How to Program in Swift on Windows 10

Swift is a powerful and popular programming language, especially for Mac and iOS app development. While it’s true that Swift is native to Apple’s ecosystem, you don’t necessarily need a Mac to learn and code in Swift. In this guide, we will explore how to program in Swift on a Windows 10 machine. We’ll cover the basics, including setting up an editor, writing a simple Swift program, and compiling it on Windows.

Understanding Swift

Before diving into Swift on Windows, let’s take a moment to understand what Swift is and why it’s worth learning.

What Is Swift?

Swift is a modern programming language developed by Apple. It draws inspiration from various programming languages like Objective-C, Rust, Haskell, Ruby, Python, C#, CLU, and more. Chris Lattner, the project originator, designed Swift to be efficient, easy to read, and versatile.

Despite being relatively young, Swift has gained widespread popularity since its public release in 2014. In fact, it rapidly climbed the ranks on the TIOBE Index, becoming one of the fastest-growing programming languages.

In essence, Swift is the language of choice for developers looking to create applications for Mac and iOS platforms.

Getting Started with Swift on Windows 10

To begin coding in Swift on Windows, you’ll need an editor to write your code. While you can use any Integrated Development Environment (IDE) you prefer, we’ll start with a straightforward option: Notepad++. It’s free, user-friendly, and suitable for our introductory purposes.

Setting Up Notepad++

1. Download Notepad++: Visit the official Notepad++ website and download the application for Windows.
2. Installation: Install Notepad++ by following the on-screen instructions.

With Notepad++ ready, let’s create a simple Swift program.

A Simple Swift for Windows Program

In this section, we will create a basic Swift program that runs in the Windows command line.

1. Open Notepad++: Launch Notepad++.
2. Writing the Program: Begin by writing the following code:
   swiftCopy code

   // This will display when the program runs.
print("Hello! How's your day?")


   This code prints a question to the screen.

3. User Input: To gather user input, add the following lines:
   swiftCopy code

   let response = readLine()


   This code reads the user’s response and stores it in the response variable.

4. Displaying the Response: Now, display a message based on the user’s input:
   swiftCopy code

   print("Have a great day, \(response!)!")


   Here, we use string interpolation to include the user’s response in the message.

   Note: The ! after response denotes that it’s not an optional value, indicating that it must have a value.

5. Save Your Code: Go to “File” > “Save As” and select “Swift file” from the “Save As Type” menu. If “Swift file” isn’t available, choose “All files” and add the .swift extension to your chosen filename.

Compiling Swift in Windows 10

Now that you have a Swift program, you’ll need a way to compile and run it on Windows 10. While there is no native Swift support on Windows, there is a workaround.

Using the Swift for Windows Compiler

1. Download the Compiler: Han Sangjin has developed a Swift compiler for Windows, available on GitHub. Download the Swift for Windows application following the provided instructions in the link.
2. Installation: Install the Swift for Windows application on your system.
3. Compile Your Program: Open the Swift for Windows application, click “Select File,” and choose the Swift program you created earlier. Click “Compile” and wait for the process to complete. For small programs, this should be nearly instant.
4. Run Your Program: Once the compilation is successful, click “Run,” and your Swift program will execute in the Windows Command Line.

Conclusion

While Swift is primarily associated with macOS and iOS development, Windows users can still explore and learn the language with the right tools and setup. Notepad++ serves as a suitable text editor for writing Swift code on Windows, and the Swift for Windows compiler allows you to compile and run your programs seamlessly.

As you delve deeper into Swift, you’ll discover a wealth of resources and opportunities to enhance your coding skills. Whether you’re an aspiring developer or looking to expand your programming repertoire, Swift on Windows is a viable path to explore the world of app development.

So, why wait? Begin your Swift coding journey on Windows today, and who knows, you might soon be crafting innovative Mac and iOS applications of your own.