How do I set up swift-mode for debugging iOS apps on a device?

You need to install ios-deploy separately, then use M-x swift-mode:debug-ios-app. The README specifies this requirement for device debugging, making it a manual setup step.

Is swift-mode better than using Xcode for Swift development?

swift-mode excels for Emacs users who prefer keyboard-driven workflows and customization, but Xcode offers more integrated GUI tools and native iOS/macOS development features.

Does swift-mode support Swift Package Manager?

The README doesn't explicitly mention SPM, but building modules is supported via M-x swift-mode:build-swift-module. For full SPM integration, additional configurations or external tools might be needed.

Can I use swift-mode with language server protocol for autocompletion?

Yes, but not out-of-the-box; related projects like lsp-sourcekit provide LSP support with sourcekit-lsp, while swift-mode focuses on core editing features without built-in LSP.

What are the main alternatives to swift-mode for Emacs?

Alternatives include Apple's official swift-mode.el (which is in early stages) and using lsp-sourcekit with sourcekit-lsp for more advanced language server features, though swift-mode is more mature for basic editing.

How accurate is the indentation in swift-mode?

Generally good for common cases, but has known issues with complex syntax like conditional operators and regexp literals, as detailed in the limitations section, which can lead to manual fixes.

swift-mode — Emacs Major Mode for Swift

What is swift-mode?

swift-mode is an Emacs major mode that provides comprehensive editing support for Apple's Swift programming language. It includes syntax highlighting, intelligent indentation, code navigation tools, and integrated development features like a REPL, building, and debugging. It solves the problem of editing Swift code efficiently within the Emacs editor.

Target Audience

Emacs users who develop in Swift, including those working on iOS, macOS, or server-side Swift projects and seeking a powerful, customizable editing environment.

Value Proposition

Developers choose swift-mode for its deep integration with Emacs workflows, offering a native-feeling editing experience for Swift with tools for building, debugging, and interactive development, all within a highly extensible editor.

Emacs support for Apple's Swift programming language.

Use Cases

Best For

Editing Swift source code in Emacs with syntax highlighting
Navigating Swift codebases using structural editing commands
Running a Swift REPL interactively within an Emacs buffer
Building and debugging Swift modules directly from Emacs
Developing iOS applications with integrated build and debug tools
Writing Swift code with context-aware automatic indentation

Not Ideal For

Developers using Xcode or other full-featured IDEs with native Swift support
Teams requiring flawless indentation for complex Swift syntax patterns, such as those with nested conditional operators
Projects that rely on integrated linting and error checking without additional package installation
Swift codebases heavily using older Swift 3.0 constructs like C-style for-loops

Pros & Cons

Pros

Robust Syntax Highlighting

Provides comprehensive font lock for Swift syntax elements, ensuring clear visual differentiation in code as part of core features.

Smart Indentation Engine

Offers context-aware indentation with support for complex expressions and nested blocks, demonstrated in the README with examples like Utrecht style.

Integrated Development Tools

Includes commands for running a Swift REPL, building modules and iOS apps, and debugging directly from Emacs via M-x functions.

Structural Code Navigation

Enables efficient movement and manipulation with Emacs-native functions like beginning-of-defun and narrow-to-defun for better code exploration.

Cons

Indentation Ambiguities

Admits inaccuracies in indenting complex cases like conditional operators and regexp literals, requiring manual adjustments as documented in limitations.

Limited Modern Syntax Support

Does not fully support some older Swift 3.0 constructs and has edge cases with newer syntax, such as issues with colons and custom operators.

Additional Setup Required

Lacks built-in flycheck; users must install separate packages like flycheck-swift for linting, adding to initial configuration effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is swift-mode?

Target Audience

Emacs users who develop in Swift, including those working on iOS, macOS, or server-side Swift projects and seeking a powerful, customizable editing environment.

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Editing Swift source code in Emacs with syntax highlighting
Navigating Swift codebases using structural editing commands
Running a Swift REPL interactively within an Emacs buffer
Building and debugging Swift modules directly from Emacs
Developing iOS applications with integrated build and debug tools
Writing Swift code with context-aware automatic indentation

Not Ideal For

Developers using Xcode or other full-featured IDEs with native Swift support
Teams requiring flawless indentation for complex Swift syntax patterns, such as those with nested conditional operators
Projects that rely on integrated linting and error checking without additional package installation
Swift codebases heavily using older Swift 3.0 constructs like C-style for-loops

Pros & Cons

Pros

Robust Syntax Highlighting

Provides comprehensive font lock for Swift syntax elements, ensuring clear visual differentiation in code as part of core features.

Smart Indentation Engine

Offers context-aware indentation with support for complex expressions and nested blocks, demonstrated in the README with examples like Utrecht style.

Integrated Development Tools

Includes commands for running a Swift REPL, building modules and iOS apps, and debugging directly from Emacs via M-x functions.

Structural Code Navigation

Enables efficient movement and manipulation with Emacs-native functions like beginning-of-defun and narrow-to-defun for better code exploration.

Cons

Indentation Ambiguities

Admits inaccuracies in indenting complex cases like conditional operators and regexp literals, requiring manual adjustments as documented in limitations.

Limited Modern Syntax Support

Does not fully support some older Swift 3.0 constructs and has edge cases with newer syntax, such as issues with colons and custom operators.

Additional Setup Required

Lacks built-in flycheck; users must install separate packages like flycheck-swift for linting, adding to initial configuration effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

swift-mode

What is swift-mode?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Found a gem we're missing?

swift-mode

What is swift-mode?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Found a gem we're missing?