Question 1

How do I use Buffer with a UICollectionView in Swift?

Accepted Answer

Initialize a CollectionViewDiffAdapter with your Buffer instance and set it as the data source, similar to the TableView adapter example. This automatically applies diffs to the collection view when the source array changes.

Question 2

Buffer vs IGListKit: which should I use for Swift?

Accepted Answer

Buffer is a Swift-native micro-framework with similar diffing capabilities, ideal for pure Swift projects wanting lightweight integration. IGListKit is more mature but written in Objective-C++, so Buffer offers a cleaner Swift alternative with UIKit focus.

Question 3

Can Buffer handle real-time sorting and filtering of data?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Buffer supports optional sort and filter closures that transform the source array before diffing, allowing dynamic data manipulations without manual UI updates, as demonstrated in the initialization code.

Question 4

What are the BufferDelegate methods and when are they called?

Accepted Answer

BufferDelegate provides callbacks like buffer(willChangeContent:) and buffer(didInsertElementsAtIndices:), triggered after array updates to handle UI changes. They mirror UITableView update patterns for granular control.

Question 5

Is Buffer compatible with SwiftUI or only UIKit?

Accepted Answer

Buffer is designed solely for UIKit components like UITableView and UICollectionView. For SwiftUI, you'd need to use UIKit representables or alternative state management solutions, as Buffer doesn't support it natively.

Question 6

How does Buffer perform with very large datasets?

Accepted Answer

Buffer uses an efficient diff algorithm from IGListKit, which minimizes computation and UI updates, but performance can vary with complex sort/filter closures. Always profile with your specific data size and update frequency.

Buffer

What is Buffer?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions