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C++ VS Swift

Compare C++ VS Swift and see what are their differences

C++ logo C++

Has imperative, object-oriented and generic programming features, while also providing the facilities for low level memory manipulation

Swift logo Swift

Swift is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm, compiled programming language developed by Apple Inc. for iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, Linux and z/OS.
  • C++ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-01

We recommend LibHunt C++ for discovery and comparisons of trending C++ projects.

  • Swift Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-24

We recommend LibHunt Swift for discovery and comparisons of trending Swift projects.

C++ features and specs

  • Performance
    C++ is known for its high performance which is critical in resource-constrained applications such as gaming, real-time systems, and simulations.
  • Control
    C++ offers fine-grained control over system resources such as memory and CPU, allowing for efficient and optimized code.
  • Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
    C++ supports OOP, which helps in organizing complex software projects through classes and objects, encouraging code reusability and modularity.
  • Standard Template Library (STL)
    C++ includes the Standard Template Library (STL) that provides a set of common classes and algorithms, enhancing productivity and reducing the need for writing boilerplate code.
  • Backward Compatibility
    C++ is largely compatible with C, offering the flexibility to use C libraries and code, making it easier to integrate with existing C systems.
  • Rich Community and Ecosystem
    The large and active C++ community provides extensive resources, libraries, and frameworks that can aid in development and problem-solving.

Possible disadvantages of C++

  • Complexity
    C++ is a complex language with many features that can be difficult to master, leading to a steep learning curve for beginners.
  • Manual Memory Management
    C++ requires manual management of memory which can lead to errors such as memory leaks and segmentation faults if not handled correctly.
  • Lack of Modern Features
    While C++ has been updated over the years, it still lacks some modern programming features available in newer languages, which can limit productivity and ease of use.
  • Maintenance
    Maintaining C++ code can be challenging and time-consuming due to its complex syntax and potential for low-level operations.
  • Slower Compilation
    C++ programs often have slower compile times compared to those written in some other high-level languages, which can slow down the development process.
  • Portability Issues
    Despite being a general-purpose language, C++ code can face portability issues across different platforms due to compiler differences and system-specific dependencies.

Swift features and specs

  • Performance
    Swift is designed to be high-performance, often running faster than Objective-C due to its modern language constructs and optimized LLVM compiler.
  • Safety
    Swift includes features like optionals, type inference, and safe memory management to reduce common programming errors and crashes.
  • Readability
    Swift's syntax is clean and less cluttered, making it easier to read and maintain.
  • Interoperability
    Swift is fully interoperable with Objective-C, allowing for easy integration with existing iOS and macOS projects.
  • Modern language features
    Swift includes modern programming concepts such as closures, generics, and tuples which can help developers write expressive and efficient code.
  • Memory management
    Swift uses Automatic Reference Counting (ARC), which helps in efficient memory management without requiring manual intervention from the developer.
  • Active community and support
    Swift has a large, active community and strong support from Apple, ensuring continuous evolution and community-driven improvements.

Possible disadvantages of Swift

  • Newness
    Being relatively new compared to languages like Objective-C, Swift is still evolving, which might lead to occasional stability issues or breaking changes with new updates.
  • Limited legacy support
    Swift does not work with versions of iOS and macOS older than iOS 7 and OS X 10.9, limiting its use in maintaining really old applications.
  • Learning curve
    For developers accustomed to Objective-C or other languages, there is a learning curve associated with familiarizing themselves with Swift’s new syntax and features.
  • Smaller pool of third-party libraries
    Although growing, the ecosystem of third-party libraries for Swift is still smaller compared to more mature languages, potentially limiting immediate availability of tools.
  • Binary compatibility
    Binary compatibility issues can arise, especially when working with a mixed codebase of Swift and Objective-C, requiring extra caution during implementation.
  • Tooling maturity
    Some of the development tools and environments, while robust, can still be less mature compared to the well-established Objective-C tooling.

