/System/Library/Frameworks

2013-03-22T23:44:38Z

Ninja: Updated list to modern frameworks and tidied up the list. I will be transferring the private frameworks from the previous list shortly.

== Summary ==
[[Frameworks]] are folders each containing a dynamic library and resources for that, library such as images and localization strings. All frameworks have the file extension <tt>.framework</tt>.

On the [[iOS]] there are 2 kinds of frameworks: '''public frameworks''' and '''private frameworks'''. Public frameworks are those ones endorsed by Apple and are allowed to be used in AppStore apps. Private frameworks are intended to be used only by original apps, and are more unstable against firmware changes, but many of the interesting features are in the private frameworks.

=== Public Frameworks ===
All public frameworks can be found inside <tt>[[/System/Library/Frameworks]]</tt>.

* [http://developer.apple.com/iphone/library/documentation/Miscellaneous/Conceptual/iPhoneOSTechOverview/iPhoneOSFrameworks/iPhoneOSFrameworks.html List of iOS Public Frameworks from Apple].
* [http://developer.apple.com/iphone/library/documentation/MusicAudio/Conceptual/CoreAudioOverview/CoreAudioFrameworks/CoreAudioFrameworks.html List of frameworks related to CoreAudio].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Framework
| 4.x
| 5.x
| 6.x
! Prefix
! Language
! Description
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Accelerate/Reference/AccelerateFWRef/_index.html Accelerate]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| cblas, vDSP
| C
| Vector and Matrix math, digital signal processing, large number handling, and image processing
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Accounts/Reference/AccountsFrameworkRef/_index.html Accounts]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| AC
| Obj-C
| Provides access to accounts in the Accounts database. Allows creation of accounts if none exsist. Only Twitter is avaliable in iOS 5.0 and later.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/AddressBook/Reference/AddressBook_iPhoneOS_Framework/_index.html AddressBook]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| AB
| Obj-C
| Provides access to the Address Book database.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/DeviceInformation/Reference/AdSupport_Framework/_index.html AdSupport]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| AS
| Obj-C
| Provides access to identifiers for serving adverts and a flag that indicates if limited tracking is on.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/AssetsLibrary/Reference/AssetsLibraryFramework/_index.html AssetsLibrary]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| AL
| Obj-C
| Used to access pictures and videos managed by the Photos application.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/MusicAudio/Reference/CAAudioTooboxRef/_index.html AudioToolbox]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| AU, Audio
| --
| Provides interfaces for recording, playback, stream parsing, and managing audio sessions. Part of CoreAudio
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/AudioUnit/Reference/AudioUnit_Framework/_index.html AudioUnit]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| AU, Audio
| --
| Interfaces for the loading of audio units and their use.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/AVFoundation/Reference/AVFoundationFramework/_index.html AVFoundation]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| AV
| Obj-C
| Used for playing and recording audio and video.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/CFNetwork/Reference/CFNetwork_Framework/_index.html CFNetwork]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CF
| C
| Intefaces for high-performance networking.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/MusicAudio/Reference/CACoreAudioReference/_index.html CoreAudio]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Audio
| C++
| Declares constants and data-types used by other interfaces in CoreAudio.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/CoreBluetooth/Reference/CoreBluetooth_Framework/_index.html CoreBluetooth]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CB
| Obj-C
| Provides access to Bluetooth peripherals (hardware).
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Cocoa/Reference/CoreData_ObjC/_index.html CoreData]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| NS
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for application data model manipulation.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/CoreFoundation/Reference/CoreFoundation_Collection/_index.html#/ CoreFoundation]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CF
| C
| Basic data management and services
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/CoreGraphics/Reference/CoreGraphics_Framework/_index.html CoreGraphics]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CG
| C
| APIs to interface with the Quartz engine, allows 2D rendering, etc.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/GraphicsImaging/Reference/CoreImagingRef/_index.html CoreImage]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CI
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for manipulating images and video.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/CoreLocation/Reference/CoreLocation_Framework/_index.html CoreLocation]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CL
| Obj-C
| Iterfaces for determining location.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/CoreMedia/Reference/CoreMediaFramework/_index.html CoreMedia]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CM
| C
| Low-level routines for manipulating audio and video.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/MusicAudio/Reference/CACoreMIDIRef/_index.html CoreMIDI]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| MIDI
| Obj-C
| Routines for handling MIDI data. Only avaliable on iOS 4.2 and later. Part of Core Audio.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/CoreMotion/Reference/CoreMotion_Reference/_index.html CoreMotion]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CM
| Obj-C, C++
| Iterfaces for accessing acceleromtere and gyrometric data.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/NetworkingInternet/Reference/CoreTelephonyFrameworkReference/_index.html CoreTelephony]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CT
| Obj-C
| Allows access to Carrier information and information pertaining to a current call.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/StringsTextFonts/Conceptual/CoreText_Programming/Introduction/Introduction.html CoreText]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CT
| C++
| Text layout and rendering engine.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/CoreVideo/Reference/CVFrameworkRef/Introduction/Introduction.html CoreVideo]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CV
| --
| Low-level routines for manipulating audio and video - Apple advises not to use this framework directly, and although public doesn't document much of it.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/EventKit/Reference/EventKitFrameworkRef/_index.html EventKit]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| EK
