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ReactiveX logoRxSwift

Reactive Programming in Swift

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Top Related Projects

47,869

RxJava – Reactive Extensions for the JVM – a library for composing asynchronous and event-based programs using observable sequences for the Java VM.

Cocoa framework and Obj-C dynamism bindings for ReactiveSwift.

30,713

A reactive programming library for JavaScript

RxJava bindings for Kotlin

19,889

RxJava bindings for Android

Async Algorithms for Swift

Quick Overview

ReactiveX/RxSwift is a reactive programming library for iOS development using Swift. It's an implementation of ReactiveX that allows developers to compose asynchronous and event-based programs using observable sequences and functional style operators, facilitating cleaner and more maintainable code.

Pros

  • Simplifies complex asynchronous operations and event handling
  • Provides a wide range of operators for data manipulation
  • Promotes functional and declarative programming paradigms
  • Integrates well with other iOS frameworks and libraries

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for developers new to reactive programming
  • Can lead to overuse, potentially complicating simple tasks
  • Debugging can be challenging due to the nature of asynchronous operations
  • Performance overhead for simple use cases

Code Examples

  1. Creating and subscribing to an Observable:
let observable = Observable.of(1, 2, 3)
observable.subscribe(onNext: { element in
    print(element)
})
  1. Transforming data with operators:
Observable.of(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
    .filter { $0 % 2 == 0 }
    .map { $0 * 2 }
    .subscribe(onNext: { print($0) })
  1. Combining multiple observables:
let numbers = Observable.of(1, 2, 3)
let letters = Observable.of("A", "B", "C")
Observable.zip(numbers, letters) { "\($0)\($1)" }
    .subscribe(onNext: { print($0) })

Getting Started

  1. Install RxSwift using CocoaPods. Add to your Podfile:
pod 'RxSwift', '~> 6.0'
pod 'RxCocoa', '~> 6.0'
  1. Run pod install in your project directory.

  2. Import RxSwift in your Swift file:

import RxSwift
import RxCocoa
  1. Create a disposeBag to manage subscriptions:
let disposeBag = DisposeBag()
  1. Start using RxSwift in your code:
Observable.just("Hello, RxSwift!")
    .subscribe(onNext: { print($0) })
    .disposed(by: disposeBag)

Competitor Comparisons

47,869

RxJava – Reactive Extensions for the JVM – a library for composing asynchronous and event-based programs using observable sequences for the Java VM.

Pros of RxJava

  • Larger community and more extensive documentation
  • Better performance for complex operations due to Java's JIT compilation
  • More mature ecosystem with a wider range of extensions and libraries

Cons of RxJava

  • More verbose syntax compared to RxSwift
  • Steeper learning curve for developers new to reactive programming
  • Less seamless integration with native Android development compared to RxSwift with iOS

Code Comparison

RxJava:

Observable.just("Hello, RxJava!")
    .map(String::toUpperCase)
    .subscribe(System.out::println);

RxSwift:

Observable.just("Hello, RxSwift!")
    .map { $0.uppercased() }
    .subscribe(onNext: { print($0) })

Both RxJava and RxSwift implement the ReactiveX pattern, providing similar functionality for reactive programming. RxJava is more widely used due to its maturity and the popularity of Java, while RxSwift offers a more concise syntax and tighter integration with iOS development. The choice between the two often depends on the target platform (Android vs. iOS) and the developer's familiarity with the respective languages and ecosystems.

Cocoa framework and Obj-C dynamism bindings for ReactiveSwift.

Pros of ReactiveCocoa

  • Native Swift implementation, optimized for Apple platforms
  • Supports both Swift and Objective-C
  • Includes additional features like property bindings and UI bindings

Cons of ReactiveCocoa

  • Smaller community and ecosystem compared to RxSwift
  • Less comprehensive documentation and learning resources
  • May have slower adoption of new reactive programming concepts

Code Comparison

ReactiveCocoa:

let searchResults = searchText
    .flatMap(.latest) { text in
        return API.search(text)
    }
    .observe(on: UIScheduler())

RxSwift:

let searchResults = searchText
    .flatMapLatest { text in
        return API.search(text)
    }
    .observe(on: MainScheduler.instance)

Both frameworks provide similar functionality for reactive programming in Swift, but with slight differences in syntax and naming conventions. ReactiveCocoa's implementation is more tailored to Apple platforms, while RxSwift follows the ReactiveX standard, making it easier to transition between different programming languages that support Rx. The choice between the two often comes down to personal preference, project requirements, and team expertise.

30,713

A reactive programming library for JavaScript

Pros of rxjs

  • Broader ecosystem and community support in the JavaScript world
  • More extensive documentation and learning resources available
  • Better integration with popular JavaScript frameworks like Angular

Cons of rxjs

  • Steeper learning curve due to its more complex API
  • Larger bundle size, which can impact performance in web applications
  • Less seamless integration with native iOS development compared to RxSwift

Code Comparison

RxSwift:

Observable.from([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
    .filter { $0 % 2 == 0 }
    .map { $0 * 2 }
    .subscribe(onNext: { print($0) })

rxjs:

from([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
    .pipe(
        filter(x => x % 2 === 0),
        map(x => x * 2)
    )
    .subscribe(x => console.log(x));

Both libraries follow similar reactive programming principles, but RxSwift is tailored for Swift and iOS development, while rxjs is designed for JavaScript environments. The syntax and method names are slightly different, but the overall concept remains the same. RxSwift integrates more naturally with Swift's type system and iOS frameworks, while rxjs offers greater flexibility across various JavaScript platforms and frameworks.

