WatchKit App Development Essentials

This book is currently under development. Check back regularly for updates.

Table of Contents

1. An Overview of WatchKit Apps
   • What is a WatchKit App?
   • WatchKit and iOS Apps
   • The WatchKit Framework
   • Understanding iOS Extensions
   • Basic WatchKit App/Extension Structure
   • WatchKit App Entry Points
     
     
2. Building an Example WatchKit App
   • Creating the WatchKit App Project
   • Designing the iOS App User Interface
   • Adding the WatchKit Extension and App
   • Designing the WatchKit App Storyboard
   • Running the WatchKit App
   • Setting the Scene Title and Key Color
   • Adding App Icons to the Project
     
     
3. An Overview of the WatchKit App Architecture
   • Basic WatchKit App Architecture
   • WatchKit Interface Controllers
   • WatchKit Action Methods
   • WatchKit Outlets
   • The Lifecycle of a WatchKit App
   • WatchKit Extension Guidelines
     
     
4. An Example Interactive WatchKit App using Actions and Outlets
   • About the Example App
   • Creating the TipCalcApp Project
   • Adding the WatchKit App Target
   • Designing the WatchKit App User Interface
   • Reviewing the Interface Controller Class
   • Establishing Outlet Connections
   • Establishing Action Connections
   • Implementing the sliderChange Action Method
   • Implementing the calculateTip Action Method
   • Hiding the Tip Label
     
     
5. An Overview of WatchKit Tables
   • The WatchKit Table
   • Table Row Controller
   • Row Controller Type
   • Table Row Initialization
   • Implementing a Table in a WatchKit App Scene
   • Adding the Row Controller Class to the Extension
   • Associating a Row Controller with a Row Controller Class
   • Creating Table Rows at Runtime
   • Inserting Table Rows
   • Removing Table Rows
   • Scrolling to a Specific Table Row
     
     
6. A WatchKit Table Tutorial
   • About the Table Example
   • Creating the Table Project
   • Adding the WatchKit App Target
   • Adding the Table to the Scene
   • Creating the Row Controller Class
   • Establishing the Outlets
   • Connecting the Table Outlet
   • Creating the Data
   • Adding the Image Files to the Project
   • Testing the WatchKit App
   • Adding a Title Row to the Table
   • Connecting the Outlet and Initializing the Second Table Row
     
     
7. A WatchKit Table Navigation Tutorial
   • Table Navigation in WatchKit Apps
   • Performing a Scene Transition
   • Extending the TableDemoApp Project
   • Adding the Detail Scene to the Storyboard
   • Adding the Detail Interface Controller
   • Adding the Detail Data Array
   • Implementing the didSelectRow Method
   • Modifying the awakeWithContext Method
   • Adjusting the Interface Controller Insets
     
     
8. WatchKit Page-based User Interfaces and Modal Interface Controllers
   • The Elements of a Page-based WatchKit Interface
   • Associating Page Scenes
   • Managing Pages at Runtime
   • Modal Presentation of Interface Controllers
   • Modal Presentation in Code
   • Modal Presentation using Storyboard Segues
   • Passing Context Data During a Modal Segue
     
     
9. A WatchKit Page-based Navigation Tutorial
   • Creating the Page Example Project
   • Adding the WatchKit App Target
   • Adding the Image Files to the Project
   • Designing the First Interface Controller Scene
   • Adding More Interface Controllers
   • Establishing the Segues
   • Assigning Interface Controllers
   • Adding the Timer Interface Controller
   • Adding the Modal Segues
   • Configuring the Context Data
   • Configuring the Timer
   • Playing the Alert Sound
     
     
10. WatchKit App and Parent iOS App Communication
    • Parent iOS App Communication
    • The openParentApplication Method
    • The handleWatchKitExtensionRequest Method
    • Understanding iOS Background Modes
    • Using the beginBackgroundTaskWithName Method
    • Using Background Modes
      
      
11. A WatchKit openParentApplication Example Project
    • About the Project
    • Creating the Project
    • Enabling Audio Background Mode
    • Designing the iOS App User Interface
    • Establishing Outlets and Actions
    • Initializing Audio Playback
    • Implementing the Audio Control Methods
    • Adding the WatchKit App Target
    • Designing the WatchKit App Scene
    • Opening the Parent Application
    • Handling the WatchKit Extension Request
    • Testing the Application
      
      
12. Handling User Input in a WatchKit App
    • Getting User Input
    • Displaying the Text Input Controller
    • Detecting if Input is a String or NSData Object
    • Direct Dictation Input
    • Creating the User Input Example Project
    • Adding the WatchKit App Target
    • Designing the WatchKit App Main Scene
    • Getting the User Input
    • Testing the Application
      
