Escape From Alcatraz: The Brave New World of Xcode Extensions - Pragma Conference Verona, October 2016

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oizSiHeaGk

My talk/rant about Xcode Extensions, updated and given at #pragma Conference in Verona, Italy, October 2016.

Sample code: https://github.com/designatednerd/Xcode8ExtensionExample

Abstract:
Every iOS developer wants to tweak Xcode to get it to do exactly what they want it to do. For the last couple of years, a whole ecosystem of plugins grew around a package manager called Alcatraz. But In Xcode 8, Apple dropped the hammer on the undocumented plugin architecture. In its place, they've introduced Xcode Extensions: An official, documented way to start to make Xcode do what you want. Ellen will discuss the history and future of what can be done with these extensions, and walk through an example of creating one.

Transcript

1. ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ THE BRAVE NEW WORLD OF XCODE EXTENSIONS BY ELLEN SHAPIRO #PRAGMA CONF | VERONA, ITALIA | OCTOBER 2016 DESIGNATEDNERD.COM | SPOTHERO.COM | JUSTHUM.COM | @DESIGNATEDNERD
2. XCODE IS MY FRENEMY
12. XCODE AUTO-BASHER
13. XCODE GHOST !
17. EXTENSIONS!
18. EXTENSION GOOD NEWS
19. OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED
21. DOCUMENTED API
25. MAKING AN EXTENSION
26. 1. MAKE A HOST MAC APP
27. 2. ADD AN EXTENSION
31. XCSourceEditorExtension
32. XCSourceEditorCommand
33. 3. PREPARE FOR LAUNCH
34. sudo /usr/libexec/xpccachectl THEN TURN IT OFF AND ON AGAIN (ONLY ON 10.11 EL CAPITAN, NOT NEEDED ON 10.12 SIERRA)
38. TEMPTING THE DEMO GODS https://github.com/designatednerd/Xcode8ExtensionExample
39. DISTRIBUTION: LIKE ANY OTHER MAC APP
40. EXTENSION LIMITATIONS (ON A SCALE OF ! TO ")
41. !: EXTENSIONS ARE SANDBOXED AND CODE-SIGNED
42. !: NO DEFAULT KEY BINDINGS (USERS HAVE TO SET THEM UP INDIVIDUALLY)
43. ☹: MUST BE INVOKED BY THE USER
44. !: NO USER INTERFACE
45. !: NO ACCESS TO FILE OR PROJECT STRUCTURE
46. !: CAN'T EMIT WARNINGS
47. DUMB THINGS I DID WHICH YOU SHOULD NOT DO
48. FORGOT TO UNINSTALL OLD PLUGIN TOOLS
52. FORGOT TO ENABLE CODE SIGNING
53. LAUNCHED THE WRONG VERSION OF XCODE
57. YOU CAN AVOID THIS ENTIRELY
65. MINI DEMO
66. OBLIGATORY SUMMARY SLIDE! ▸ Alcatraz is dead in Xcode 8. RIP. ▸ Xcode extensions are officially supported, and that's good. ▸ Xcode extensions must have a host macOS app, but that app doesn't actually have to do anything. ▸ Xcode extensions are pretty limited. File radars.
67. CODE! https://github.com/designatednerd/ Xcode8ExtensionExampl
68. VIDEOS! ▸ WWDC 2016 Session 414: Using and extending the Xcode Source Editor: https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/414/ ▸ Daniel Jalkut at try! Swift NYC: https://realm.io/news/jalkut- extending-xcode-8/ ▸ Sam Davies for RayWenderlich.com [paid]: https:// videos.raywenderlich.com/screencasts/ios-10-creating-an-xcode-8- extension
69. QUICK OVERVIEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO PREFER TO READ! ▸ http://www.russbishop.net/xcode-extensions ▸ https://littlebitesofcocoa.com/239-creating-an-xcode-source- editor-extension ▸ http://allblue.me/xcode/2016/06/28/Build-your-own-Xcode-8- source-editor-extension/
70. LINKS! ▸ Roundup of extensions as of mid-August 2016: https:// theswiftdev.com/2016/08/17/xcode-8-extensions/ ▸ MMWormhole: https://github.com/mutualmobile/MMWormhole
71. ! SLIGHTLY TERRIFYING LINKS! ! ▸ Xcode Ghost details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XcodeGhost ▸ Strawhorse leaked document: https://theintercept.com/document/ 2015/03/10/strawhorse-attacking-macos-ios-software- development-kit ▸ Strawhorse Context: https://theintercept.com/2015/03/10/ispy- cia-campaign-steal-apples-secrets/
72. RADARS TO DUPE! If you'd like any of this functionality, please dupe these radars: ▸ Allow callbacks anytime a file with a given extension is edited: http://www.openradar.me/26823522 ▸ No Default key bindings: http://www.openradar.me/28170032 ▸ Can't emit warnings: http://www.openradar.me/28170362