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Xcode 10.1 and creating Xcode extensions

Alex Zavatone
 

Looking at Apple’s docs for creating an Xcode Source Editor Extension and I just noticed that there is no option to create a MacOS Xcode Source Editor Extension or any MacOS Application Extension.

Is this now not possible?  Any ideas how to do this?
Jonathan Prescott
 

Not quite sure what you mean by an MacOS Xcode extension?  Since Xcode only runs on MacOS, any extension you write for Xcode would seem to be a MacOS Xcode extension.  I have a ton of Xcode extensions that I use, and I only program for MacOS at this time.

As far as a MacOS extension, you can build Finder extensions, Mail extensions, extensions for other applications.  You can also write kernel extensions to extend Darwin, contextual menu extensions, and lots of other means to extend functionality amongst the applications that make up MacOS.  Not all are represented by Xcode templates, unfortunately.  How to build such extensions is also widely distributed both amongst Apple documentation and common lore.

Jonathan

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Jonathan Prescott



On Feb 28, 2019, at 4:23 PM, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

Looking at Apple’s docs for creating an Xcode Source Editor Extension and I just noticed that there is no option to create a MacOS Xcode Source Editor Extension or any MacOS Application Extension.

Is this now not possible?  Any ideas how to do this?
Jonathan Prescott
 

If you mean some extension beyond the Xcode source code editor, like, support for a language, or debugger, or source code manager, etc., there is no Apple-approved extension beyond mechanisms for handling source code text, or file system access.  Since Xcode 8, the ad-hoc mechanisms that people discovered or reverse engineered to extend Xcode (for example, there was a Fortran extension that I used to integrate Fortran numerical routines that worked pretty well) were cut off with the signing requirements and sandboxing that Xcode now puts extensions in.  

Jonathan

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Jonathan Prescott



On Feb 28, 2019, at 4:23 PM, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

Looking at Apple’s docs for creating an Xcode Source Editor Extension and I just noticed that there is no option to create a MacOS Xcode Source Editor Extension or any MacOS Application Extension.

Is this now not possible?  Any ideas how to do this?
Alex Zavatone
 


On Feb 28, 2019, at 7:39 PM, Jonathan Prescott via Groups.Io <jprescott12@...> wrote:

Not quite sure what you mean by an MacOS Xcode extension?  Since Xcode only runs on MacOS, any extension you write for Xcode would seem to be a MacOS Xcode extension.  I have a ton of Xcode extensions that I use, and I only program for MacOS at this time.


I’m using the exact term that is specified in the Apple documentation link that was provided.  The link says to create a macOS template of Xcode Source Editor Extension.

I tried creating a new project this on two computers running Xcode 10.1 and there is no such target option for macOS.

Look at the link below.


Create a New macOS Project in Xcode

To create a source editor extension, begin by creating a new macOS project in Xcode. Add a new Xcode Source Editor Extension target to your project,



As far as a MacOS extension, you can build Finder extensions, Mail extensions, extensions for other applications.  You can also write kernel extensions to extend Darwin, contextual menu extensions, and lots of other means to extend functionality amongst the applications that make up MacOS.  Not all are represented by Xcode templates, unfortunately.  How to build such extensions is also widely distributed both amongst Apple documentation and common lore.

Jonathan

---------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan Prescott



On Feb 28, 2019, at 4:23 PM, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

Looking at Apple’s docs for creating an Xcode Source Editor Extension and I just noticed that there is no option to create a MacOS Xcode Source Editor Extension or any MacOS Application Extension.

Is this now not possible?  Any ideas how to do this?
Ben Kennedy
 

On 28 Feb 2019, at 7:24 pm, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

I tried creating a new project this on two computers running Xcode 10.1 and there is no such target option for macOS.

I beg to differ, using Xcode 10.1:


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Alex Zavatone
 

OK.  Awesome.  You see it. I tried this using Xcode 10.1 on one Mac running 10.13.6 and another running 10.14.x

Neither had that option.