RxJava bindings for Kotlin

Pros of RxKotlin

  • Better integration with Kotlin's language features, including coroutines
  • More concise syntax due to Kotlin's language design
  • Easier to use with Android development, as Kotlin is the preferred language for Android

Cons of RxKotlin

  • Smaller community and ecosystem compared to RxSwift
  • Less mature and potentially fewer learning resources available
  • May have fewer specialized operators for mobile development compared to RxSwift

Code Comparison

RxKotlin:

Observable.just(1, 2, 3)
    .map { it * 2 }
    .subscribe { println(it) }

RxSwift:

Observable.of(1, 2, 3)
    .map { $0 * 2 }
    .subscribe(onNext: { print($0) })

Both RxKotlin and RxSwift are implementations of ReactiveX for their respective languages. RxKotlin benefits from Kotlin's more modern language features and concise syntax, making it potentially easier to write and read. It also integrates well with Android development.

RxSwift, on the other hand, has a larger community and more resources available due to its longer presence in the iOS development ecosystem. It may offer more specialized operators for mobile development.

The code comparison shows that both libraries have similar syntax, with minor differences due to language-specific features. RxKotlin's syntax is slightly more concise, while RxSwift uses closures for subscription handling.

19,889

RxJava bindings for Android

Pros of RxAndroid

  • Better integration with Android-specific components and lifecycle
  • More extensive documentation and examples tailored for Android development
  • Larger community and ecosystem within the Android development space

Cons of RxAndroid

  • Less frequent updates compared to RxSwift
  • More limited scope, focusing primarily on Android-specific features
  • Slightly steeper learning curve for developers new to reactive programming

Code Comparison

RxAndroid:

Observable.just("Hello, RxAndroid!")
    .subscribeOn(Schedulers.io())
    .observeOn(AndroidSchedulers.mainThread())
    .subscribe { text -> textView.text = text }

RxSwift:

Observable.just("Hello, RxSwift!")
    .subscribeOn(ConcurrentDispatchQueueScheduler(qos: .background))
    .observeOn(MainScheduler.instance)
    .subscribe(onNext: { text in self.label.text = text })

Both examples demonstrate similar concepts of creating an Observable, scheduling work on background and main threads, and updating UI elements. The main differences lie in the syntax and platform-specific schedulers used.

RxAndroid provides Android-specific schedulers like AndroidSchedulers.mainThread(), while RxSwift uses more generic schedulers like MainScheduler.instance. The overall structure and flow of reactive programming remain consistent across both libraries, making it easier for developers to transition between platforms if needed.

Async Algorithms for Swift

Pros of swift-async-algorithms

  • Native Swift integration with async/await syntax
  • Officially supported by Apple, ensuring long-term compatibility
  • Lightweight and focused on asynchronous operations

Cons of swift-async-algorithms

  • Less mature ecosystem compared to RxSwift
  • Fewer operators and transformations available out-of-the-box
  • Limited cross-platform support (primarily iOS and macOS)

Code Comparison

swift-async-algorithms:

let numbers = AsyncStream { continuation in
    for i in 1...5 {
        continuation.yield(i)
    }
    continuation.finish()
}

RxSwift:

let numbers = Observable<Int>.create { observer in
    for i in 1...5 {
        observer.onNext(i)
    }
    observer.onCompleted()
    return Disposables.create()
}

Both examples create a stream of numbers from 1 to 5. swift-async-algorithms uses the new async/await paradigm, while RxSwift employs the reactive programming model with observables and observers.

swift-async-algorithms is ideal for developers who want to leverage Swift's native async capabilities and prefer a more straightforward approach to asynchronous programming. RxSwift, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive reactive programming solution with a rich set of operators and cross-platform support, making it suitable for complex reactive systems and multi-platform projects.

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README

RxSwift Logo
Build Status Supported Platforms: iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS & Linux

Rx is a generic abstraction of computation expressed through Observable<Element> interface, which lets you broadcast and subscribe to values and other events from an Observable stream.

RxSwift is the Swift-specific implementation of the Reactive Extensions standard.

RxSwift Observable Example of a price constantly changing and updating the app's UI

While this version aims to stay true to the original spirit and naming conventions of Rx, this project also aims to provide a true Swift-first API for Rx APIs.

Cross platform documentation can be found on ReactiveX.io.

Like other Rx implementations, RxSwift's intention is to enable easy composition of asynchronous operations and streams of data in the form of Observable objects and a suite of methods to transform and compose these pieces of asynchronous work.

KVO observation, async operations, UI Events and other streams of data are all unified under abstraction of sequence. This is the reason why Rx is so simple, elegant and powerful.

