Now the examples of metal-cpp are target on desktop and using AppKit which is not supported on iOS. Is there any tips for developing with metal-cpp on mobile device?
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Hi,
The metal-cpp distribution appears to only contain headers for Foundation and Quartzcore. The LearnMetalCPP download [1] provides a ZIP with an metal-cpp-extensions directory containing AppKit.hpp and MetalKit.hpp headers. First question: Are these headers distributed anywhere else more publicly? Without these headers only the renderer can be fully written in C++ as far as I can tell, i.e. no complete C++ NSApplication. Second question: Will these headers, if needed, be maintained (e.g. updated and/or extended) by Apple along side metal-cpp?
[1] https://developer.apple.com/metal/cpp/
Thank you and regards.
I am trying to simulate a paste command and it seems to not want to paste. It worked at one point with the same code and now is causing issues.
My code looks like this:
` func simulatePaste() {
guard let source = CGEventSource(stateID: .hidSystemState) else {
print("Failed to create event source")
return
}
let keyDown = CGEvent(keyboardEventSource: source, virtualKey: CGKeyCode(9), keyDown: true)
let keyUp = CGEvent(keyboardEventSource: source, virtualKey: CGKeyCode(9), keyDown: false)
keyDown?.flags = .maskCommand
keyUp?.flags = .maskCommand
keyDown?.post(tap: .cgAnnotatedSessionEventTap)
keyUp?.post(tap: .cgAnnotatedSessionEventTap)
print("Simulated Cmd + V")
}
I know that there is some issues around permissions and so in my Info.plist I have this:
<string>NSApplication</string>
<key>NSAppleEventsUsageDescription</key>
<string>This app requires permission to send keyboard input for pasting from the clipboard.</string>
I have also disabled sandbox. It does ask me if I want to give the app permissions but after approving it, it still doesn't paste.
Hi
Looking at the documentation for screenSpaceAmbientOcclusionIntensity, I noticed that it says this is supported on visionOS 1.0+: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/scenekit/scncamera/screenspaceambientocclusionintensity
Could someone enlighten me as to how that would work? As far as I know, we don't use an SCNCamera on visionOS. So, what's the idea here? Can we activate SSAO on visionOS?
The title is self-exploratory. I wasn't able to find the CAMetalDisplayLink on the most recent metal-cpp release (metal-cpp_macOS15_iOS18-beta). Are there any plans to include it in the next release?
Hi All!
I'm being asked to migrate an app which utilizes iCloud KVS (Key Value Storage). This ability is a new-ish feature, and the documentation about this is sparse [1]. Honestly, the entire documentation about the new iCloud transfer functionality seems to be missing. Same with Game Center / GameKit. While the docs say that it should work, I'd like to understand the process in more detail.
Has anyone migrated an iCloud KVS app? What happens after the transfer goes through, but before the first release? Do I need to do anything special? I see that the Entitlements file has the TeamID in the Key Value store - is that fine?
<key>com.apple.developer.ubiquity-kvstore-identifier</key>
<string>$(TeamIdentifierPrefix)$(CFBundleIdentifier)</string>
Can someone please share their experience?
Thank you!
[1] https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/transfer-an-app/overview-of-app-transfer
Hi all im having a variety of issues with gamekit matchmaking. On the simulator the matchmaking ui pops up and I can click Quick Match, then immediately "Failed to find Players" this is the same with a real Apple ID and a sandbox account.
If I use real devices the app at least discovers a match, but then the match none of the delegate methods for the match ever get called and the logs are filled with socket not connected and various errors.
My questions are:
Should match making via quick match work in the simulator, I have seen tutorial videos etc of this working, but I can't seem to get it to work.
How do people debug issues with GameCenter / Gamekit to find out why its not able to connect?
Many thanks in advance
We as a team of engineers work on an app intended to visualize medical images. The type of situations where the app is used involves time critical decision making for acute clinical conditions. Stability of the app and performance are of utmost importance and can directly help timely treatment action. The app we are developing uses multiple libraries and tools like vtk, webgl, opengl, webkit, gl-matrix etc.
