CODEWITHSUNDEEP
iosobjective-ciphoneframeworks
Hashim Khan
Hashim Khan

Reputation: 440

How to create an umbrella framework in iOS SDK?

I want to create an umbrella framework in iOS SDK. My requirements are:

I have a framework called "Framework A", I want to create another framework called "Framework B". I want to add "Framework A" into "Framework B" as a sub-framework and users only need to import "Framework B" in their project to use both "Framework A" and "Framework B". In other words, "Framework B" will work as a wrapper for "Framework A". I read out from Apple via following link regarding framework creations:

https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPFrameworks/Concepts/FrameworkAnatomy.html

but it doesn't expose the way to create an umbrella framework.

Please suggest step by step method to create an umbrella framework.

Upvotes: 22

Views: 23721

Answers (2)

Mohd Iftekhar Qurashi
Mohd Iftekhar Qurashi

Reputation: 2405

We all know that creating umbrella framework is highly discouraged by Apple. But apple also says it’s possible via Xcode. https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPFrameworks/Concepts/CreationGuidelines.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20002254-BAJHGGGA

I achieved creating umbrella framework via these simple approach on Xcode 5.1. We just need to do take care of some special configuration to linking sub-framework to umbrella framework. Here was my approach:-

  1. Install real Static iOS Framework on Xcode 5.1 from the method described here:- https://github.com/kstenerud/iOS-Universal-Framework.

Now the ‘Static iOS Framework’ can be created using the new option in Xcode.

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  1. Create a Static iOS Framework and change the Target-> Build Settings-> Architectures-> Architectures settings to Standard architectures. This will create the framework with all the Standard Architectures.

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  1. Adjust Public Header files in Target-> Build Phase-> Copy Headers. We can set the header file visibility here.

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  1. Link SubFramework to UmbrellaFramework in Target->Build Phase -> Link Binary With Libraries. We may also need to link other standard framework depending on our use.

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  1. We may also need to add Bundle Resources in Target-> Build Phase-> Copy Bundle Resources if we need.

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  1. We may also need to add -ObjC to Target-> Build Settings->Linking-> Other Linker Flag, as we may need to load a large subFramework where there are many categories to load or need to load additional frameworks also.

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  1. Add Copy File using Target-> Build Phases-> +-> New Copy File Build Phase.

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  1. Change it’s Destination to Frameworks and add SubFramework.framework there. This will copy SubFramework to Umbrella Framework.

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  1. For the demo I Added two demo methods in UmbrellaFramework class. One to demonstrating umbrella framework method call and one for calling subFramework method.

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  1. Select iOS Device and Archive the UmbrellaFramework project from Menu->Product->Archive. This will create our umbrella framework and that’s all.

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  1. Now it’s time to create a new demo project, and link it with UmbrellaFramework.

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  1. Just import UmbrellaFramework header and call the two methods. It will show the Hello messages in log window.

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Upvotes: 39

ehrpaulhardt
ehrpaulhardt

Reputation: 1656

To create a Swift based Umbrella Framework that contains a Sub-Framework you can follow the step-by-step guide written down here: Umbrella framework

Upvotes: 2

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