Swift Package Manager: Demystifying Targets and Libraries
Target vs Library If you'v dabbled with Swift Package Manager (SwiftPM), you've likely encountered targets and libraries in a Package.swift file and wondered what sets them apart. These concepts are essential to structuring your code effectively, especially as projects grow larger. In this post, we'll break down the difference between the two, explore how they're used, and walk through real-world examples that show how you can build scalable and modular Swift packages. What Exactly Is a Target? In SwiftPM, a target is the fundamental unit of code compilation. It's basically a module that consists of source files, dependencies, and optionally resources or tests. Targets are used internally within your package. For example: .target(name: "Logger") This line defines a module named Logger . You can import and use this module from other targets inside your package. And a Library? A library is a product. It’s what you offer to the outside world—other packag...