The problem specifically can be described as follows, it has been observed that when 3D volume is rendered in the app and we try to rotate the volume the rotation is slow, unresposive and laggy. Specifically, we have noticed that iOS 18.1 the volume rotation is much smoother as compared to latest iOS 18.2. Eariler, we have faced somewhat similar issue with iOS 17 but it got improved in iOS 18.1. This performance regression is affecting the user experience in our healthcare application.
We have taken reference from the cornerstone.js code and you can reproduce the issue using the following example: https://www.cornerstonejs.org/live-examples/volumeviewport3d
Steps to Reproduce:
Load the above mentioned test example on an iPhone running version 18.2 using safari.
Perform volume rendering using the provided dataset.
Measure the time taken by volume for each rotate or drag action.
Repeat the same steps on an iPhone running version 18.1 for comparison.
Additional Information:
Device Model Tested:
iPhone12, iPhone13, iPhone14
iOS Version With Issue:
18.2
18.3(Beta)
I would appreciate any insights or suggestions on how to address this performance regression. If additional information is needed, please let me know.
Thank you.
Hello,
I am trying to use the subdivision mesh rendering option.
I can see it working in RealityComposerPro:
But not when loading asset and displaying in Simulator:
Using this code:
import SwiftUI
import RealityKit
import RealityKitContent
struct AirspaceView: View {
// MARK: - VIEW BODY
var body: some View {
RealityView { content in
if let a = try? await Entity(named: "Models/Test/Test.usdc", in: realityKitContentBundle) {
content.add(a)
}
}
}
}
Any ideas why?
Our app uses Metal for image processing. We have found that if our app (and its possible intensive image processing) is started quickly after user is logged in, then calls to Metal may be hanging/stuck for a good while.
Example: it can take 1-2 minutes for something that usually takes 3-5 seconds! Metal threads are just hanging in a memmove...
In Activity Monitor we see a lot of things are happening right after log-in. But why Metal calls are blocking for so long is unknown to us...
The workaround is to wait a minute before we start our app and start intensive image processing using Metal. But hard to explain this workaround to end-users...
It doesn't happen on all computers but fairly easy to reproduce on some computers.
We are using macOS 15.3.1. M1/M3 Max.
Any good ideas for how to proceed with this problem and possible reach out to Apple engineers?
Thanks! :)
When importing FBX animations (generated by Cinema 4d or Blender) the models come in very far way and cannot resize or zoomed in. I have tried every setting from both programs to no avail. Is there a secret to providing the right export options? When importing without animations/and rigging the model imports fine and correct size. But once motion is included, something is awry. I also tried changing base units in Converter, but did not work. I have attache my model heirarchy in C4D as well as the imported result. It appears the animation is imported, as I can see it move, but can barely see it :)
Hey everyone,
I’m trying to run Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 using the Game Porting Toolkit, but I’m encountering a black screen when launching the game. From what I know about the game’s requirements, it might be using Shader Model 6.5, which supports advanced features like DirectX Raytracing (DXR) Tier 1.1. This leads me to suspect that the issue could be related to missing support for DirectX 12.1 Features or Shader Model 6.5 in GPTK.
Does anyone know if these features are currently supported by GPTK? If not, are there any plans to implement them in future updates? Alternatively, is there any workaround for games that rely on Shader Model 6.5 and ray tracing?
Thanks a lot for your help!
There is a sample project from Apple here. It has a scene of a city at night and you can move in it.
It basically has 2 parts:
application code written in what looks like Objective-C (I am more familiar with C++), which inherits from things like NSObject, MTKView, NSViewController and so on - it processes input and all app-related and window-related stuff.
rendering code that also looks like Objective-C. Btw both parts are mostly in .mm files (Obj-C++ AFAIK). The application part directly uses only one class from the rendering part - AAPLRenderer.
I want to move the rendering part to C++ using metal-cpp. For that I need to link metal-cpp to the project. I did it successfully with blank projects several times before using this tutorial. But with this sample project Xcode can't find Foundation/Foundation.hpp (and other metal-cpp headers). The error says this:
Did not find header 'Foundation.hpp' in framework 'Foundation' (loaded from '/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX15.0.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks')
Pls help
I have a visionOS app that I’m adding support for IOS and will like to keep using RealityView.
