Apple Open Sources Swift Build System

Apple has officially made the build system in its high-level programming language, Swift, open source. This system is used by tools like llbuild, the Swift Package Manager, and Swift Playgrounds. On February 1, Apple contributed the code for Swift Build to GitHub, expanding its support to include Windows and Linux in addition to Apple’s platforms.

Why is this important?

Build systems play a critical role in turning a programmer’s code into functional components like libraries and command-line tools, which are essential for creating applications. Currently, Swift offers two different build managers, but the Swift team has identified this as a pain point for developers. To streamline things, Apple plans to make Swift Build the single, unified build system across all supported platforms. As part of the Swift Package Manager, Swift Build is an integral part of Xcode, Apple’s development environment for macOS.

A Step Towards a More Open Swift Community

In addition to making its build system open source, Swift has adopted the Contributor Covenant, a widely used code of conduct for open source projects. The Swift team shared that the covenant “articulates our values well” and reflects their goal of fostering a welcoming and inclusive community.

Apple has emphasized its commitment to diversity and collaboration in the open-source community. The Swift.org package notes encourage outside contributions to Swift Build, stating, “To be a truly great community, Swift.org needs to welcome developers from all walks of life, with different backgrounds, and with a wide range of experience.” The team believes fostering a diverse and friendly community will lead to better ideas, perspectives, and code.

Supporting the Next Generation of Developers

Apple is also continuing its efforts to inspire young programmers through the Swift Student Challenge, which opens on February 3. This initiative aims to encourage developers aged 13 and older to dive into Swift programming. Out of the participants, 350 winners will be selected across various categories, with the top 50 earning a trip to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino.

By making Swift Build open source and fostering a more inclusive community, Apple is taking significant steps to ensure the growth and accessibility of Swift as a leading programming language.