AWS Mobile SDK for iOS

Setting Up

To get started with the AWS SDK for iOS, check out the AWS Mobile Developer Guide for iOS. You can set up the SDK and start building a new project, or you integrate the SDK in an existing project. You can also run the samples to get a sense of how the SDK works.

To use the AWS SDK for iOS, you will need the following installed on your development machine:

• Xcode 7 or later
• iOS 8 or later

At the AWS GitHub repo, you can check out the SDK source code.

Include the SDK for iOS in an Existing Application

The samples included with the SDK for iOS are standalone projects that are already set up for you. You can also integrate the SDK for iOS with your own existing project. There are three ways to import the AWS Mobile SDK for iOS into your project:

• CocoaPods
• Carthage
• Dynamic Frameworks

You should use one of these three ways to import the AWS Mobile SDK but not multiple. Importing the SDK in multiple ways loads duplicate copies of the SDK into the project and causes compiler errors.

CocoaPods

1. The AWS Mobile SDK for iOS is available through CocoaPods. If you have not installed CocoaPods, install CocoaPods by running the command:

    $ gem install cocoapods
    $ pod setup
   

   Depending on your system settings, you may have to use sudo for installing cocoapods as follows:

    $ sudo gem install cocoapods
    $ pod setup
   

2. In your project directory (the directory where your *.xcodeproj file is), create a plain text file named Podfile (without any file extension) and add the lines below. Replace YourTarget with your actual target name.

    source 'https://github.com/CocoaPods/Specs.git'
    
    platform :ios, '8.0'
    use_frameworks!
    
    target :'YourTarget' do
        pod 'AWSAutoScaling'
        pod 'AWSCloudWatch'
        pod 'AWSCognito'
        pod 'AWSCognitoIdentityProvider'
        pod 'AWSDynamoDB'
        pod 'AWSEC2'
        pod 'AWSElasticLoadBalancing'
        pod 'AWSIoT'
        pod 'AWSKinesis'
        pod 'AWSLambda'
        pod 'AWSMachineLearning'
        pod 'AWSMobileAnalytics'
        pod 'AWSS3'
        pod 'AWSSES'
        pod 'AWSSimpleDB'
        pod 'AWSSNS'
        pod 'AWSSQS'
    end
   

   

3. Then run the following command:

    $ pod install
   

4. Open up *.xcworkspace with Xcode and start using the SDK.

   

   Note: Do NOT use *.xcodeproj. If you open up a project file instead of a workspace, you receive an error:

    ld: library not found for -lPods-AWSCore
    clang: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)
   

Carthage

1. Install the latest version of Carthage.

2. Add the following to your Cartfile:

    github "aws/aws-sdk-ios"
   

3. Then run the following command:

    $ carthage update
   

4. With your project open in Xcode, select your Target. Under General tab, find Embedded Binaries and then click the + button.

5. Click the Add Other... button, navigate to the AWS<#ServiceName#>.framework files under Carthage > Build > iOS and select them. Do not check the Destination: Copy items if needed checkbox when prompted.

   • AWSCore.framework
   • AWSAutoScaling.framework
   • AWSCloudWatch.framework
   • AWSCognito.framework
   • AWSCognitoIdentityProvider.framework
   • AWSDynamoDB.framework
   • AWSEC2.framework
   • AWSElasticLoadBalancing.framework
   • AWSIoT.framework
   • AWSKinesis.framework
   • AWSLambda.framework
   • AWSMachineLearning.framework
   • AWSMobileAnalytics.framework
   • AWSS3.framework
   • AWSSES.framework
   • AWSSimpleDB.framework
   • AWSSNS.framework
   • AWSSQS.framework

6. Under the Build Phases tab in your Target, click the + button on the top left and then select New Run Script Phase. Then setup the build phase as follows. Make sure this phase is below the Embed Frameworks phase.