I came here because I want to ...

... understand
... install
... hack around
... interact
... compare
... understand the structure

RxSwift is as compositional as the asynchronous work it drives. The core unit is RxSwift itself, while other dependencies can be added for UI Work, testing, and more.

It comprises five separate components depending on each other in the following way:

┌──────────────┐    ┌──────────────┐
│   RxCocoa    ├────▶   RxRelay    │
└───────┬──────┘    └──────┬───────┘
        │                  │        
┌───────▼──────────────────▼───────┐
│             RxSwift              │
└───────▲──────────────────▲───────┘
        │                  │        
┌───────┴──────┐    ┌──────┴───────┐
│    RxTest    │    │  RxBlocking  │
└──────────────┘    └──────────────┘
  • RxSwift: The core of RxSwift, providing the Rx standard as (mostly) defined by ReactiveX. It has no other dependencies.
  • RxCocoa: Provides Cocoa-specific capabilities for general iOS/macOS/watchOS & tvOS app development, such as Shared Sequences, Traits, and much more. It depends on both RxSwift and RxRelay.
  • RxRelay: Provides PublishRelay, BehaviorRelay and ReplayRelay, three simple wrappers around Subjects. It depends on RxSwift.
  • RxTest and RxBlocking: Provides testing capabilities for Rx-based systems. It depends on RxSwift.

Usage

Here's an example In Action
Define search for GitHub repositories ...
let searchResults = searchBar.rx.text.orEmpty
    .throttle(.milliseconds(300), scheduler: MainScheduler.instance)
    .distinctUntilChanged()
    .flatMapLatest { query -> Observable<[Repository]> in
        if query.isEmpty {
            return .just([])
        }
        return searchGitHub(query)
            .catchAndReturn([])
    }
    .observe(on: MainScheduler.instance)
... then bind the results to your tableview
searchResults
    .bind(to: tableView.rx.items(cellIdentifier: "Cell")) {
        (index, repository: Repository, cell) in
        cell.textLabel?.text = repository.name
        cell.detailTextLabel?.text = repository.url
    }
    .disposed(by: disposeBag)

Installation

RxSwift doesn't contain any external dependencies.

These are currently the supported installation options:

Manual

Open Rx.xcworkspace, choose RxExample and hit run. This method will build everything and run the sample app

CocoaPods

# Podfile
use_frameworks!

target 'YOUR_TARGET_NAME' do
    pod 'RxSwift', '6.7.1'
    pod 'RxCocoa', '6.7.1'
end

# RxTest and RxBlocking make the most sense in the context of unit/integration tests
target 'YOUR_TESTING_TARGET' do
    pod 'RxBlocking', '6.7.1'
    pod 'RxTest', '6.7.1'
end

Replace YOUR_TARGET_NAME and then, in the Podfile directory, type:

$ pod install

XCFrameworks

Each release starting with RxSwift 6 includes *.xcframework framework binaries.

Simply drag the needed framework binaries to your Frameworks, Libraries, and Embedded Content section under your target's General tab.

XCFrameworks instructions

[!TIP] You may verify the identity of the binaries by comparing against the following fingerprint in Xcode 15+:

BD 80 2E 79 4C 8A BD DA 4C 3F 5D 92 B3 E4 C4 FB FA E4 73 44 10 B9 AD 73 44 2E F1 CE B0 27 61 40

XCFrameworks Signature Fingerprint in Xcode 15+

Carthage

Add this to Cartfile

github "ReactiveX/RxSwift" "6.7.1"
$ carthage update

Carthage as a Static Library

Carthage defaults to building RxSwift as a Dynamic Library.

If you wish to build RxSwift as a Static Library using Carthage you may use the script below to manually modify the framework type before building with Carthage:

carthage update RxSwift --platform iOS --no-build
sed -i -e 's/MACH_O_TYPE = mh_dylib/MACH_O_TYPE = staticlib/g' Carthage/Checkouts/RxSwift/Rx.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
carthage build RxSwift --platform iOS

Swift Package Manager

Note: There is a critical cross-dependency bug affecting many projects including RxSwift in Swift Package Manager. We've filed a bug (SR-12303) in early 2020 but have no answer yet. Your mileage may vary. A partial workaround can be found here.

Create a Package.swift file.

// swift-tools-version:5.0

import PackageDescription

let package = Package(
  name: "RxProject",
  dependencies: [
    .package(url: "https://github.com/ReactiveX/RxSwift.git", .upToNextMajor(from: "6.0.0"))
  ],
  targets: [
    .target(name: "RxProject", dependencies: ["RxSwift", .product(name: "RxCocoa", package: "RxSwift")]),
  ]
)
$ swift build

To build or test a module with RxTest dependency, set TEST=1.

$ TEST=1 swift test

Manually using git submodules

  • Add RxSwift as a submodule
$ git submodule add git@github.com:ReactiveX/RxSwift.git
  • Drag Rx.xcodeproj into Project Navigator
  • Go to Project > Targets > Build Phases > Link Binary With Libraries, click + and select RxSwift, RxCocoa and RxRelay targets

References