lab5.pages
CSE 438: Mobile Application Development
Lab 5: Extension Exploration
Overview
The Apple developer world is vast, and there is no way to cover everything in a single class.
The concepts we’ve learned so far are central to iOS development, but we’ve covered enough
where you can learn new frameworks on your own. In this lab, you will be extending the virtual
pet app (lab 2) with new features. You get to choose a topic to explore that interests you!
Details
Due date: Wednesday, March 29th, 11:59pm
Grading: This lab is out of 50 points total. The exact point distribution is described in the
“Requirements” section below.
Submission: Zip the entire project folder and email it to cse438ta@gmail.com. Please name the
file “FirstNameLastName-Lab5.zip” and include a brief summary of which extension you chose
in the email body.
Description
In this lab, you get to choose a topic to explore from the list of possible app extensions and
frameworks. The goal is to use resources and documentation online to learn about something
we haven’t covered in class, and add new features to the virtual pet app using the new
framework.
You can either start from your own virtual pet app, or download a working pet app from the
course website. The purpose of this lab is to extend an existing app, not to re-grade your
performance on a previous lab.
Start by choosing one of the topics from the list below. For each topic, there is a brief
description of the framework and an idea of how you could use it in the pet app.
mailto:cse438ta@gmail.com
Possible Topics
iOS App Extensions
*Siri Intent Extension — allows Siri to interact with your app
Interact with and check on the status of your pets by asking Siri.
Today Widget Extension — provides a small customizable view on the lock screen
Check on the status of all your pets right from the lock screen.
Custom Keyboard Extension — adds a custom keyboard option for the user in any app
Ability to send images of your pets.
iMessage Extension — small app embedded in the Messages app
Ability to send images of your pets.
Apps for Related Platforms
Apple Watch app — app for the Apple Watch using WatchKit and watchOS
Re-create the basic functionality as a watch app.
Mac app — app for the Mac using AppKit and macOS
Re-create the basic functionality as a Mac app.
Apple TV app — app for the Apple TV using tvOS
Re-create the basic functionality as a TV app.
Other iOS Frameworks
Core Image — custom image filters and other image manipulation
Add filters and fun effects to the images of your pets.
Core Data — object graph local database
Persist all pet data (and some additional data) in a core data database.
SpriteKit — 2D game framework
Add a game component and animations to the app.
SceneKit — 3D game framework
Render the pets in 3D and add some game components.
AVFoundation (audio) — audio framework
Add sound effects to your pets.
*AVFoundation (video) — camera, image, and video framework
Add the ability to add pictures of real pets!
*Metal — low-level and high-performance graphics API
Add some special graphical effects to the app.
* Requires a physical device.
Requirements
[5 points] The app uses a new framework or extension from the list above.
[45 points] The extension provides some form of value to the app. Be creative! Completing the
absolute minimum of one of the suggestions will not result in full credit! Use previous labs and
their point allocations as a reference to guide how much you need to add.
Helpful Advice
There are lots of great ways to learn about new frameworks, as you’ve probably already
discovered so far in this course. One option is to watch any relevant WWDC videos online that
give an overview of the framework. There are generally titled “Introducing
“What’s new in
there are webpages that give a high-level overview of the technology along with sample code
to get you started.
The quickest way to learn is to jump in! Best of luck and hopefully you will learn about an area
that appeals to you.
An example of a watch app!