With the advent of VisionOS, spatial computing has got a new inspiration. No wonder, developers and businesses have begun a chase for the trophies immediately. The first to win the competition will take it all.
Our experienced developers, who have nailed many apps, have prepared a pocket guide on how to develop for Vision Pro. Go ahead to participate. Let’s make an impact together.
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Getting Started With Vision Pro Development
Earlier we described everything about VisionOS and Vision Pro gear to give you the basics. Now let’s focus on the main idea of why VisionOS apps are so different from others.
The truth is that VisionOS apps are free from the limitations of traditional displays. They operate in the three-dimensional virtual space of the headset. You interact with windows and data like physical objects as they have width, length, and depth, so the experience is quite similar to real life except it’s all virtuality.
Setting Up Your Development Environment
The first step of Vision Pro app development is setting up your development environment. Here are fundamental concepts that set VisionOS apart from other forms of software development, as well as spatial computing in general. The main notions include:
- Windows. A SwiftUI classic view and control system with added 3D content.
- Volumes. SwiftUI scenes that can be seen from and generated with RealityKit or Unity that contain 3D content.
- Shared Spaces. It’s the default setting whenever an app is opened.
- Full Space. For an immersive experience, it only displays the app content after the opening.
Required Tools and Software
Once the definitions are determined, let’s move to the Apple Vision Pro developer kit functionality. For this purpose, you’ll need:
- This guide:)
- A Mac Computer. Ensure it meets the system requirements for the latest version of MacOS.
- Xcode, being Apple's integrated development environment (IDE), includes everything you need to build apps for VisionOS. Download and install Xcode from the Mac App Store.
- Apple Developer Account. It gives you access to developer resources, software downloads, and the ability to submit your apps to the App Store.
- Reality Composer Pro. This tool allows you to create and simulate 3D content for your VisionOS apps.
- Unity. If you plan to integrate complex 3D graphics or game elements, Unity is a good choice.
This is the minimum viable set for creating apps for VisionOS. Sure thing, you’ll require more as the complexity of the app rises, however, this is a good starting point.
VisionOS Development Essentials
Once prerequisites are met, let’s move to the frameworks that are crucial to learn for each Vision OS developer.
Frameworks and Technologies
Initially, VisionOS development involves a variety of frameworks and technologies:
- ARKit. Apple's framework for building augmented reality experiences.
- RealityKit. A high-level framework for rendering 3D content and handling AR interactions.
- SwiftUI. Apple's modern UI framework for building user interfaces across all Apple platforms, including VisionOS.
In your practice, you’ll require more tools for management, testing, deployment, etc. However, this is a good starting set.
Using Reality Composer Pro
When it comes closer to development, Reality Composer Pro is a powerful tool of the Vision Pro dev kit. With its intuitive interface, you design, prototype, and produce AR experiences directly within Xcode. You can import 3D models, create animations, and set up interactions — all in one from creating separate objects to entire scenes.
Moreover, it easily integrates with Xcode for easy export and inclusion in iOS and VisionOS apps, and ARKit and RealityKit for real-world object recognition, spatial audio, and more.
Unity Integration
When you need to incorporate some 3D graphics, Unity enters the scene. It’s is widely used in game development for 3D experiences because it’s super functional. Moreover, it also supports massive AR and VR features, turning into an effective tool for VisionOS development. So Unity with VisionOS unite their robust features to create high-end immersive experiences.
For example, it’s crucial for games with advanced spatial tracking and rendering capabilities, edtech apps with complex concepts visuzlizations, or the retail industry — everywhere with high visualization demands.
Building VisionOS Apps
After the intro into the frameworks, tools, and their capabilities for Vision Pro development, it’s time to get down to the development pipeline.
Designing 3D User Interfaces
Everything starts with designing since VisionOS requires a different approach compared to the traditional 2D interfaces. Unlike other operating systems, VisionOS focuses on intuitive and immersive 3D user interfaces that take advantage of spatial positioning. It’s the case.
So we need to use the unique the operating system possibilities to craft acessible and effective apps.
Implementing Eye Tracking, Hand Gestures, and Voice Commands
Eye tracking, hand gestures, and voice commands for controls are killer features of the Vision Pro device. To enable this functionality VisionOS SDK supports some advanced input methods:
- it uses eye tracking to create natural and intuitive user interactions;
- it implements hand gesture recognition for direct manipulation of virtual objects;
- it integrates Siri and custom voice commands to enhance accessibility and user control, and more.
The best thing is that with the further development of the technology, more user-friendly ways to interact with the OS emerge, ensuring even better user experience and accessibility.
Customizable Environments and Digital Persona
As soon as all interactions occur in the virtual environment, it’s logical to enable a personalized and adaptable room that responds to user preferences. You can incorporate digital personas to enhance user engagement and interaction or create a new environment from scratch, no matter how fantastic it is, as soon as it reflects users’ needs.
Testing and Publishing VisionOS Apps
Thorough testing is crucial to ensure your app performs well and provides a good user experience. For this purpose, use Xcode's built-in testing tools and the Vision Pro Dev Kit for hardware testing. Once your app is ready, you can submit it to the App Store via your Apple Developer account.
Apple Vision Pro SDK
The Apple Vision SDK is a comprehensive software development kit provided by Apple for VisionOS. The Vision SDK includes a suite of tools, frameworks, and resources designed to help developers build immersive and interactive applications.
Developer Labs
Moreover, to stimulate Vision OS developer for work Apple offers special labs and resources to help you get the most out of the Vision SDK. Take advantage of these resources to learn best practices and get hands-on support.
Vision Pro Dev Kit
And the last thing to mention, the Vision Pro Dev Kit already includes the necessary hardware and software tools to test your VisionOS apps on actual devices. This kit helps you ensure compatibility and performance across different environments. So you don’t need to switch to third-party apps.
Conclusion
Vision Pro app development opens up a new world of possibilities for creating immersive and interactive experiences. It fascinates all developers around the world. Follow this guide, and you'll be well on your way to building innovative apps that leverage the full potential of VisionOS. And if you need a trusted Apple Vision Pro partner for your next project, you know where to find it. Happy coding.
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