June 10, 2024
PRESS RELEASE
Apple empowers builders to drive innovation forward by providing cutting-edge tools and resources.
Xcode’s enhancements and Swift updates, combined with novel APIs, empower developers to build high-caliber applications of unparalleled excellence.
Apple today unveiled a suite of groundbreaking tools and technologies designed to empower developers globally to build more powerful and eco-friendly apps across all Apple platforms. With Xcode 16, developers can accelerate their learning journey and boost productivity thanks to innovative features such as Swift Help and intelligent code completion capabilities. Newly introduced and extensively revamped APIs empower developers with the tools to elevate their applications and unveil captivating possibilities.
“At Apple, we’re committed to empowering developers globally with the latest technologies and resources to create incredible apps,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Developer Relations. “With cutting-edge innovation powering Xcode 16 and the latest platform APIs, we’ve designed a premier toolset for developers to craft exceptional applications.” What they’ll create next is something we’re eager to witness.
Xcode 16 sets a new standard for developer productivity, offering options and performance enhancements that enable developers to build unique apps faster than ever before.
Swift Help empowers developers to focus on more strategic tasks by seamlessly handling routine coding responsibilities. Integrating seamlessly with Xcode, the tool stays abreast of the latest software development kits (SDKs) and Swift language updates, ensuring developers always have access to the most up-to-date coding capabilities that effortlessly merge with their projects. With SwiftHelp, discovering novel frameworks and experimenting with innovative ideas is just a single inquiry away. Swift Help leverages a reliable model trained in the cloud, built with privacy and security at its core as with all Apple developer tools. While Builders’ code doesn’t persist data on servers, its primary purpose lies in processing requests, rather than serving as a repository for long-term storage.
The newly introduced predictive code completion engine in Xcode leverages a singular model specifically trained for Swift and Apple Software Development Kits (SDKs), providing developers with tailored coding suggestions. Code completion is now fuelled entirely by Apple Silicon and machine learning advancements, allowing it to run seamlessly locally on a developer’s system – ensuring code remains completely private, and developers can access relevant suggestions swiftly, even when working offline.
Xcode’s preview feature now leverages a novel dynamic linking infrastructure, utilizing identical construct artifacts for both preview rendering and code execution, thereby streamlining the development process and fostering greater productivity as users seamlessly transition between designing in preview mode and coding their app.
With Xcode 16, developers now have unparalleled ease in simulating and testing app behavior from the moment they begin building, enabling them to evaluate performance under real-world conditions without delay. Now, developers can effortlessly customize and review the privacy policies, licence agreements, and subscription group names for their mobile applications.
Swift 6 boosts developer productivity and code clarity by introducing novel capabilities. As multi-core architectures have significantly boosted the performance of devices, Apple’s Swift has consistently introduced features to simplify concurrent programming. Swift 6 now incorporates compile-time data-race detection, enabling developers to identify and prevent concurrent access issues in their projects from the very start of the development process. This development enables early detection and swift resolution of errors across the entire codebase, thereby fortifying code security and maintainability over time.
At WWDC 2024, Apple celebrated a major milestone: the 10-year anniversary of Swift, its popular programming language. Since its introduction, SwiftUI has enabled developers to craft exceptional user interfaces seamlessly across Apple’s diverse range of platforms. As we speak, nearly one million apps leverage Swift, seamlessly integrated throughout Apple’s entire software ecosystem – from applications and frameworks, to firmware such as Safe Enclave.
Ten years on, Apple remains resolutely committed to continuously improving Swift’s functionality and nurturing a thriving community of developers through collaborative efforts. Apple is expanding the availability of Swift to a wider range of developers and programmers, by supporting more code editors that utilize the Language Server Protocol. Fostering growth, a newly established GitHub organization dedicated to Swift is set to spearhead several pivotal initiatives that will have a profound impact on the Swift ecosystem, including the Swift compiler, Basis, and other crucial libraries.
The newly introduced Swift Testing framework offers a set of builder APIs that enable developers to craft checks with ease. The tool offers seamless cross-platform compatibility, making it easy for developers to write checks that can be executed on various platforms and domains with minimal effort. The framework boasts a highly flexible tagging system that enables developers to configure their tests and blueprints with ease. Swift Testing is ideal for a wide range of Swift applications, spanning from mobile apps to server-side development.
Since the launch of Recreation Porting Toolkit, game developers have had the capability to bring their titles to Apple devices at an unprecedented pace, allowing gamers to enjoy a wider range of content on their Macs. The Recreation Porting Toolkit 2 elevates porting to new heights by incorporating the most-in-demand features requested by game developers, thereby simplifying the process of delivering exceptional gaming experiences on Mac, as well as iPhone and iPad. Whether porting a live game or one currently in development for Apple devices, the Recreation Porting Toolkit 2 streamlines workflow and reduces downtime. With enhanced Windows game compatibility, powerful shader debugging tools, and unified Xcode updates allowing developers to streamline their game code and shaders across devices, creating exceptional gaming experiences on iPhone, iPad, and Mac has never been more seamless?
Apple’s imaginative professionals continue drawing builders globally, who tap into their unique strengths to craft innovative spatial experiences – all fueled by visionOS, a game-changing spatial operating system seamlessly merging digital content with the physical world? Introduces novel APIs and frameworks, empowering developers to craft sophisticated and intricate spatial experiences that were previously unimaginable.
