UIKit vs. SnapKit: Which One is Better for Programmatic UI? 🤔

So previously, I wasn’t really used to using this library because I was very comfortable with UIKit, especially using .xib files for design.

However, in my current company project, we use SnapKit, and I’ve started getting used to it. Now, I often use it because it speeds up my workflow, especially when combined with AI. If AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or similar didn’t exist, I probably wouldn’t be using SnapKit since development would take much longer.

Some of my articles that use SnapKit:

1. Building a Dual-Column UICollectionView Using SnapKit in Swift
2. Implementing a Dynamic Theme Selector with UIKit and SnapKit
3. Creating a Custom Alert in Swift Using SnapKit

GitHub - SnapKit/SnapKit: A Swift Autolayout DSL for iOS & OS X

In the world of iOS development, creating beautiful and functional user interfaces is a crucial skill.

While Interface Builder and Storyboards offer a visual approach to UI design, many developers prefer the precision and control of programmatic UI. When going down this route, two major contenders emerge: Apple’s native UIKit and the popular third-party framework SnapKit.

Let’s dive deep into both options to determine which might be the better choice for your next project.

❖ Basic Label Positioning

This is just a basic use of constraints in UIKit using SnapKit.

→ UIKit

// Create and configure label
let titleLabel = UILabel()
titleLabel.text = "Welcome to My App"
titleLabel.font = UIFont.systemFont(ofSize: 18, weight: .bold)
titleLabel.textColor = .darkGray
titleLabel.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
view.addSubview(titleLabel)

// Set up constraints
NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
    titleLabel.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.safeAreaLayoutGuide.topAnchor, constant: 20),
    titleLabel.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.leadingAnchor, constant: 16)…