I know there are the following modifiers to add some navigation
.realityViewCameraControls(.orbit)
.realityViewCameraControls(.dolly)
.realityViewCameraControls(.pan)
But how can I add more than one? For example I would like to orbit with one finger, Pan with 2 fingers and dolly by pinching. Is this possible and if so can someone share some sample code on how to achieve that?
Thanks,
Guillermo
In my project I need to do the following:
In runtime create metal Dynamic library from source.
In runtime create metal Executable library from source and Link it with my previous created Dynamic library.
Create compute pipeline using those two libraries created above.
But I get the following error at the third step:
Error Domain=AGXMetalG15X_M1 Code=2 "Undefined symbols:
_Z5noisev, referenced from: OnTheFlyKernel
" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Undefined symbols:
_Z5noisev, referenced from: OnTheFlyKernel
}
import Foundation
import Metal
class MetalShaderCompiler {
let device = MTLCreateSystemDefaultDevice()!
var pipeline: MTLComputePipelineState!
func compileDylib() -> MTLDynamicLibrary {
let source = """
#include <metal_stdlib>
using namespace metal;
half3 noise() {
return half3(1, 0, 1);
}
"""
let option = MTLCompileOptions()
option.libraryType = .dynamic
option.installName = "@executable_path/libFoundation.metallib"
let library = try! device.makeLibrary(source: source, options: option)
let dylib = try! device.makeDynamicLibrary(library: library)
return dylib
}
func compileExlib(dylib: MTLDynamicLibrary) -> MTLLibrary {
let source = """
#include <metal_stdlib>
using namespace metal;
extern half3 noise();
kernel void OnTheFlyKernel(texture2d<half, access::read> src [[texture(0)]],
texture2d<half, access::write> dst [[texture(1)]],
ushort2 gid [[thread_position_in_grid]]) {
half4 rgba = src.read(gid);
rgba.rgb += noise();
dst.write(rgba, gid);
}
"""
let option = MTLCompileOptions()
option.libraryType = .executable
option.libraries = [dylib]
let library = try! self.device.makeLibrary(source: source, options: option)
return library
}
func runtime() {
let dylib = self.compileDylib()
let exlib = self.compileExlib(dylib: dylib)
let pipelineDescriptor = MTLComputePipelineDescriptor()
pipelineDescriptor.computeFunction = exlib.makeFunction(name: "OnTheFlyKernel")
pipelineDescriptor.preloadedLibraries = [dylib]
pipeline = try! device.makeComputePipelineState(descriptor: pipelineDescriptor, options: .bindingInfo, reflection: nil)
}
}
, it is after update to Xcode 14.3:
[default] CGSWindowShmemCreateWithPort failed on port 0
Hi all
I have two mystic issues with saving and fetching data to and from iCloud. Both repro only after first launch of an app.
1. [GKLocalPlayer fetchSavedGamesWithCompletionHandler:]
After first attempt I can see 0 saved games (but i know that there is at least one saved game) and there is no any error. In case if I try fetch one more time (without any additional actions) even immediately after first attempt I receive saved games correctly (not 0)
2. [GKLocalPlayer saveGameData: withName: completionHandler:]
After first attempt I can see error The requested operation could not be completed because local player has not been authenticated. In case if I try save one more time (without any additional actions) even immediately after first attempt I can save data successfully without any error
I found the same issue in StackOverflow, but there are no fixes...
Hello,
I'm writing an EntityAction that animates a material base tint between two different colours. However, the colour that is being actually set differs in RGB values from that requested.
For example, trying to set an end target of R0.5, G0.5, B0.5, results in a value of R0.735357, G0.735357, B0.735357. I can also see during the animation cycle that intermediate actual tint values are also incorrect, versus those being set.
My understanding is the the values of material base colour are passed as a SIMD4. Therefore I have a couple of helper extensions to convert a UIColor into this format and mix between two colours. Note however, I don't think the issue is with this functions - even if their outputs are wrong, the final value of the base tint doesn't match the value being set.
