Xcode gets AI coding functions
Similar to Github Copilot and other programming assistants, Xcode is supposed to spit out better code thanks to AI. These features have been announced.
Work with the AI functions in Xcode.
(Image: Apple)
The rumors were true: Apple's Xcode development environment is also getting a slice of Apple Intelligence. As Apple announced on Monday evening, "new tools and resources" are coming to "drive innovation forward". In Xcode 16, for example, there is a coding assistant reminiscent of Github Copilot for the first time. "Swift Assist accompanies developers in everyday programming tasks so that they can concentrate fully on higher-level problems and solutions," says the company. The assistant is integrated directly into Xcode and knows the current SDKs and Swift features. Suitable functions are suggested as part of the current project. This should enable new frameworks to be used more quickly. "Experimenting with new ideas [is] just a request away."
Own model including offline use
Apple emphasized that the system should work in a privacy-friendly way. Code from developers is never stored on Apple's servers and is also not used for training models. In technical terms, Swift Assist, which is supplemented by code completion, is based on a proprietary language model that Apple claims to have trained specifically for Swift and its SDKs.
The code completion uses the AI functions from the Apple Silicon chips - plus the improvements that macOS 15 alias Sequoia should bring in terms of AI. All the work is carried out locally on the device, which also allows offline use. "This keeps all code private."
Swift 6 goes live
Upcoming tests will show whether Xcode 16 can keep up with the coding assistants from Github and competitors. The first Xcode 16 beta is already available for download, but developers must have an Apple developer account. Swift 6, the new version of Apple's programming language, is also being released at the same time as Xcode 16.
The update delivers various improvements in terms of productivity, such as parallel programming and new security functions. Swift celebrates its 10th birthday this year. A new Swift Testing Framework with new APIs is designed to make it easier to create tests. It is designed to be cross-platform.
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