      
13. Sharing Data Between a WatchKit App and the Containing iOS App
    • Sandboxes, Containers and User Defaults
    • Sharing Data Using App Groups
    • Adding an App or Extension to an App Group
    • App Group File Sharing
    • App Group User Default Sharing
      
      
14. WatchKit Extension and iOS App File and Data Sharing - A Tutorial
    • About the App Group Sharing Example
    • Creating the Sharing Project
    • Designing the iOS App User Interface
    • Connecting Actions and Outlets
    • Creating the App Group
    • Performing Initialization Tasks
    • Saving the Data
    • Adding the WatchKit App Target
    • Adding the WatchKit App to the App Group
    • Designing the WatchKit App Scene
    • Adding the WatchKit App Actions and Outlets
    • Performing the WatchKit App Initialization
    • Implementing the switchChanged Method
    • Testing the Project
      
      
15. Configuring Preferences with the WatchKit Settings Bundle
    • An Overview of the WatchKit Settings Bundle
    • Adding a WatchKit Settings Bundle to a Project
    • WatchKit Bundle Settings Controls
    • Accessing WatchKit Bundle Settings from Code
    • Registering Default Preference Values
    • Configuring a Settings Icon
      
      
16. A WatchKit Settings Bundle Tutorial
    • About the WatchKit Settings Bundle Example
    • Creating the WatchKit Settings Bundle Project
    • Adding the WatchKit App Target
    • Designing the WatchKit App Scene
    • Adding the WatchKit Settings Bundle
    • Adding a Switch Control to the Settings Bundle
    • Adding a Slider Control to the Settings Bundle
    • Adding a Multi Value Control to the Settings Bundle
    • Setting Up the App Group
    • Adding the App Group to the Settings Bundle
    • Accessing Preference Settings from the WatchKit Extension
    • Registering the Default Preference Settings
    • Adding the Companion Settings Icons
    • Testing the Settings Bundle Project
      
      
17. An Overview of WatchKit Glances
    • WatchKit Glances
    • The Architecture of a WatchKit Glance
    • Adding a Glance During WatchKit App Creation
    • Adding a Glance to an Existing WatchKit App
    • WatchKit Glance Scene Layout Templates
    • Passing Context Data to the WatchKit App
      
      
18. A WatchKit Glance Tutorial
    • About the Glance Scene
    • Adding the Glance to the Project
    • Designing the Glance Scene Layout
    • Establishing Outlet Connections
    • Adding Data to the Glance Interface Controller
    • Creating an App Group
    • Storing and Retrieving the Currently Selected Table Row
    • Passing Context Data to the WatchKit App
      
      
19. A WatchKit Context Menu Tutorial
    • An Overview of WatchKit Context Menus
    • Designing Menu Item Images
    • Creating a Context Menu in Interface Builder
    • Adding and Removing Menu Items in Code
    • Creating the Context Menu Example Project
    • Adding the WatchKit App Target
    • Designing the WatchKit App User Interface
    • Designing the Context Menu
    • Establishing the Action Connections
    • Testing the Context Menu App
      
      
20. Working with Images in WatchKit
    • Displaying Images in WatchKit Apps
    • Images Originating in the WatchKit Extension
    • Understanding Named Images
    • Adding Images to a WatchKit App
    • Caching Extension-based Images on the Watch Device
    • Compressing Large Images
    • Specifying the WKInterfaceImage Object Dimensions in Code
    • Displaying Animated Images
    • Template Images and Tinting
      
      
21. A WatchKit Animated Image Tutorial
    • Creating the Animation Example Project
    • Adding the WatchKit App Target
    • Designing the Main Scene Layout
    • Adding the Animation Sequence Images
    • Creating and Starting the Animated Image
      
      
22. Working with Fonts and Attributed Strings in WatchKit
    • Dynamic Text and Text Style Fonts
    • Using Text Style Fonts in Code
    • Understanding Attributed Strings
    • Using System Fonts
      
      
23. A WatchKit App Custom Font Tutorial
    • Using Custom Fonts in WatchKit
    • Downloading a Custom Font
    • Creating the Custom Font Project
    • Adding the WatchKit App Target
    • Designing the WatchKit App Scene
    • Adding the Custom Font to the Project
    • Selecting Custom Fonts in Interface Builder
    • Using Custom Fonts in Code
      
      
24. Supporting Different Apple Watch Display Sizes