I wondered if this was a colour space issue?
import simd
import RealityKit
import UIKit
typealias Float4 = SIMD4<Float>
extension Float4 {
func mixedWith(_ value: Float4, by mix: Float) -> Float4 {
Float4(
simd_mix(x, value.x, mix),
simd_mix(y, value.y, mix),
simd_mix(z, value.z, mix),
simd_mix(w, value.w, mix)
)
}
}
extension UIColor {
var float4: Float4 {
var r: CGFloat = 0.0
var g: CGFloat = 0.0
var b: CGFloat = 0.0
var a: CGFloat = 0.0
getRed(&r, green: &g, blue: &b, alpha: &a)
return Float4(Float(r), Float(g), Float(b), Float(a))
}
}
struct ColourAction: EntityAction {
let startColour: SIMD4<Float>
let targetColour: SIMD4<Float>
var animatedValueType: (any AnimatableData.Type)? { SIMD4<Float>.self }
init(startColour: UIColor, targetColour: UIColor) {
self.startColour = startColour.float4
self.targetColour = targetColour.float4
}
static func registerEntityAction() {
ColourAction.subscribe(to: .updated) { event in
guard let animationState = event.animationState else { return }
let interpolatedColour = event.action.startColour.mixedWith(event.action.targetColour, by: Float(animationState.normalizedTime))
animationState.storeAnimatedValue(interpolatedColour)
}
}
}
extension Entity {
func updateColour(from currentColour: UIColor, to targetColour: UIColor, duration: Double, endAction: @escaping (Entity) -> Void = { _ in }) {
let colourAction = ColourAction(startColour: currentColour, targetColour: targetColour, endedAction: endAction)
if let colourAnimation = try? AnimationResource.makeActionAnimation(for: colourAction, duration: duration, bindTarget: .material(0).baseColorTint) {
playAnimation(colourAnimation)
}
}
}
The EntityAction can only be applied to an entity with a ModelComponent (because of the material), so it can be called like so:
guard
let modelComponent = entity.components[ModelComponent.self],
let material = modelComponent.materials.first as? PhysicallyBasedMaterial else
{
return
}
let currentColour = material.baseColor.tint
let targetColour = UIColor(_colorLiteralRed: 0.5, green: 0.5, blue: 0.5, alpha: 1.0)
entity.updateColour(from:currentColour, to: targetColour, duration: 2)
Issue Summary:
In our Flutter application, we utilize Tencent's TRTC API for voice and video communication. While the broadcast functionality operates correctly on Android, it fails to respond on iOS devices. Attempting to initiate a broadcast results in no action, and long-pressing the broadcast button does not reveal the broadcast extension.
Steps to Reproduce:
Add Broadcast Upload Extension:
In Xcode, navigate to File > New > Target.
Select Broadcast Upload Extension and add it to the project.
2. Build the Project:
Attempt to build the project.
Encounter the error: "Cycle inside Runner; building could produce unreliable results."
3. Resolve Build Cycle Error:
Go to the project’s Build Phases.
Locate the Embed App Extensions phase.
Move Embed App Extensions just below Copy Bundle Resources.
Ensure the Copy only when installing option is selected.
Rebuild the project; the cycle error is resolved.
4.Test Broadcast Functionality:
Install the app on an iOS device.
Tap the broadcast button; observe no response.
Long-press the broadcast button in the top right hand scroll down menu; the broadcast extension is not listed.
5. Isolate the Issue:
Create a new Flutter project.
Repeat the above steps to add the broadcast upload extension.
The issue persists: broadcast functionality remains unresponsive on iOS.
I searched the Metal Shading Language Specification Version 3.0 document, however I cannot see any function for inverting a matrix. Is there really no function in Metal for inverting a matrix?
I often need to this in linear equations and have so far resorted to writing the necessary function each time, most of the time just copy-and-pasting code.
inverse exists in SIMD and GLSL, so why not in Metal? It seems so unexpected that this function does not exist that I am almost certain I have just overlooked something obvious. I even tried 1 / M, to no avail.