With the advent of new volumetric APIs, developers gain precise control over the visual representation of 3D objects within their applications, enabling the seamless coexistence of even the most sophisticated spatial apps for an unparalleled multi-tasking experience. TabletopKit simplifies the process of creating immersive spatial app experiences that can be anchored to flat surfaces, such as factory floors or tabletop game boards. RealityKit streamlines development for apps that cater to multiple Apple devices, slashing development time and enhancing workflows for universal apps.
With the introduction of innovative APIs, enhanced toolsets, and streamlined development processes, builders can effortlessly craft breathtaking and engaging environments within their applications. Developers can now effortlessly craft extraordinary spatial SharePlay experiences, and those without Apple Vision Pro hardware can leverage the Simulator to design and test SharePlay-based applications seamlessly. VisionOS 2 also enables seamless integration with HealthKit, allowing apps to securely access and share health data in a private manner.
New enterprise APIs will empower businesses and innovators to turbocharge their workflows across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, aerospace, and automotive, unlocking new possibilities for growth.
With the launch of the new Controls API, builders can empower customers to perform a wider range of tasks from anywhere, including quickly unlocking their vehicle or accessing their preferred third-party camera directly from the Control Center.
The Accessory Setup Kit enables developers to effortlessly and securely connect Bluetooth devices through their app, without requiring access to all nearby Bluetooth devices, while keeping other devices private.
With the updated GoodStack on Apple Watch, developers can leverage cues such as time, date, location, wake-up, and bedtime, along with other triggers, to enable their apps to appear as interactive widgets, allowing for a more personalized and context-aware experience. For the first time ever, apps that assist with staying active will automatically appear on Apple Watch.
With the introduction of a new watchOS double-tap API, developers can now designate this intuitive gesture for specific aspects of their Apple Watch app experience.
TestFlight enables developers to collect valuable feedback from testers throughout the testing and launch process, ultimately enriching their app’s overall development. With enhanced TestFlight features, developers can now engage testers by platform and operating system, enabling them to receive more targeted feedback on how to improve their apps.
TestFlight invitations will now seamlessly integrate the beta app’s description, app category, and optional screenshots to effectively highlight new features and content for prospective testers. Builders now have access to new metrics that enable them to examine public hyperlink engagement, including tracking invitation acceptance and decline rates.
For more than 15 years, the App Store has provided a seamless platform for developers to reach a global audience, distribute their apps and games, and scale their businesses. Throughout the past year, the App Store has introduced innovative approaches for developers to increase their app visibility and unveiled fresh opportunities for generating revenue through subscription-based models.
Now, developers can easily submit their apps’ future content and updates for evaluation to showcase on the App Store through streamlined nominations. Construction companies can submit their nominations through the App Store Connect portal, providing details such as publication dates and relevant countries or regions. The Professional App Retailer editorial team meticulously reviews each submission to effectively connect outstanding apps and games with users who will truly appreciate them.
Customized product pages empower builders to curate unique content and tailored options available within their mobile applications. With customizable product web pages featuring deep hyperlinks, developers can effortlessly guide users directly from a specific product webpage on the App Store to a corresponding location within their app? By employing deep hyperlinks, advertisers can provide seamless user experiences by linking directly from search ads to specific in-app destinations, ensuring a consistent journey for customers from ad impression to landing page.
To re-engage lapsed subscribers of their apps, developers can offer revamped incentives to tempt them back on board. Eligible clients can discover these offers within the App Store, alongside their apps. For macOS applications, developers can offer reduced-price or complimentary subscription periods, redeemable using provided promo codes, thereby incentivizing retention of previous subscribers.
StoreKit’s enhanced views provide developers with greater flexibility to design and manage their in-app purchase offerings.
App Analytics has been significantly enhanced to provide builders with a deeper understanding of their business and the performance of their applications. Experiences now encompass a wide range of recent metrics, enabling builders to seek out innovative solutions for improvement.
The App Store’s Join app for iOS and iPadOS now features a modernized user interface, alongside a fresh approach for developers to promote their apps’ unique moments. Developers can seamlessly create advertising assets from the App Store Connect hub to share directly on their social media platforms, whether they’re introducing a brand-new app or delivering an exciting update. When an app is showcased as App of the Day by the App Store, developers receive a push notification from Apple Developer Center, prompting them to craft a unique marketing asset to celebrate this achievement.
As we continue to evolve, our updates are now an integral part of an increasingly diverse array of tools, cutting-edge technologies, and resources that Apple provides for developers to harness and master. Discover the latest advancements in cutting-edge technologies and fascinating features at .
In 1984, Apple pioneered a new era of personal computing by launching the Macintosh, a groundbreaking innovation that transformed the way people accessed and utilized information. As we speak, Apple spearheads global innovation with its iconic portfolio of products: iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Pro. Apple’s ecosystem of six software platforms – iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS – enables a cohesive experience across all Apple devices, empowering users with innovative services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to crafting exceptional products that leave a lasting impact on the world, striving to make it a better place than when they found it.
Press Contacts
Adam Dema
Apple
Apple Media Helpline