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for accessing Calendar event data. This is a replacement for the older Calendar.framework.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/EventKitUI/Reference/EventKitUIFrameworkRef/_index.html EventKitUI]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| EK
| Obj-C
| Classes for system graphical interfaces.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/ExternalAccessory/Reference/ExternalAccessoryFrameworkReference/_index.html ExternalAccessory]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| EA
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for communication with attached external accessories via 30-pin dock or BlueTooth, Lightning is not yet mentioned by Apple in documentation.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Cocoa/Reference/Foundation/ObjC_classic/_index.html Foundation]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| NS
| Obj-C
| Objetive-C wrappers to features found in CoreFoundation with extra features and functionality not covered by Objetive-C
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/GameKit/Reference/GameKit_Collection/_index.html GameKit]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| GK
| Obj-C
| Manages P2P connectivity. With iOS 4.1 and later, GameKit can be used with Game Center (an extension to the framework) to create social games.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/GLkit/Reference/GLKit_Collection/_index.html GLKit]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| GLK
| Obj-C
| Utility classes for building OpenGL ES applications.
|-
| GSS.framework
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| gss
| --
| Security related services - Apple advises to look at the headers as they provide no documentation.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/UserExperience/Reference/iAd_ReferenceCollection/_index.html iAD]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| AD
| Obj-c
| Classes for displaying advertisements
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/GraphicsImaging/Reference/ImageIORefCollection/_index.html ImageIO]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CG
| C++
| Input and output for images. Part of CoreGraphics
|-
| IOKit
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| --
| C++
| Low-level framework for communicating with the kernal and hardware. Apple advises not to use this framework directly and will reject it from the AppStore.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/MapKit/Reference/MapKit_Framework_Reference/_index.html MapKit]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| MK
| Obj-C
| Classes for embedding Map graphical interfaces. Pre iOS 5.1 Google Mobile Maps is used to provide map data, post iOS 5.1 Apple provides the map data.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/MediaPlayer/Reference/MediaPlayer_Framework/_index.html MediaPlayer]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| MP
| Obj-C
| Provides facilities to play audio, and video. Also allows access to the iPod or 'Music' library.
|-
| MediaToolbox
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| MT
| C++
| Apple has no reference as of writing, headers appear to suggest audio processing.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/MessageUI/Reference/MessageUI_Framework_Reference/_index.html MessageUI]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| MF
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for SMS and Mail compose view controller without leaving the application.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/miscellaneous/Reference/UTIRef/Articles/System-DeclaredUniformTypeIdentifiers.html MobileCoreServices]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| UT
| C
| Defines UTIs supported by the system.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/StoreKit/Reference/NewsstandKit_Framework/_index.html NewsstandKit]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| NK
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for downloading Newsstand application content.
|-
| [http://www.openal.org/ OpenAL]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| AL
| C++
| Interface for the cross-platform audio library
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/OpenGLES/Reference/OpenGLES_Framework/_index.html OpenGLES]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| EAGL, GL
| C
| Interface for the OpenGL ES library.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/userexperience/Reference/PassKit_Framework/_index.html PassKit]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| PK
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for creation of Passes for Passbook.app.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/GraphicsImaging/Reference/QuartzCoreRefCollection/index.html QuartzCore]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CA
| Obj-C
| Contains the CoreAntimation interfaces
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/QuickLook/Reference/QuickLookFrameworkReference_iPhoneOS/_index.html QuickLook]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| QL
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for previewing files of formats you don't handle.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Security/Reference/SecurityFrameworkReference/_index.html Security]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| CSSM, Sec
| Obj-C
| Interfactes for managing keys, trust policies, and certificates.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Social/Reference/Social_Framework/_index.html Social]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| SL
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for interacting with social accounts. Currently they are Facebook, Twitter, and Sina Weibo.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/StoreKit/Reference/StoreKit_Collection/_index.html StoreKit]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| SK
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for handling the transactions in in-app purchases.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Networking/Reference/SysConfig/_index.html SystemConfiguration]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| SC
| C++
| Iterfaces for determining network avaliablity.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Twitter/Reference/TwitterFrameworkReference/_index.html Twitter]
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| TW
| Obj-C
| Interfaces for sending tweets. In iOS 6.0 and later this should be replaced by Social.framework as it will eventually be depricated.
|-
| [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/UIKit/Reference/UIKit_Framework/_index.html UIKit]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| UI
| Obj-C
| Classes for iOS UI elements and for the user interface layer of applciations.
|-
| VideoToolbox
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| --
| --
| Interfaces used by the device. Apple states not to include this framework directly.
|}

