Frameworks & Kits
Overview how to start develop using Apple's ecosystem
| Framework | Programming Paradigm | Platform(s) | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UIKit | Imperative UI Programming | iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS | Building user interfaces for iOS and other non-macOS platforms |
| AppKit | Imperative UI Programming | macOS | Building native macOS desktop applications |
| SwiftUI | Declarative UI Programming | All Apple platforms | Modern UI framework for building UIs with reactive state-driven updates |
| Catalyst | Wrapper / Bridging Framework | macOS (via UIKit) | Enables iPad apps to run on macOS with minimal changes |
| Metal | Low-level Graphics API | All Apple platforms | High-performance GPU rendering and graphics-intensive apps |
| SpriteKit | Declarative (Scene-based) | All Apple platforms | 2D game development |
| SceneKit | Declarative (Scene graph) | macOS, iOS, tvOS | 3D graphics rendering for games or visualizations |
| RealityKit | Declarative AR Framework | iOS, iPadOS, visionOS | Building AR experiences with realistic rendering and physics |
| ARKit | Sensor/AR abstraction layer | iOS, iPadOS, visionOS | Interfaces with device sensors for augmented reality experiences |
| CoreML | Machine Learning Framework | All Apple platforms | Running machine learning models on-device |
| HealthKit | Data Aggregation Framework | iOS, watchOS | Accessing and storing health-related data securely |
| HomeKit | Device Control API | iOS, watchOS, macOS | Communicating with and managing smart home devices |