Written by Cihat Gündüz Feli Bernutz

Description: Learn about the latest tools, technologies, and advancements to help you create even better apps across Apple platforms, including the all-new visionOS.

• What is a good platform?
• One where the most natural way to write code is also the best.

Swift

• Swift Macros make APIs easier to use without boilerplate code
• "expand macro" button in Xcode shows the generated code during the compilation process (to understand better)
• @AddAsync macro makes any completion-handler function available as an async-await API, too

SwiftUI

• Recent releases Logic Pro & Final Cut Pro make use of SwiftUI
• Pie Charts coming to Swift Charts
• More complete MapKit support
• Animations improved: New default style is .spring –> more bouncy apps
• Animated SF Symbols
• .animationPhase and keyframing for more detailed animations

Data Flow

• @State and @Environment enough, no @StateObject or @EnvironmentObject needed anymore
• @Observable macro replaces @Published and ObservableObject
• Automatic detection of fields are refrenced in SwiftUI

Persistence

• New Swift-native layer on top of Core Data
• Uses @Model macro to turn a class into a Model object
• Automatic support for persistence, iCloud, Redo/Undo
• @Attribute(.unique) like APIs for marking fields
• @Query(sort: .name) like APIs for querying in views

WidgetKit

• used in many places now (many OSes)
• simple actions possible using Button
• we need to identify the background with .containerBackground modifier & update padding to support new places
• easy "magic move" like animations
• @Preview macro shows Timeline in SwiftUI previews

TipKit

• customizable templates for educate users on first usage
• syncs "already shown" state across devices

Misc

• ShareLink can be used for new AirDrop support
• Game porting toolkit: 1. Evaluate with emulation, 2. Convert & compile shaders, 3. Convert graphics code
• AVCapture gets performance improvements
• ISO HDR API to display images
• Video Conferencing: Gesture-based animation effect triggers can be observed
• New ScreenCaptureKit picker
• external cameras can be added to IPad apps
• tvOS apps can use camera, e.g. games with gestures, or gesture-remote – via .continuityDevicePicker(...)

watchOS

• New .tabViewStyle(.verticalPage) for vertical pages
• custom Workout API for workout plans

Accessibility

• 1.3 billion people worldwide with disabilities
• Pauses Aimating Images (like GIFs)
• Dims Flashing Lights (when AVFoundation used)
• visionOD comes with many accessibility tools out of the box

Privacy

• New "add-only" calendar permissions
• "Private picker" mode in Photos for 3rd party apps
• New "Privacy Manifests" for 3rd-party SDKs so Xcode can automatically fill form in App Store Connect
• Communication Safety: sensitive content analysis framework, e.g. for nudity detection

StoreKit

• Collection of views: ProductView, SubscriptionStoreView
• Automatically displays applicable offers
• SKAdNetwork now supports re-engangement

Xcode

• Source Editor with better auto-completion
• Type-safe color and image assets through ImageResource and ColorResource (& more APIs)
• Git staging & unpushed commits built-in
• Redesigned test reports with heatmap
• UI tests now record video of interaction before fail
• Xcode Cloud: Distribute to TestFligth, Notariation, Redesigned Linter (up to 5x faster), Mergeable libraries

visionOS

• development with SwiftUI, RealityKit, and ARKit
• Shared Space: Default, like Desktop
• SwiftUI scenes: Window, Volume, Full Space (entire environment)
• 2D apps with 3D extends via .offset(z: ...)
• ornaments for toolbars/menus (on the left)
• RealityKit: Dynamic foveation (shaper where eyes look)
• ARKit: understands space adround use, finger/wrist or head for visionOD selection
• Simulator on macOS available – only VR mode, no AR mode (through iPhone Camera Continuity)
• Reality Composer Pro: Preview 3D content, integrates with Xcode build process
• TestFlight available on visionOS
• Unity: all advantages of visionOS
• User Input: hover effects via look (not communicated for privacy reasons), finger tap for click
• Early Preview: "Spacial Personas" – for Vison Pro to Vision Pro FaceTime calls
• Detailed Documentation & Tools available
• VisionPro Developer Labs in 6 locations for testing: Lodon, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Cupertino

WWDC23: 175 sessions, 40 for visionOS alone

Part of this note was originally published at fbernutz.github.io.