=== Private Frameworks ===
All private frameworks can be found inside <tt>[[/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks]]</tt>. The descriptions may be incorrect, since most frameworks are not documented after all.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Framework
! Description
|-
| FaceCoreLight
| Face recognition.
|-
| Internal Preferences
| Internal Settings.bundle relies on this framework.
|-
| FTServices
| FaceTime / iMessage auth framework.
|-
| AXRuntime
| Accessibility.
|-
| GPUSupport
| Used extensively by the user-mode porion of the PowerVR drivers.
|-
| H4ISPServices
| Interface to the camera driver on H4 (Apple A5)
|-
| Twitter
| Apple's twitter implementation in iOS 5.
|-
| OpenCL
| Apple's implementation of Khronos' OpenCL.
|-
| XPCObjects
| An Objective-C wrapper of the XPC interprocess communication interface.
|-
| AppleSerialMultiplexer
| An interface to the multiplexer daemon.
|}

=== Files ===
* (none)

== Parents ==
[[/|Root]]/[[/System|System]]/[[/System/Library|Library]]

[[Category:Filesystem]]

IPA File Format

2013-03-22T16:48:40Z

Ninja: Apple asks that iTunesArtwork be a PNG and not JPEG as per Tech. QA QA1686.

[[Image:IPAFile.png|thumb|IPA file icon from ''[[iTunes]] 11'']]
An '''IPA''' archive is the de facto way to package applications for [[iOS]]. The extension has no official definition, but is commonly called ''iPhone Application'' by the [[iOS]] community. The file is just a renamed [[wikipedia:zip (file format)|ZIP]] archive. Although any computer with a ZIP archive reader can extract an IPA, [[wikipedia:Portable Network Graphics|PNG]] images (e.g. the app's icon files) are typically in a [[Apple PNG|proprietary variant of the PNG format]] instead of the [[wikipedia:Portable Network Graphics|standardized PNG format]], and the application binary is encrypted ([[wikipedia:Digital rights management|DRM]]) which prevents examination of the binary.

