Apple launches developer tools including Xcode Cloud, Metal 3, WeatherKit

Earlier today, Apple kicked off WWDC 2022 by announcing the latest versions of all of the company’s software as well as unveiling the new MacBook Air with M2 processor.

While that’s exciting for everyone, the company also announced some major upgrades to its tools, technologies, and APIs for developers. Xcode Cloud is now available to everyone in the Apple Developer Program and Xcode 14 has received some notable improvements. The company also announced Metal 3, WeatherKit, and Widgets on the Lock Screen.

Apple today unveiled new tools, technologies, and APIs designed to help developers create even richer experiences for their users. Widgets on the Lock Screen enable developers to surface key information from their apps in a new way, while other new APIs across Apple’s platforms help them build more unique features. WeatherKit gives developers the ability to integrate Apple Weather forecast data directly into their apps, and Xcode Cloud — Apple’s continuous integration and delivery service built into Xcode — is now available to every Apple Developer Program member to help them create higher-quality apps, faster. Metal 3 enables gaming developers to create breathtaking graphics with accelerated performance, and developing for Apple’s platforms is now even more intuitive with improvements to Swift, SwiftUI, and Xcode. And with improvements to SKAdNetwork, ad networks and developers can better measure how ads perform while still preserving user privacy.

Apple has also brought some upgrades to Swift and SwiftUI as well as new APIs for Live Text, Passkeys, Room Plan, and Live Activities. Apple has also improved the SKAdNetwork API to help provide more data to advertisers while still ensuring user privacy.

“We love collaborating with our developer community and providing them with new innovative technologies that enable them to build the next great generation of apps,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise and Education Marketing. “With powerful new APIs for widgets on the Lock Screen, new services like WeatherKit, the availability of Xcode Cloud to help every Apple developer build apps faster, and new gaming capabilities with Metal 3, developers have more tools than ever to create app experiences that their users will love.”

Developers can learn more about all of the new APIs and tools this entire week. In addition to those who were able to attend the conference in person, the company is bringing the entire event online for free so that anyone can tune in and learn.