How do I use Cocoapods or Carthage vs SPM?

When developing an iOS application, choosing the right dependency manager is crucial for smooth project management and collaboration. Three popular options are CocoaPods, Carthage, and Swift Package Manager (SPM). Each has its own strengths and use cases.

CocoaPods

CocoaPods is a widely used dependency manager for Swift and Objective-C Cocoa projects. It helps you manage third-party libraries easily and integrates seamlessly with Xcode.

// To install CocoaPods, run the following command in your terminal: pod init pod 'Alamofire', '~> 5.4' pod install

Carthage

Carthage is a decentralized dependency manager that builds your dependencies and provides you with binary frameworks. It allows for greater flexibility and is preferred by developers who want to keep their project lightweight.

// To set up Carthage, add your dependencies to Cartfile: github "Alamofire/Alamofire" ~> 5.4 carthage update

Swift Package Manager (SPM)

SPM is integrated into the Swift ecosystem and provides a simple way to manage dependencies. It is built into Xcode and provides a seamless experience for Swift developers.

// To add a package using SPM, add the following in Xcode: File -> Swift Packages -> Add Package Dependency // Specify the repository URL of the library.

CocoaPods Carthage Swift Package Manager dependency management iOS development