Is the center part of the window actually a scroll view but without any indication that it is scrollable?

I am betting it is.  Jesus, I want to beat some Tog into the heads of the new UX designers.  There is NO indicator that the center area is scrollable at all on both of my Macs.  And even if I try to filter on Xcode, nothing shows up if I do.

What happens if you filter on Xcode?

On Feb 28, 2019, at 9:28 PM, Ben Kennedy <ben-groups@...> wrote:

On 28 Feb 2019, at 7:24 pm, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

I tried creating a new project this on two computers running Xcode 10.1 and there is no such target option for macOS.

I beg to differ, using Xcode 10.1:

<Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 7.27.22 pm.png>

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Ben Kennedy
 

On 28 Feb 2019, at 7:33 pm, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav=mac.com@groups.io> wrote:

Is the center part of the window actually a scroll view but without any indication that it is scrollable?
Yep.

I am betting it is. Jesus, I want to beat some Tog into the heads of the new UX designers. There is NO indicator that the center area is scrollable at all on both of my Macs.
Welcome to 2011. Let me introduce you a preference setting that's been around since Mac OS 10.5: https://heresthethingblog.com/2015/03/10/mac-tip-macs-scroll-bars/

And even if I try to filter on Xcode, nothing shows up if I do.

What happens if you filter on Xcode?
That's weird. It filters correctly. If I enter "co", for example, it narrows down to several including "Content Blocker Extension" and "Xcode Source Editor Extension".

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Gary L. Wade
 

It appears the confusion comes from the fact you get application extensions while adding a new target to an existing project rather than from a new project.

On Feb 28, 2019, at 7:33 PM, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

OK.  Awesome.  You see it. I tried this using Xcode 10.1 on one Mac running 10.13.6 and another running 10.14.x

Neither had that option.

Is the center part of the window actually a scroll view but without any indication that it is scrollable?

I am betting it is.  Jesus, I want to beat some Tog into the heads of the new UX designers.  There is NO indicator that the center area is scrollable at all on both of my Macs.  And even if I try to filter on Xcode, nothing shows up if I do.

What happens if you filter on Xcode?

On Feb 28, 2019, at 9:28 PM, Ben Kennedy <ben-groups@...> wrote:

On 28 Feb 2019, at 7:24 pm, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

I tried creating a new project this on two computers running Xcode 10.1 and there is no such target option for macOS.

I beg to differ, using Xcode 10.1:

<Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 7.27.22 pm.png>

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Jon Gotow
 

Bingo - you have to create an application project, then create a new target to make an extension. I suppose that's because extensions generally have to be embedded inside a host application.

- Jon

On Feb 28, 2019, at 8:41 PM, Gary L. Wade <garywade@desisoftsystems.com> wrote:

It appears the confusion comes from the fact you get application extensions while adding a new target to an existing project rather than from a new project.
Alex Zavatone
 

Look at what you are seeing, the first image in the Apple link and what I am seeing.   

This is what I see when I do a new project.




If I filter on Xcode, no templates are listed.

Compare this to the image that you posted and the Fig. 1 in the Apple link.


Xcode screenshot showing the different kinds of project targets. Among the available targets, Xcode Source Editor Extension is selected.


On Feb 28, 2019, at 9:28 PM, Ben Kennedy <ben-groups@...> wrote:

On 28 Feb 2019, at 7:24 pm, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

I tried creating a new project this on two computers running Xcode 10.1 and there is no such target option for macOS.

I beg to differ, using Xcode 10.1:

<Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 7.27.22 pm.png>

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Alex Zavatone
 


On Feb 28, 2019, at 9:41 PM, Gary L. Wade <garywade@...> wrote:

It appears the confusion comes from the fact you get application extensions while adding a new target to an existing project rather than from a new project.

I really hate Apple most of the time.  

This is one of those times.

Thank you, everyone.





