Google is planning on using Apple’s software, the Apple Swift programming language. The search giant which is the producer of the popular operating system, Android, wants to use the language to make a ‘first class’ language for Android. The move would be welcomed by developers as it would enable them to create native apps for both operating systems.
Reports from The Next Web, which cited anonymous sources said that Google was considering of making the move, and they would also use the Java programming language they have been using alongside the Apple Swift programming language. The Java programming language is the most used by Android apps today.
They don’t plan on having Swift replace Java, at first, the news report indicates, even though Java’s parent company, Oracle is still having a court battle with Google. Oracle recently announced their intention to file a lawsuit to seek damages from Google worth up to $9.3 billion.
“While the ongoing litigation with Oracle is a likely cause for concern, sources say that Google considers Swift to have a broader ‘upside’ than Java” the report mentioned.
The news would be welcomed by developers, but they are being encouraged not to be excited just yet, because if Google does plan on taking up Swift programming language, then they would face a lot of hurdles technically, meaning the move would take years to complete if it happens at all.
An example is, Google has to create a runtime for Swift and incorporate into APIs and SDKs, of which some of them are C++. Swift at the moment is unable to bridge the C++ and therefore would need to be rewritten.
The report also mentions that Google would have to spearhead the Swift support for Android, which at the moment was being done by ‘clever’ developers. The news report also mentioned that another programming language that was on Googles radar was the ‘Kotlin.’ It was created by the Java focused development compared JetBrains though Kotlin’s speeds are a worrying factor.
Apple and Google are still to comment.
