How can I create objective-C Framework for iOS Application

Question

I am in the middle of creating some generic classes that can be reusable for lot of application.

For Eg: Share Functions - if we need this functionality in a project then we currently I need to add a group of classes into that project and display the view-controller in that group of files, In this view controller there is buttons and what all need to handle sharing.

what my idea is if a project need such a functionality they need to add a framework and call a function in it or display the specified view in framework ie. no code level access given to whom you do that project. so if any issue is found in that generic classes (framework) I need to fix it and recreate the framework and change in the all project that uses this framework without affecting the existing project.

I am think not only the sharing function. More like a Image Slider, a PDF Viewer , a Browser. a Cover Flow. Currently I have code for all this Functions. But it take too much time to others to integrate it and use it. If any issue found we need to change the all project source classes.

I go through several links in google

Can I develop my own objective-C Framework for Cocoa Touch Applications?

http://www.cocoanetics.com/2010/04/universal-static-libraries/

A Guide for Creating your own Library for Cocoa(touch) development

I cannot understand how it use and some of them have not explain it fully. some missing in those links.

thanks in advance

Solution 1

Check out this guide on creating static iOS frameworks:

https://github.com/jverkoey/iOS-Framework

Solution 2

We created Framework in Objective c, It's work Perfect.

By Follow Below Simple Steps to create Framework

1) Create new framework as ,

In xcode select

 file =>New =>Project =>cocoatouchframework =>Next =>GiveframeworkName =>Create  

2) Add .h and .m files in project, which is used for create Framework.

3) Add files in Public Headers in build phases, this file will display in your framework.

4) Click on project name DemoFramework then select + button then select

Cross-platform =>Aggregate 

5) Add Run Script

6) Add below code in Run script to Aggregate(marge)iPhone and simulator framework.

   #  ============Script Start==============
   if [ "${ACTION}" = "build" ]
   then
   # Set the target folders and the final framework product.
   INSTALL_DIR=${SYMROOT}/DemoFramework.framework
   DEVICE_DIR=${SYMROOT}/Debug-iphoneos
   SIMULATOR_DIR=${SYMROOT}/Debug-iphonesimulator

  # Create and renews the final product folder.
  mkdir -p "${INSTALL_DIR}"
  rm -rf "${INSTALL_DIR}"
  rm -rf "${INSTALL_DIR}/DemoFramework"

 # Copy the header files to the final product folder.
 ditto "${DEVICE_DIR}/DemoFramework.framework/Headers" 
 "${INSTALL_DIR}/Headers"

 # Copy the info.plist file to the final product folder
 ditto "${DEVICE_DIR}/DemoFramework.framework/info.plist" 
"${INSTALL_DIR}"

# Copy the ResoureBundle.bundle file to the final product folder
ditto "${DEVICE_DIR}/DemoFramework.framework/ResourceBundle.bundle" 
"${INSTALL_DIR}/ResourceBundle.bundle"

# Use the Lipo Tool to merge both binary files (i386 + armv6/armv7) 
 into one Universal final product.
 lipo -create "${DEVICE_DIR}/DemoFramework.framework/DemoFramework" 
"${SIMULATOR_DIR}/DemoFramework.framework/DemoFramework" -output 
"${INSTALL_DIR}/DemoFramework"
 fi
 #  ============Script End==============

7) Now build the project in Three steps

1) Build for iPhone device .

You will see framework is created for iPhone device and framework location is show in derived data of project as below .

2) Build for simulator.

You will see framework is created for Simulator and framework location is show in derived data of project as below .

3) This is final step to create framework, select Aggregate in build option and build the application see screen shot as below .

Finally your framework is created use this framework in any application, The Framework location is in derived data as below.

Hopes this easy steps help someone to create framework in objective C.

Solution 3

I'm guessing that what you are asking for is how to create a shared dynamic library for iOS; and the long and short of it is: You can't.

The only kind of library supported is the static library; so whenever you make changes to your library; every application that uses it needs to be recompiled.

Solution 4

http://accu.org/index.php/journals/1594 offers detailed instructions.

OCHamcrest does it by taking a copy of the OS X version of the framework, and replacing its dynamic library with an iOS static library. (Xcode 4 version coming soon.)

View more solutions

Comments

[ipmcc]

This. Also, don't be fooled by looking around the OS. The OS is allowed to (and does) vend and consume shared dynamic library frameworks, non-OS developers can't. If you think about it, it doesn't buy you much on iOS: Your app runs in it's own sandbox, and to allow arbitrary shared dynamic libraries on the platform could potentially subvert that mechanism (at the very least, it complicates the matter). I won't hold my breath waiting for this.

[Naveen Shan]

thanks Williham, But I was create a framework with .a extention for using in xcode but it is C code. eg: pjzip.

[Naveen Shan]

I think this is the answer what I am searching.. But I now I am busy with some other project so I will come back with the result within a couple of week

[Jon Reid]

The approach used by OCHamcrest has been to use a Run Script. I have found that this doesn't work as well in Xcode 4, so I am extracting the script from the project and will run it externally.

[Jon Reid]

Ah, but you can fake a framework that contains a static library. A single instance won't be shared across apps, so each app will have its own copy. But the framework is easier to manage than static library + headers.

[Williham Totland]

@JonReid: That might be; but from what I can see from your answer, managing the build of the framework is distinctly less easier to manage.

[Jon Reid]

True. Harder for the producer, easier for the consumer. If you're both, it may be a wash.

[Naveen Shan]

Can you please explain how can we execute the script externally without using xcode.

[Jon Reid]

Execute the script from Terminal.

[Ben H]

i got this to work with xcode 4.6.3, but unfortunately the instructions are pretty out of date. look at the issues list to find fixes.

[valeCocoa]

I'm afraid there's a problem with your script: mkdir -p "${INSTALL_DIR}" rm -rf "${INSTALL_DIR}"