On Feb 28, 2019, at 7:33 PM, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

OK.  Awesome.  You see it. I tried this using Xcode 10.1 on one Mac running 10.13.6 and another running 10.14.x

Neither had that option.

Is the center part of the window actually a scroll view but without any indication that it is scrollable?

I am betting it is.  Jesus, I want to beat some Tog into the heads of the new UX designers.  There is NO indicator that the center area is scrollable at all on both of my Macs.  And even if I try to filter on Xcode, nothing shows up if I do.

What happens if you filter on Xcode?

On Feb 28, 2019, at 9:28 PM, Ben Kennedy <ben-groups@...> wrote:

On 28 Feb 2019, at 7:24 pm, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io <zav@...> wrote:

I tried creating a new project this on two computers running Xcode 10.1 and there is no such target option for macOS.

I beg to differ, using Xcode 10.1:

<Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 7.27.22 pm.png>

b
Roland King
 


On 3/1/19 12:58 PM, Alex Zavatone via Groups.Io wrote:

On Feb 28, 2019, at 9:41 PM, Gary L. Wade <garywade@...> wrote:

It appears the confusion comes from the fact you get application extensions while adding a new target to an existing project rather than from a new project.

I really hate Apple most of the time.  

This is one of those times.


I don't see why. The documentation is pretty clear, from the Apple docs (https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcodekit/creating_a_source_editor_extension)

   
    "Create a New macOS Project in Xcode
    To create a source editor extension, begin by creating a new macOS project in Xcode. Add a new Xcode Source Editor Extension target to your project, as shown in Figure 1, and activate its associated scheme when prompted. "


and from the blog post you posted a few hours ago (http://www.vadimbulavin.com/xcode-source-editor-extension-tutorial/,)


    "Xcode editor extensions cannot exist on their own and must be wired up to a macOS application.

    First off, we create a macOS project in Xcode named LinesSorter."

    "Now add Xcode Source Editor Extension Target to your newly created project. Let’s call it SourceEditorExtension. Tap Activate when it prompts you Activate “SourceEditorExtension” scheme."
Steve Mills
 

On Feb 28, 2019, at 23:04:57, Roland King <rols@rols.org> wrote:

I don't see why. The documentation is pretty clear, from the Apple docs (https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcodekit/creating_a_source_editor_extension)


"Create a New macOS Project in Xcode
To create a source editor extension, begin by creating a new macOS project in Xcode. Add a new Xcode Source Editor Extension target to your project, as shown in Figure 1, and activate its associated scheme when prompted. "
What is sorely missing from that paragraph is the word "application". It just says "new macOS project" but fails to mention what TYPE of project. It's highly confusing and sounds like they don't know what they're talking about, as if they want you to be in the new project dialog when you "add a new Xcode Source Editor Extension target to your project."

--
Steve Mills
Drummer, Mac geek
Ben Kennedy
 

On 01 Mar 2019, at 6:22 am, Steve Mills via Groups.Io <sjmills=mac.com@groups.io> wrote:

What is sorely missing from that paragraph is the word "application". It just says "new macOS project" but fails to mention what TYPE of project.
It seems to me that it doesn't actually matter (at least insofar as being able to create the target). I tried creating new projects with Cocoa Framework, Command Line Tool, Screensaver, and AppleScript App, and in every case I was able to add a new target where Xcode Source Editor Extension was an available template.

It's highly confusing and sounds like they don't know what they're talking about, as if they want you to be in the new project dialog when you "add a new Xcode Source Editor Extension target to your project."
I don't agree. The subheading at the top of page is "Add and configure a source editor extension in your Xcode project." And the paragraph you quoted yourself prescribes two steps: 1. begin by creating a project; 2. add a target to the project.

The article seems to be written for an audience who already understands the difference between a project and a target. That seems like a reasonable expectation for an Xcode developer (particularly one interested in creating an Xcode Source Editor Extension).

Despite all this, did you file a Radar on the documentation?

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