WWDC Highlights for Developers

WWDC 2023 took place on June 5th at Apple Park, featuring several significant announcements for developers. Here are the top highlights:

Xcode

A new way to download?simulators?for your Xcode work, you can now select only specific?simulators?you want to download and work with.

Localization.strings Catalogs?consolidate all localized string files into a centralized catalog or repository, streamlining their management within your project. This centralized approach simplifies the handling of localized strings and enhances the overall efficiency of your localization workflow.

Xcode introduces a new?bookmarks?navigator feature, allowing you to add?bookmarks?directly in your code for easy reference. With the ability to add?bookmarks, you can conveniently mark specific locations in your code and access them through a dedicated list in the sidebar. To add a bookmark, simply right-click on the desired location in your code and select the “Bookmark” option. This streamlined bookmarking functionality enhances your code navigation and organization within Xcode.

The latest version of Xcode simplifies the process of adding previews to your code through the convenient use of the?#Preview?macro. This new feature enables you to seamlessly incorporate previews within your code, allowing you to visualize and interact with your UI components during development. By leveraging the #Preview macro, you can enhance your workflow and efficiently test and iterate on your code’s visual elements.

With the latest update, you now have the capability to test?StoreKit?purchases and subscriptions directly within Xcode. This includes the ability to simulate?StoreKit?errors, as well as the convenience of purchasing in-app items directly from Xcode or your Mac using the Transaction Manager. These enhancements streamline the testing process for App Purchases and Subscriptions, enabling developers to efficiently validate and fine-tune their monetization strategies within the development environment.

SwiftUI

SwiftUI is getting some updates and additions:

Introducing?StoreKit, a new API designed to display in-app purchases and subscription pages seamlessly within your app. With the?StoreKit?API, developers can effortlessly integrate a dedicated interface that showcases available in-app purchases and subscription options. This empowers users to conveniently explore and engage with additional content or services directly from within the app, enhancing the overall user experience and monetization opportunities.

Macros, a powerful tool, assist in mitigating the need for writing repetitive code in Swift by generating the corresponding portions of your source code during compile time. When invoking a macro, it adds new code alongside the existing code you have written, without modifying or removing any preexisting code within your project. This additive nature of macros allows for more efficient code development, reducing redundancy and promoting maintainability in your Swift projects.

Introducing @Observable,?a macro that simplifies the usage of @State in a model by eliminating the need for?@ObservedObject?or?@ObservedObject. With @Observable,?you can directly apply?@State?to your model, enabling it to update in sync with view updates or changes. This streamlined approach enhances the reactivity and synchronization between your model and view, providing a more intuitive and efficient development experience.

New Suggestions API

During the presentation, Apple unveiled a new app called Journal, set to debut in iOS 17. This app introduces a personalized diary experience, allowing users to document various aspects of their lives. Notably, the presentation highlighted the utilization of the new Suggestions API within the Journal app. This API leverages user data, such as locations and photos, to offer suggestions for writing topics.

Furthermore, developers will have access to this API, enabling them to potentially employ similar functionality. By leveraging user-generated content, developers can utilize the Suggestions API to provide tailored suggestions based on users’ previous inputs. While the exact implementation details and privacy measures of this API remain somewhat uncertain, further insights will emerge once developers start working with it.

HealthKit for iPad 17

Next, let’s turn our attention to the operating system that drives the iPads: the latest iPadOS 17. Among the array of innovations it brings, one notable addition is the inclusion of HealthKit API support for these tablets. Similar to iOS, this API allows developers to seamlessly interact with health and fitness-related user data. With the ability to collect, analyze, and process this data, developers can create a diverse range of applications, including those focused on weight tracking, step monitoring, health management, and sports-related activities

Posters

Next comes the latest major release of the iPhone’s operating system: iOS 17. Among the exciting new additions, Apple has introduced the Posters functionality for the calling app. This feature allows users to personalize the interface when receiving calls from specific contacts. Users can customize the image and text displayed, similar to customizing the wallpaper. The same configuration extends to the contacts app, ensuring a consistent design experience when viewing contact information or initiating calls.

By utilizing the CallKit API, developers can integrate this feature into Voice over IP (VoIP) applications, enabling the display of user-assigned images for specific contacts during calls.

This new functionality empowers users to assign visual identities to their contacts, ensuring a consistent and enhanced experience across system applications and third-party apps alike.

Continuity Camera API

Let’s delve into the exciting addition of the Continuity Camera API for tvOS applications. This powerful API allows developers to leverage the capabilities of the iPhone camera within their tvOS apps, effectively transforming it into a fully functional camera. For developers working on the tvOS platform, this has been a highly anticipated solution for incorporating camera functionality. During the Apple presentation, a seamless integration of the iPhone camera into a FaceTime call was demonstrated, showcasing the immense potential of this API.

SharePlay

Another noteworthy feature is the introduction of the SharePlay API, which enables content sharing through a simple gesture of bringing devices closer to each other. In the Apple presentation, they demonstrated how this API allows for the quick sharing of contact information, images, and videos. With SharePlay, developers can implement sharing functionalities that operate effortlessly by bringing two devices in close proximity.

For instance, recommending a TikTok video to a friend becomes as simple as having it open on your device and bringing it closer to your phone. Similarly, imagine wanting to share an article from a news app or social network with another person. Through this innovative API, users can seamlessly share data and content with minimal actions, leveraging the intuitive gesture of bringing devices closer together.

WebApps From Safari

Apple has also introduced the highly anticipated next major release of its desktop operating system, macOS Sonoma. In this section, I’ll highlight a couple of intriguing new features that caught my attention in the updated version of Safari.

Firstly, any user can now effortlessly create WebApps directly from Safari. As a developer, you don’t need to make any specific changes to enable this functionality. Instead, users themselves have the power to transform any webpage into an application seamlessly integrated with the rest of their Mac’s installed applications. Users can personalize the WebApp by naming it and assigning an image that will serve as the main icon, automatically appearing on the Dock. Once created, this website-turned-application can be used just like any other app installed on the system.

Another noteworthy addition is Safari’s long-awaited inclusion of profile support, bringing it in line with other popular browsers. This feature allows users to create distinct profiles, effectively segregating cookies, bookmarks, browsing history, and other related data. This can be particularly useful in scenarios where users need to keep their work and personal browsing accounts separate, enabling a more organized and personalized browsing experience.

VPN tvOS

A noteworthy inclusion is the support for third-party VPNs, enabling developers to create VPN apps tailored for Apple TV. This addition proves beneficial for enterprise and education users who necessitate access to private network content. Consequently, Apple TV becomes an ideal solution for offices and conference rooms across multiple locations.

Conclusion

This year’s WWDC was brimming with exciting announcements and updates. In this article, I’ve condensed what I believe to be the most significant highlights for developers, although I haven’t even touched upon the remarkable?Apple Vision Pro.

If you’re eager to delve into all the details of the event, you can find them?here.