Get more mileage out of your app with CarPlay

Introduction

CarPlay apps

• primarily intended for drivers

  • only target uses cases relevant while driving

  • omit complex and less common use cases (e.g., one time configuration, log in, terms and conditions)

• CarPlay entitlement required

  • request the entitlement on the Apple CarPlay developer website

• supported app types

  • navigation

  • audio

  • communication

  • EV charging

  • parking

  • quick food ordering

  • fueling 🆕

  • driving task 🆕

Templates

• Templates are how apps in CarPlay present their UI

• Your app supplies the data, and the system draws the UI onto the vehicle’s display on your behalf

  • no need to worry about font sizes, consistency, etc

  • makes your app works in all cars

Different templates are available to different app types:

What’s new

Fueling apps

• similar to EV charging, but for fuel types

• should be more than just finding locations

  • e.g., actions at the pump

Driving task apps

• Enable a wide range of very simple tasks, targeting primarily the driver

• These are tasks that actually help with the drive, not just a task to be done while you drive:

  • control car accessories

  • driving or road status and information

  • tasks to start or end of drives

• Consider single-screen apps with minimal functionality

• target tasks that can be completed in a few seconds

CarPlay Simulator

Ways to test your app:

• Xcode Simulator

• real iPhone in a real CarPlay car, or with aftermarket head unit

• real iPhone with CarPlay Simulator 🆕

CarPlay Simulator:

• standalone Mac app that replicates a CarPlay environment

• Download it via Additional Tools for Xcode

• Run your app, and connect your iPhone to your Mac with a cable

• can debug on Xcode/Instruments

• can test multiple card configurations (e.g. different display sizes)

Maps in instrument cluster

• adding your map in instrument cluster is the same as adding yout map in CarPlay Dashboard (iOS 13+):

  • update Info.plist to declare support for Dashboard and implemented the required delegates

  • delegates notify your app when it is appearing and disappearing in Dashboard, and pass over a UIWindow to your app in which to draw your map content

In your Info.plist:

<key>UIApplicationSceneManifest</key>
<dict>
  <!-- Indicate support for CarPlay dashboard -->
  <key>CPSupportsDashboardNavigationScene</key>
  <true/>
  <!-- Indicate support for instrument cluster displays -->
  <key>CPSupportsInstrumentClusterNavigationScene</key>
  <true/>
  <!-- Indicate support for multiple scenes -->
  <key>UIApplicationSupportsMultipleScenes</key>
  <true/>
  <key>UISceneConfigurations</key>
  <dict>
    <!-- For device scenes -->
    <key>UIWindowSceneSessionRoleApplication</key>
    <array>
      <dict>
        <key>UISceneClassName</key>
        <string>UIWindowScene</string>
        <key>UISceneConfigurationName</key>
        <string>Phone</string>
        <key>UISceneDelegateClassName</key>
        <string>MyAppWindowSceneDelegate</string>
      </dict>
    </array>
    <!-- For the main CarPlay scene -->
    <key>CPTemplateApplicationSceneSessionRoleApplication</key>
    <array>
      <dict>
        <key>UISceneClassName</key>
        <string>CPTemplateApplicationScene</string>
        <key>UISceneConfigurationName</key>
        <string>CarPlay</string>
        <key>UISceneDelegateClassName</key>
        <string>MyAppCarPlaySceneDelegate</string>
      </dict>
    </array>
    <!-- For the CarPlay Dashboard scene -->
    <key>CPTemplateApplicationDashboardSceneSessionRoleApplication</key>
    <array>
      <dict>
        <key>UISceneClassName</key>
        <string>CPTemplateApplicationDashboardScene</string>
        <key>UISceneConfigurationName</key>
        <string>CarPlay-Dashboard</string>
        <key>UISceneDelegateClassName</key>
        <string>MyAppCarPlayDashboardSceneDelegate</string>
      </dict>
    </array>
    <!-- For the CarPlay instrument cluster scene -->
    <key>CPTemplateApplicationInstrumentClusterSceneSessionRoleApplication</key>
    <array>
      <dict>
        <key>UISceneClassName</key>
        <string>CPTemplateApplicationInstrumentClusterScene</string>
        <key>UISceneConfigurationName</key>
        <string>CarPlay-Instrument-Cluster</string>
        <key>UISceneDelegateClassName</key>
        <string>MyAppCarPlayInstrumentClusterSceneDelegate</string>
      </dict>
    </array>
  </dict>
</dict>

Delegate:

extension TemplateApplicationSceneDelegate: CPTemplateApplicationInstrumentClusterSceneDelegate {
  
  func templateApplicationInstrumentClusterScene(
    _ templateApplicationInstrumentClusterScene: CPTemplateApplicationInstrumentClusterScene,
    didConnect instrumentClusterController: CPInstrumentClusterController
  ) {
    // Connected to Instrument Cluster
    TemplateManager.shared.clusterController(instrumentClusterController, didConnectWith: templateApplicationInstrumentClusterScene.contentStyle)
  }
  
  // ...

  func instrumentClusterControllerDidConnect(_ instrumentClusterWindow: UIWindow) {
    // Window in which to draw instrument cluster contents 
    self.instrumentClusterWindow = instrumentClusterWindow
  }

Considerations specific to the instrument cluster:

• handle navigation-specific events via CPInstrumentClusterControllerDelegate

  • zoom in/out

  • show compass

  • show speed limit

• your view may not be entirely visible

  • override viewSafeAreaInsetsDidChange

  • use safeAreaLayoutGuide