How to Develop Swift on Windows
Developing applications using Swift, Apple’s powerful and intuitive programming language, has traditionally been associated with macOS and iOS platforms. However, with the release of Swift 5.5, Apple has extended support for Windows, making it possible for developers to build Swift applications on Windows. This article will guide you through the process of setting up a Swift development environment on Windows, including installing the necessary tools and configuring your development environment.
1. Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure that your Windows system meets the following prerequisites:
– Windows 10 or later
– Visual Studio 2019 with the latest updates
– Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL 2)
– A minimum of 16GB of RAM
2. Installing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL 2)
WSL allows you to run a Linux environment on Windows, which is essential for developing Swift applications. To install WSL 2, follow these steps:
1. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run the following command:
“`
wsl –install
“`
2. Restart your computer to complete the installation.
3. Open the Microsoft Store and search for “Ubuntu”. Install the Ubuntu distribution.
4. Launch Ubuntu and follow the prompts to set up your user account and password.
3. Installing Swift
Once WSL 2 is installed, you can install Swift using the Ubuntu package manager. To do this, run the following commands:
1. Update your package lists:
“`
sudo apt update
“`
2. Install Swift and the necessary build tools:
“`
sudo apt install swift swift-lang
“`
3. Verify the installation by running:
“`
swift –version
“`
4. Configuring Your Development Environment
To configure your development environment, follow these steps:
1. Open Visual Studio 2019.
2. Go to “File” > “New” > “Project”.
3. Select “Xcode” as the project type and “Swift App” as the template.
4. Choose a location for your project and provide a name for your app.
5. Click “Create” to create your new Swift project.
Now you have a Swift development environment set up on Windows. You can start coding your Swift application and build it using the built-in tools in Visual Studio 2019.
5. Building and Running Your Swift Application
To build and run your Swift application, follow these steps:
1. In Visual Studio 2019, open your Swift project.
2. Connect your Windows device to your computer using a USB cable.
3. In the Visual Studio 2019 toolbar, click the “Run” button.
4. Select your Windows device from the list of available devices.
5. Click “Run” again to build and run your Swift application on your Windows device.
Congratulations! You have successfully developed a Swift application on Windows. With this new capability, you can now take advantage of Swift’s powerful features and develop cross-platform applications that run on macOS, iOS, and Windows.
