Swift Playgrounds is a development environment for Swift created by Apple Inc. The original macOS version of Playgrounds, launched as an integrated part of Xcode, was announced and released by Apple Inc. on June 2, 2014 during WWDC 2014. In September 2016, a dedicated version for iPad launched, targeted at young students starting to learn code. In February 2020, a stand-alone version of Swift Playgrounds was launched for macOS Catalina. This version is detached from Xcode, and it mimics the iPad version.
Overview
Playgrounds provides a testing ground that renders developer code in real time. It has the capability of evaluating and displaying the results of single expressions as they are coded, providing rapid feedback to the programmer. This type of development environment is often referred as REPL and it is useful for learning, experimenting and fast prototyping. Playgrounds was used by Apple to publish Swift tutorials and guided tours where the REPL advantages are noticeable. Swift Playgrounds for iPad was announced on June 13, 2016 during the WWDC 2016 as an iPad exclusive app to help people learning to code with Swift. A version for Apple developers was released on the same date, followed by a public beta version in the following month. The app was presented as a teaching tool for students, introducing the core concepts of coding using an interactive environment designed for touch. The app was released in September 2016. Apple published a Swift Playgrounds curriculum recommending the iPad app for middle school students and up. A stand-alone version of Swift Playgrounds for macOS was released on February 11, 2020 on the Mac App Store. This version is fully detached from Xcode and it is a transposition of the iPad version for macOS.
Features
Swift Playgrounds for iPad was designed to be a development environment and an education tool simultaneously. The app allows users to download lessons and challenges. Once stored in the iPad, these can be copied and modified without the need of an active internet connection. The initial lessons of Swift Playgrounds for iPad introduce three characters: Byte, Blu, Hopper. In each challenge, young coders are asked to assist these characters achieving simple goals by coding simple instructions. As challenges become more difficult, more complex algorithms are required to solve them and new concepts are introduced. Advanced lessons in Playgrounds introduce users to more complex features such as Apple Bluetooth API and Apple Augmented Reality development platform. In January 2018, Apple introduced subscriptions, allowing users to subscribe to third party playgrounds, and content providers to sell them.
Development and release
Playgrounds was developed by the Developer Tools Department at Apple. According to Chris Lattner, the inventor of Swift Programming Language and Senior Director and Architect at the Developer Tools Department, Playgrounds was "heavily influenced by Bret Victor's ideas, by Light Table and by many other interactive systems". Playgrounds was announced by Apple Inc. on June 2, 2014 during WWDC 2014 as part of Xcode 6 and released in September. The iPad version of the Swift Playgrounds was released on September 13, 2016. Chris Lattner was also one of the few core people who drove Swift Playgrounds for iPad, including conception, design, implementation, and iteration. Simultaneously with its release, Apple published guides on the iBookStore to teach users how to navigate and use the application. The launch coincided with a large Silicon Valley campaign to press public schools to teach coding and was followed by Apple's announcement of the "Everyone Can Code" initiative, a program that provides computer science curriculum to help kids learn how to code. Swift Playgrounds is included in this program as free coding curriculum and Apple provides detailed guides to walk teachers through teaching Swift. Apple also released "App Development with Swift", a year-long curriculum for teaching Swift software development and later introduced a Swift certification program to validate coding skills for students. In May 2018, Apple announced the extension of "Everyone Can Code" initiative to US schools serving blind and deaf students. In January 2017, Apple partnered with RNIB to provide braille versions of the Swift Playgrounds graphics used in its coding course.
Version History
Reception
Upon release, Swift Playgrounds reached the first place in the top free iPad education apps in nearly 100 countries. The app received generally positive reviews from users and from the press. The app's ability to make serious coding accessible to young students was praised, as well as the fact that it was not excessively focused on Swift but rather in teaching good coding practices. Common Sense Media rates Swift Playgrounds with a 5/5 ranking score.
