How to Write Swift on Windows: A Comprehensive Guide
Writing Swift on Windows can be a game-changer for developers who prefer the Windows operating system. Swift, Apple’s powerful and intuitive programming language, is designed to work seamlessly on macOS, but with the right tools and settings, you can also use it on Windows. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to write Swift on Windows, ensuring a smooth and efficient development experience.
1. Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
The first step in writing Swift on Windows is to install the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). WSL allows you to run a GNU/Linux environment directly on Windows, which is essential for using Swift. Here’s how to install WSL:
1. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run the following command:
“`
wsl –install
“`
2. Restart your computer to complete the installation.
3. Once your computer restarts, open the Microsoft Store and search for “Ubuntu” or “Debian” (your preferred Linux distribution).
4. Install the Linux distribution you’ve chosen.
2. Set up your Linux distribution
After installing WSL, you’ll need to set up your Linux distribution. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Start menu and search for “Windows Terminal.” Open it.
2. Type `wsl` and press Enter to open the Linux command line.
3. Update your package list by running the following command:
“`
sudo apt update
“`
4. Install the necessary packages for Swift development by running the following command:
“`
sudo apt install build-essential libnewt6-dev libsqlite3-dev libxml2-dev libxslt-dev
“`
3. Install Swift
Now that you have WSL and your Linux distribution set up, it’s time to install Swift. You can do this by following these steps:
1. Open the Linux command line in Windows Terminal.
2. Run the following command to install Swift:
“`
curl -sL https://apt.ubuntu.com/swift-package-manager.deb -o swift-package-manager.deb
“`
3. Install the package by running:
“`
sudo dpkg -i swift-package-manager.deb
“`
4. Verify the installation by running:
“`
swift –version
“`
4. Create a new Swift project
With Swift installed, you can now create a new Swift project. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Linux command line in Windows Terminal.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create your project using the `cd` command.
3. Run the following command to create a new Swift project:
“`
swift package init –type executable
“`
4. Name your project, for example, `MySwiftProject`, and press Enter.
5. Write and run your Swift code
Now that you have a new Swift project, you can start writing your code. Here’s how to write and run your Swift code:
1. Open your project directory in a text editor of your choice, such as Visual Studio Code.
2. Create a new file named `main.swift` and write your Swift code.
3. Save the file.
4. Open the Linux command line in Windows Terminal.
5. Navigate to your project directory and run the following command:
“`
swift run
“`
6. Your Swift program should now execute, and you can see the output in the terminal.
Conclusion
Writing Swift on Windows is now possible with the right tools and settings. By following this guide, you can install WSL, set up your Linux distribution, install Swift, and create and run your first Swift project. Happy coding!
