I'm looking for a way to update stringsdict localization files over-the-air without having to release a new version in the appStore. So ideally I want my stringdict files on a webserver, and the iOS app should download these files from the website and update the local strings.
After doing some research, I realized that we cannot update files in the bundle it was shipped in however I found some reports saying we could store/load localizations in/from the application support folder.
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Can this also be applied to stringsdict files because I'm trying but no success so far.
Basically you need to create a .bundle with your new strings and make your app download it. After that, I think it's possible to create a NSBundle object using your freshly downloaded translations and swizzle a couple of methods from the main NSBundle currently used by the system.
I've tried something similar, but found out that it's much easier to integrate an existing service such as Smartling or Lokalise. They already have an SDK that allows you to update your translation over the air.
Also I found it's much easier to manage all my translations there.
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I'm writing an iOS app which needs a ~60MB resource file to work correctly. I would like to provide this file with the app itself, so it can work straight after installing it from the store without downloading extra data at the first launch.
I also want to be able to update such file by downloading a new version of it from a specific URL. I thought the most appropriate folder to store this file would be "Library/Application support", as specified in the guidelines provided by Apple itself.
My problem is that I can't find a way to provide the "Library/Application support" folder with a default population using xcode 9. I don't want to have multiple copies of this file around to avoid wasting space, and I want the possibility to update this file to a newer version, overwriting / replacing the old one.
This might be a newbie question (I'm a newbie of iOS development) but I really couldn't find anything related to pre-populating that folder.
You cannot delete anything from your distribution bundle. It's just not allowed.
So you options are:
Distribute the resource with the app, and create a copy in "Library/Application support".
Don't include the resource with the app, and download it on first run.
You didn't say what the resource is, so I don't know if this would be an option, but... Include only a portion of the resource with the app, copy it into "Library/Application support" and "update it" on first run.
I want to see the code of an iOS app.
The app I downloaded is .deb.
First question: Is it possible to install .deb file on iOS or I downloaded a wrong file?
After unpacking the .deb file, I got some files, including .nib, .storyboard and some other files.
My main question is, How to decompile these .nib files?
I tried to decompile these files using NibToXibConverter, but I didn't succeed.
Answer to your first question:
I think you downloaded the wrong file. .deb files for iOS are common for jailbreak community and not for apps, I think all of the Cydia stuffs are packed into .deb's. If your app is especially made for the jailbreak scene then you may try to install it using Cydia's auto install feature on a jailbroken device.
Answer to your main question:
This is general info about decompiling and modifying iOS apps (not specific for nibs, but you may still find it useful).
iOS apps are distibuted in .ipa archives, which are ordinary zip archives. They contain, usually one executable in the form of Mach-O file, and resources like .plist, sounds, images - every resource you include in your xcode project. Decompiling the executable file is only possible on jailbroken iDevice, because it is encrypted especially for the current device and the magic key to decrypt the binary is burned inside the device CPU and as far as I know there is no software way to read that key. The encryption system here is called FairPlay.
Briefly described, one way to decrypt that binary is to have the app installed on a jailbroken device, and launch it from command line using a debugger (gdb) which you can download from Cydia. You have to set a breakpoint somewhere, and when your code execution pauses at the breakpoint, you are doing a memory dump of the device ram - and that is your decrypted bin.
So when you have the decrypted binary, you can run one tool called "class-dump", and get the information for declared classes and their methods if the app is written in Objective C. Once you know this information you can alter the implementation of given method from some class used in your app using "Cydia Subtstrate" a.k.a "Mobile Substrate". In fact that is the way all of the jailbroken iOS tweaks are made. Basically you are hooking a method call, and when that method get invoked, it uses your implementation. Furthermore your implementation can call the original implementation, and that is really useful if you want to make some small code addition.
I am not sure whether those things possible in Swift, but if you are dealing with a Hybrid app like the ones done with cordova, phonegap, etc., then you can see all of its javascript source because it is persisted as a resource inside the "ipa" file. In addition you can alter that javascript code directly if you have a jailbroken device and find where the app is installed on file system (usually /var/containers/Bundle/Application/uuid_for_your_app/). However, I think there is no way to get that patched version and redistribute it (correct me if I'm wrong).
Suppose, I have some external executable file(call it a .swift file) that are not linked with the xcode project at compile time. That means, I did not have any of those files in my project tree when built the project.
For an example, lets say I have a file called exc.swift. This file was not included while I built the project.
Is there any way that I can execute that executable (the exc.swift) file at runtime?
In android there is a way by using DexClassLoader class. That class is responsible for executing code not installed as part of an application.
The documentation for that class is here.
Is there an iOS equivalent version of this? or in any way is this achievable?
If you are hoping to distribute the app that you are writing, then this is an absolute no-no. The app store review guidelines clearly state "Apps that install or launch other executable code will be rejected" so no app that exhibits this functionality will ever get onto the app store. You may be able to find or devise some kind of hack or workaround to get this kind of thing to work, but it will only ever be for your own amusement.
Currently we're using premake5 to generate our project files, as we develop multi-platform. Obviously we don't need premake to know anything about the extension (as it's iOS8 exclusive feature) but we're facing a problem: Every time we regenerate the main app project file (which happens sometimes) we're forced to manually add all the files and configure the extension, which is dull and error-prone.
Is there a way to add the app extension (a Today Widget) to a separate project? Pbxproj files aren't version control friendly as its contents seem to be shuffled every time you save. So, saving a patch file with all the changes needed doesn't seem like an alternative.
I know this is a broad question about a convenience issue, maybe seasoned Xcode devs know some trickery (or maybe it's just something obvious we're missing here).
Thanks all in advance.
My iOS app uses data that is packaged by theme into theme bundles. For example theme_math.bundle, theme_history.bundle, etc. A theme bundle contains a .sqlite file and images. The idea would be that those bundles can be downloaded when necessary by the app (theme_x.bundle.zip).
There are hundreds of themes that are stored in a database, and I'd like to automate the process of creating a bundle for every theme with the appropriate name.
Is this approach fine to deliver application content to an iOS app?
If using bundles is fine, how can I automate that process?
This would appear to be a fine idea. You can automate this by creating a shell program file, or use some other scripting language (python, ruby, etc).
A bundle is really just a folder that gets special treatment. It can have an icon when viewed in the Finder, etc. So your high level program will create a bundle (mkdir Name.bundle), then copy whatever resources you want into that directory - Name.bundle. When you're done zip the bundle up, and put it where it can be downloaded.
Bundles often have a plist inside with special flags set (as an executable on OSX does), but don't think you need this.
Its possible that you may need to set some special bits on the bundle for iOS to recognize it - I really don't know for sure. If so see this thread.