iOS integration methods
You can integrate a Kotlin Multiplatform shared module into your iOS app. For that, you generate an iOS framework from the shared module and then add it as a dependency to the iOS project:
It's possible to consume this framework as a local or remote dependency. Choose local integration if you want to have full control over the entire codebase and get instant updates to final applications when the common code changes.
If you want to explicitly separate the code base of your final application from the common code base, set up remote integration. In this case, the shared code will be integrated into final applications like a regular third-party dependency.
In a local setup, there are two main integration options. You can use direct integration through a special script, which makes the Kotlin build a part of the iOS build. If you have Pod dependencies in your Kotlin Multiplatform project, take the CocoaPods integration approach.
You can connect the iOS framework directly from the Kotlin Multiplatform project by adding a special script to your Xcode project. The script is integrated into the build phase of your project's build settings.
This integration method can work for you if you do not import CocoaPods dependencies in your Kotlin Multiplatform project.
If you create a project in Android Studio, choose the Regular framework option to have this setup generated automatically. If you use the Kotlin Multiplatform web wizard, direct integration is applied by default.
For more information, see Direct integration.
You can connect the iOS framework from the Kotlin Multiplatform project through CocoaPods, a popular dependency manager for Swift and Objective-C projects.
This integration method works for you if:
You have a mono repository setup with an iOS project that uses CocoaPods
You import CocoaPods dependencies in your Kotlin Multiplatform project
To set up a workflow with a local CocoaPods dependency, you can either edit the scripts manually or generate the project using a wizard in Android Studio.
For more information, see CocoaPods overview and setup.
For remote integration, your project might use the Swift Package Manager (SPM) or the CocoaPods dependency manager to connect the iOS framework from a Kotlin Multiplatform project.
You can set up a Swift package manager (SPM) dependency using XCFrameworks to connect the iOS framework from the Kotlin Multiplatform project.
For more information, see Swift package export setup.
You can build XCFrameworks with the Kotlin CocoaPods Gradle plugin and then distribute shared parts of your project separately from mobile apps through CocoaPods.
For more information, see Build final native binaries.
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