Harnessing the Power of Swift Macros
Swift 5.9 boats a whole lot of changes and improvements. One of the most important ones, namely Macros, could redefine how we write Swift code.
Introduction
Macros can be a great addition to new codebases that recently started.
Since Macros are only available with Swift 5.9 onwards, old projects won’t benefit as much. Nonetheless, Macros are an interesting topic few developers are familiar with yet.
What Are Macros?
Macros are a way to modify specific parts of our code. They enhance readability, decrease boilerplate code, and add functionality. Like Macros in real life — like a keyboard macro, which defines a series of simulated key presses when a combination is triggered — Macros apply a specific transformation to our code. This could be the addition of a property or function, conformance to another class, and much more. The process of changing code is called expanding.
When to Use Macros
Like with other features of languages, not all of them are useful for any situation. Macros shine when they can drastically reduce boilerplate code or streamline the readability of code. Nonetheless, a project can live without Macros just fine. Especially when many developers in a project are unfamiliar with…
