UIKit UI components using Xcode\’s Interface Builder.

Apple, however, has abandoned the Interface Builder in favor of Live Preview with SwiftUI. As you edit your SwiftUI code, a live preview is generated. Your UI code may be visually inspected using the Live Previews, and any changes you make to your code will be immediately reflected in the Live Preview.

As previously said, UIKit requires that you specify what will be displayed, when it will update, and how to switch between various UI states. This operates reactively with SwiftUI: What the user sees on the screen is more of a byproduct of updating the View structure and letting the system determine what needs to be done to update the screen to reflect this new state. For developers switching from UIKit to SwiftUI, this is one of the most challenging difficulties to overcome because it requires a different perspective.

Compared to SwiftUI, there is much more UIKit content accessible. However, this is steadily changing as more teams start using SwiftUI. The quantity of UIKit-based codebases that are now in existence must be considered. Many of these codebases simply cannot embrace SwiftUI because of supported version constraints lower than iOS 13. As a result, UIKit will continue to receive the majority of ongoing, practical development work for the foreseeable future.

You can get a lot of lovely animations and transitions for free using SwiftUI. While with UIKit you have to actively define animations within your code, aside from some of the basic changes. UIKit requires more work than SwiftUI to achieve a buttery smooth UI.

You must use SwiftUI if you wish to create widgets for iOS. When creating a widget, UIKit cannot be used, and a UIKit-based app can incorporate a SwiftUI-based widget. Just be mindful of the connection between widgets and SwiftUI. Widgets also offer a chance in this area: A widget can be a great place to start implementing SwiftUI in an otherwise entirely UIKit-based app. If a widget is necessary, SwiftUI coding is required.

SO, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Depending on your tastes and priorities of you as a developer, each framework has its advantages and offers a particular set of benefits. If you\’re more accustomed to the more cutting-edge and graphic-focused workflows from other platforms, you find it difficult to code views manually. If so, you might like what SwiftUI offers.

But what if you\’re searching for a tool that gives you the flexibility and capability to build complex solutions that expert developers can handle? Then, UIkit might be your best choice. You might need help to achieve the same level of control using SwiftUI while working with storyboards or even just nib files. And that\’s one of the key reasons why some people find it challenging to let go of it.

SwiftUI can get an advantage over UIKit in terms of longevity, but SwiftUI is also actively adding new features daily. Fortunately, you can combine these two frameworks to provide value while creating apps. Speaking of valuable apps, if you need great developers, feel free to reach out to us. At SnapStack, we\’re proud to say that we work with many talented and passionate individuals who offer customized solutions.

Happy holidays from the team of SnapStack Solutions, we wish you a happy and prosperous year, warmest thoughts, and best wishes!

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