Apple's Swift Project Launches New Android Working Group

Fri 27th Jun, 2025

Apple has announced the formation of an Android Working Group (AWG) within its Swift programming project. This initiative aims to enhance the development of Android applications using Swift, addressing the challenges developers currently face when attempting to utilize Swift in the Android environment.

Swift, Apple's open-source programming language, has already been available for use on macOS, Windows, and Linux. However, its adoption for Android app development has been limited, primarily due to the cumbersome workarounds required to integrate Swift with the Android ecosystem. The introduction of the AWG signals a commitment to improving Swift's compatibility with Android, a move that has been anticipated within the developer community.

The AWG's primary objectives include improving official support for Android as a target platform for Swift, eliminating the need for patchy, makeshift solutions that developers have relied on until now. Key Swift packages such as Dispatch and Foundation will be adapted to better align with Android's conventions. The AWG will collaborate with the central Platform Steering Group to enhance the overall platform support for Android.

Despite this promising development, significant work lies ahead. Currently, there is no continuous integration (CI) system for Android tests in pull request reviews, and the AWG needs to establish which Android API levels and architectures will be supported in Swift. Additionally, libraries must be modified, and the bridging process between Swift and the Android Java SDK requires improvement. Presently, debugging Swift applications on Android is not officially supported, a gap that the AWG plans to address.

Moreover, the group intends to modify various community packages to ensure they are compatible with Android. While there have been past rumors suggesting that Google might explore Swift as a potential alternative to Kotlin, the decision ultimately favored Kotlin. Currently, developers are utilizing tools like Scade to create native Swift applications for Android, but the forthcoming official support from the AWG is expected to streamline and enhance this process.

The AWG is actively seeking collaboration from the developer community to accelerate its efforts in improving Swift's standing within the Android app development landscape. As the group gets underway, the timeline for implementing these enhancements remains uncertain, but the potential for a more robust and accessible development experience for Swift on Android is on the horizon.


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