swift-package-manager

Swift Package Manager (SPM)

Overview

SPM is Apple's dependency manager. A package is defined by a Package.swift manifest using the PackageDescription API: it declares dependencies, targets (build units), and products (what is exported for others to use).

When to use

• Adding a Swift dependency to an iOS app
• Extracting reusable code into a local Swift package/module
• Configuring Package.swift
• Distributing a KMP XCFramework via SPM (see kmp-ios-integration)

Package.swift

// swift-tools-version: 6.0          ← must be the very first line
import PackageDescription

let package = Package(
    name: "Networking",
    platforms: [.iOS(.v17)],
    products: [
        .library(name: "Networking", targets: ["Networking"]),
    ],
    dependencies: [
        .package(url: "https://github.com/apple/swift-collections.git", from: "1.1.0"),
    ],
    targets: [
        .target(
            name: "Networking",
            dependencies: [
                .product(name: "Collections", package: "swift-collections"),
            ],
            resources: [.process("Resources")]        // asset catalogs/xib auto; others explicit
        ),
        .testTarget(name: "NetworkingTests", dependencies: ["Networking"]),
    ]
)

Version rules

Rule	Meaning
from: "1.2.0"	>= 1.2.0, < 2.0.0 (next major)
.upToNextMinor(from: "1.2.0")	>= 1.2.0, < 1.3.0
"1.2.0"..<"1.5.0"	explicit range
.exact("1.2.0")	pinned
branch: "main" / revision: "<sha>"	track a branch/commit

Adding in Xcode / local packages

File → Add Package Dependencies → paste the repo URL → pick a version rule → add the product to your app target. Local package: .package(path: "../Networking").

Resources

resources: [
    .process("Media"),       // SPM optimizes (asset catalogs, etc.)
    .copy("config.json"),    // copied verbatim
]
// access inside the package:
let url = Bundle.module.url(forResource: "config", withExtension: "json")