C++ videos

C++ Programming | In One Video

More videos:

  • Review - C++ Programming
  • Tutorial - C++ Tutorial for Beginners - Full Course

Swift videos

Honest Review of Swift and First Year Pay

More videos:

  • Review - Maruti Suzuki Swift - Hindi Review - Autoportal
  • Review - 2018 Maruti Swift Review - Still Fun To Drive | Faisal Khan

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to C++ and Swift)
Programming Language
62 62%
38% 38
OOP
79 79%
21% 21
Generic Programming Language
Programming
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare C++ and Swift

C++ Reviews

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Swift Reviews

Top 10 Rust Alternatives
Swift also stands to be among the general-purpose computer languages used to generate codes. The basics of this language are based on a safer approach for the users.
The 10 Best Programming Languages to Learn Today
With the growing popularity of Apple operating systems and applications, having Swift programming skills under your belt is a wise investment. Swift shares some similar characteristics with programming languages Ruby and Python.
Source: ict.gov.ge

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, C++ should be more popular than Swift. It has been mentiond 56 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

C++ mentions (56)

  • Distributed Systems: Challenges, Experiences and Tips
    About 4 months ago (approximately the last time I wrote something here), I opted to embark on a graduate school journey at Stony Brook University, Computer Science (if you have a remote position — Technical Writer and/or Software Engineer position — at a non-USA company, don't hesitate to reach out). Was it the best decision to make considering less pay (if any), more theoretical undertakings and assumptions, and... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Any opinion about tutorialspoint? Getting apparently wrong results
    Full of wrong and/or incomplete information. I prefer cplusplus.com when I need to look up some library details. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Learning DSA from scratch : The Ultimate Guide
    For C++ I would suggest using cplusplus.com. Fantastic resource to use. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Things that i should know before gettting into Data Structures and Algorithms??
    C++ was far from my first language. I took Modula-2 and FORTRAN in school. I knew about pointers, linked lists, etc before writing my first line of C++. I think the best way to learn is just to work on projects that interest you. Get familiar with online resources. I like cplusplus.com and cppreference.com (can get a little verbose). I'm also a big fan of w3schools.com. They have a good C++ tutorial for beginners. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Help
    I second this. cplusplus.com will pop up on your searches, I just blocked it. Loaded with ads and slow, and almost always less thorough than cppreference. I found geeksforgeeks OK when learning algorithms - not so much the language itself though. Source: almost 2 years ago
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Swift mentions (30)

  • Migrating Away from Rust
    It surely is, according to Apple's own documentation. > Swift is a successor to the C, C++, and Objective-C languages. It includes low-level primitives such as types, flow control, and operators. It also provides object-oriented features such as classes, protocols, and generics. -- https://developer.apple.com/swift/ If developers have such a big problem glueing C libraries into Java JNI, or Panama, then maybe game... - Source: Hacker News / 5 days ago
  • Apple's Darwin OS and XNU Kernel Deep Dive
    Yes, Apple themselves, apparently folks wanting Apple to use Rust don't read Apple's documentation or watch talks done by Apple compiler developers. > Swift was designed from the outset to be safer than C-based languages, and eliminates entire classes of unsafe code. -- https://www.swift.org/about/ > Swift is a successor to the C, C++, and Objective-C languages. It includes low-level primitives such as types, flow... - Source: Hacker News / 27 days ago
  • The Top Programming Languages to Learn in 2024
    Swift is Apple's programming language for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS app development. It's known for its performance and safety, making it a great choice for developing apps in the Apple ecosystem. Explore Swift here. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Swift was always going to be part of the OS
    The raisons d'être between the CLR (and C#) and Swift are entirely different. Apple has explicitly set out to adopt swift as a successor language to C, Objective-C, C++, and Objective-C++[0][1]. This stands in stark contrast to Microsoft's vision for the CLR, which was… to be a better Java, more or less? (Does anyone actually know what the .NET initiative was all about? Microsoft went absolutely ham on it... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Local Dev Meetup
    What part of the coding universe are you interested in? Swift? React? Fission Ecosystem? Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing C++ and Swift, you can also consider the following products

Python - Python is a clear and powerful object-oriented programming language, comparable to Perl, Ruby, Scheme, or Java.

Kotlin - Statically typed Programming Language targeting JVM and JavaScript

Go Programming Language - Go, also called golang, is a programming language initially developed at Google in 2007 by Robert...

Elixir - Dynamic, functional language designed for building scalable and maintainable applications

Java - A concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, language specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible

Perl - Highly capable, feature-rich programming language with over 26 years of development