Apple Takes Swift Open Source

Apple's Swift programming language is now open source. The company has published the Swift language, supporting libraries, debugger and package manager under the Apache 2.0 license with a runtime library exception, and created a Swift.org site with information, technical documentation, community resources and links to download the source code.

"By making Swift open source the entire developer community can contribute to the programming language and help bring it to even more platforms," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, in a press release. "Swift's power and ease of use will inspire a new generation to get into coding, and with today's announcement they'll be able to take their ideas anywhere, from mobile devices to the cloud."

App developers now can access the code, add new features and optimizations, and contribute back to the project. Apple remains the project lead, working closely with technical leaders from the Swift development community. A core team of engineers (currently composed of Apple employees) is responsible for strategic direction, and a collection of code owners are responsible for day-to-day management of specific areas of the project.

The Swift open source code, including support for all Apple software platforms as well as Linux, is available via GitHub. Available components include the Swift compiler, debugger, standard library, foundation libraries, package manager and REPL.

For more information, visit the Swift.org site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • A top-down view of a person walking through a maze with walls made of glowing blue Wi-Fi symbols on dark pathways

    Navigating New E-Rate Rules for WiFi Hotspots

    Beginning in funding year 2025, WiFi hotspots will be eligible for E-rate Category One discounts. Here's what you need to know about your school's eligibility, funding caps, tracking requirements, and more.

  • glowing digital lock surrounded by futuristic dollar signs, stacks of currency, and coins, connected by neon circuit lines

    FCC Reports Strong Interest in Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program

    The Federal Communications Commission has received 2,734 applications totaling $3.7 billion in funding requests from schools, libraries, and consortia for its Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, the agency reported in a recent announcement.

  • zSpace Imagine Learning Solution

    zSpace Debuts Headset-Free AR/VR System

    Immersive learning company zSpace has announced the zSpace Imagine Learning Solution, a headset-free AR/VR laptop system designed for elementary education. The all-in-one platform integrates hardware, software, and hands-on lessons to create dynamic learning experiences for young students.

  • magnifying glass hovers high above a tablet, showing a zoomed-in view of binary code and digital circuits

    Evidence in Ed Tech: A Matter of Importance

    When evaluating which ed tech tools to adopt, evidence of impact is one of the most important factors to consider.