CallbackURLKit – Inter app communication

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Starting to integrate URL scheme in an app, why not be compliant with x-callback-url.

CallbackURLKit.register(action: "play") { parameters, ... in
  self.player.play()
}

Want to interact with one of the numerous other applications which implement already x-callback-url, you can also use this framework.

CallbackURLKit.perform(action: "open", urlScheme: "googlechrome-x-callback",
                             parameters: ["url": "http://www.google.com"])

Usage

Perform action on other applications

Anywhere in your code after imported CallbackURLKit you can call

try CallbackURLKit.perform(action: "actionName", urlScheme: "applicationName",
    parameters: ["key1": "value1"])

You can also use a new Manager or the shared instance

try Manager.shared.perform(action: "actionName", urlScheme: "application-name",
    parameters: ["key1": "value1"])

Declare targeted applications URL schemes in iOS9

You must whitelist any URL schemes your app wants to query in Info.plist under the LSApplicationQueriesSchemes key (an array of strings)

xcode-white-list

Create a client class

Alternatively you can create a new Client object where you can define the targeted app URL scheme.

let client = Client(urlScheme: "application-url-scheme")
try client.perform(action:(..)

or create a new Client class to add some utility methods which hide implementation details and allow to make some parameters check.

class GoogleChrome: Client {
  init() {
    super.init(urlScheme:"googlechrome-x-callback")
  }
  func open(url: String, ...) {
    self.perform(action: "open", parameters: ["url": url], ...)
  }
}

see full sample into Clients directory. (You can PR to add new Client classes)

You can check that an application respond to the URL scheme using client.appInstalled

Use callback closure

Callbacks allow you to receive data from the target applications, but before doing this you need to add x-callback-url support to your app.

Then you can specify one of the 3 x-callbacks: success, failure and cancel.

try client.perform(action: "actionName",
    onSuccess: { parameters in
    },

onFailure: { error in
    },
    onCancel: {
    }
)

Add x-callback-url support to your app

Register your URL scheme

Apps can declare any custom URL schemes they support. Use the URL Types section of the Info tab to specify the custom URL schemes that your app handles. xcode

Or register your URL Scheme directly into Info.plist file:

  • Add URL Types, then within Item 0
  • Set Document Role to Editor.
  • URL Identifier to your app bundle ID.
  • Create a URL Schemes field and set Item 0 to the URL Scheme you want to use.

Apple documentation: Using URL Schemes to Communicate with Apps.

Setup framework with URL scheme

Then you must set the scheme to this framework manager

let manager =  Manager.shared
manager.callbackURLScheme = "my-application-scheme"
// or get the first from Info.plist using utility method
manager.callbackURLScheme = Manager.urlSchemes?.first

Handle incoming URLs

And finally to handle incoming URLs, your application delegate should implement the following methods below.

On iOS

Bool {
manager.handleOpen(url: url)
return true
}
“>

func application(_ app: UIApplication, open url: URL, options: [UIApplicationOpenURLOptionsKey : Any] = [:]) -> Bool {
    manager.handleOpen(url: url)
    return true
}

On OSX if you have no other need with URL events you can let manager do all the job by calling into applicationDidFinishLaunching the method Manager.instance.registerToURLEvent()

Add new action

The client application will interact with your application using the following URL Structure.

[url-scheme]://x-callback-url/[action]?[x-callback parameters]&[action parameters]

An action is defined by its name (the url path), and optional action parameters.

manager["myActionName"] = { parameters, success, failure, cancel in
  // action code, using or not the parameters
  ...
  // notify the client app with one of the callback
  success(nil) // or failure(exception)
}

You can also register an action on shared Manager instance using

CallbackURLKit.register(action: "myActionName") { parameters, success, failure, cancel in

}

Installation

Using CocoaPods

CocoaPods is a centralized dependency manager for Objective-C and Swift. Go here to learn more.

  1. Add the project to your Podfile.

    use_frameworks!

pod 'CallbackURLKit'

  2. Run pod install and open the .xcworkspace file to launch Xcode.

Clients

To get an already implemented Clients use one of the subspec

pod 'CallbackURLKit/GoogleChrome'
pod 'CallbackURLKit/Ulysses' // https://ulyssesapp.com

Links

GitHub

https://github.com/phimage/CallbackURLKit