== Contents ==
As an IPA file is just a renamed [[wikipedia:zip (file format)|ZIP]] archive, its structure is available from [http://www.pkware.com/documents/casestudies/APPNOTE.TXT PKWARE].

* iTunesArtwork
* [[iTunesMetadata.plist]]
* Payload/
** ''ApplicationName''.app/
*** (various application files)

== Usage ==
Apple uses the IPA format for packaging [[iOS]] aplications. [[iTunes]] can be used to install their contents on a [[iDevice|device]], provided the included files are signed. Developers can use the IPA format for [[Ad Hoc Distribution]] of their apps.

== Creation ==
IPA files are typically created through [[Xcode]], but may be created manually:
# Build application
# Locate the <code>.app</code> folder
# Create a folder named <code>Payload</code>
# Place your <code>.app</code> folder in it
# Create a 512x512 PNG version of your icon
# Save it as <code>iTunesArtwork</code> (no extension)
# Create your <code>[[iTunesMetadata.plist]]</code> and save it
# "ZIP" the contents
#* <code>iTunesArtwork</code>
#* <code>[[iTunesMetadata.plist]]</code>
#* <code>Payload/</code>

[[Category:File Formats]]

IPA File Format

2013-03-21T15:42:42Z

Ninja: Added page, and initial information.

[[Image:IPAFile.png|thumb|IPA File Icon in ''Preview'']]

A IPA file is an '''iPhone Application''' archive which stores an iPhone, or iPad application. Looking at the file signature (Magic Number) of a valid IPA File will yield ''50 4B 03 04'' in HEX or ''PK..'' in ASCII, this shows us that an IPA file is just a fancy ZIP file and can therefore be extracted by the same way a ZIP file would. IPAs are typically encrypted.

== Structure ==
The basic structure of an IPA file is as follows;

*/iTunesArtwork
*/[[iTunesMetadata.plist|iTunesMetadata.plist]]
*/Payload/
**''ApplicationName''.app/
***''ApplicationName''
***Various other application files

== Use ==
Apple uses the IPA format for [[iOS]] application backups in iTunes. Developers use the IPA format typically for Ad Hoc Distribution of apps to beta testers, IPAs can be created through [[Xcode]]. This requires an Apple Developer or Enterprise account if you want to distribute to non-[[Jailbreak|jailbroken]] devices.

== How to create ==
IPAs can be created either by hand or through [[Xcode|Xcode's]] Product -> Archive (this requires an App Developer or Enterprise account) and can later be viewed through Organizer -> Archives. To create an IPA hand, build your application and locate the .app file for it. Create a root folder, inside this folder create another folder called 'Payload' and place your application in here. Next, create a 512x512 image for your icon, call it iTunesArtwork and place it in the root folder. Create an [[iTunesMetadata.plist]] file and place it in the root folder as well. ZIP the contents of the root folder and not the root folder itself, i.e. select the items inside the root folder and '''not''' the root folder itself. Use the following ZIP command to properly create IPA files;

<code>zip -u -y -r -n .jpg:.JPG:.jpeg:.png:.PNG:.gif:.GIF:.Z:.gz:.zip:.zoo:.arc:.lzh:.rar:.arj:.mp3:.mp4:.m4a:.m4v:.ogg:.ogv:.avi:.flac:.aac ''IPAFileName.ipa'' ''./*''</code>

File:IPAFile.png

2013-03-21T14:55:46Z

Ninja: Picture of the IPA File preview icon.

Picture of the IPA File preview icon.

The iPhone Wiki - User contributions [en]

/System/Library/Frameworks

IPA File Format

IPA File Format

File:IPAFile.png