    Shell /bin/sh
    
    bash "${BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR}/${FRAMEWORKS_FOLDER_PATH}/AWSCore.framework/strip-frameworks.sh"
    
    Show environment variables in build log: Checked
    Run script only when installing: Not checked
    
    Input Files: Empty
    Output Files: Empty
   

Frameworks

1. Download the SDK from our AWS Mobile SDK page. The SDK is stored in a compressed file archive named aws-ios-sdk-#.#.# (where #.#.# represents the version number, so for version 2.5.0, the filename is aws-ios-sdk-2.5.0).

2. With your project open in Xcode, select your Target. Under General tab, find Embedded Binaries and then click the + button.

3. Click the Add Other... button, navigate to the AWS<#ServiceName#>.framework files and select them. Check the Destination: Copy items if needed checkbox when prompted.

   • AWSCore.framework
   • AWSAutoScaling.framework
   • AWSCloudWatch.framework
   • AWSCognito.framework
   • AWSCognitoIdentityProvider.framework
   • AWSDynamoDB.framework
   • AWSEC2.framework
   • AWSElasticLoadBalancing.framework
   • AWSIoT.framework
   • AWSKinesis.framework
   • AWSLambda.framework
   • AWSMachineLearning.framework
   • AWSMobileAnalytics.framework
   • AWSS3.framework
   • AWSSES.framework
   • AWSSimpleDB.framework
   • AWSSNS.framework
   • AWSSQS.framework

4. Under the Buid Phases tab in your Target, click the + button on the top left and then select New Run Script Phase. Then setup the build phase as follows. Make sure this phase is below the Embed Frameworks phase.

    Shell /bin/sh
    
    bash "${BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR}/${FRAMEWORKS_FOLDER_PATH}/AWSCore.framework/strip-frameworks.sh"
    
    Show environment variables in build log: Checked
    Run script only when installing: Not checked
    
    Input Files: Empty
    Output Files: Empty
   

Update the SDK to a Newer Version

When we release a new version of the SDK, you can pick up the changes as described below.

CocoaPods

1. Run the following command in your project directory. CocoaPods automatically picks up the new changes.

    $ pod update
   

   Note: If your pod is having an issue, you can delete Podfile.lock and Pods/ then run pod install to cleanly install the SDK.

   

Carthage

1. Run the following command in your project directory. Carthage automatically picks up the new changes.

    $ carthage update
   

Frameworks

1. In Xcode select the following frameworks in Project Navigator and hit delete on your keyboard. Then select Move to Trash:

   • AWSCore.framework
   • AWSAutoScaling.framework
   • AWSCloudWatch.framework
   • AWSCognito.framework
   • AWSCognitoIdentityProvider.framework
   • AWSDynamoDB.framework
   • AWSEC2.framework
   • AWSElasticLoadBalancing.framework
   • AWSIoT.framework
   • AWSKinesis.framework
   • AWSLambda.framework
   • AWSMachineLearning.framework
   • AWSMobileAnalytics.framework
   • AWSS3.framework
   • AWSSES.framework
   • AWSSimpleDB.framework
   • AWSSNS.framework
   • AWSSQS.framework

2. Follow the installation process above to include the new version of the SDK.

Preparing your apps for iOS 9

The release of iOS 9 includes changes that might impact how your apps interact with some AWS services. If you compile your apps with Apple’s iOS 9 SDK (or Xcode 7), Apple’s App Transport Security (ATS) feature may affect the ability of apps to connect to certain AWS service endpoints. In order to ensure affected apps continue to successfully connect to AWS endpoints, you’ll need to configure them to interact properly with Apple’s ATS by adding these properties to your Info.plist file:

<key>NSAppTransportSecurity</key>
<dict>
        <key>NSExceptionDomains</key>
        <dict>
        <key>amazonaws.com</key>
        <dict>
                <key>NSThirdPartyExceptionMinimumTLSVersion</key>
                <string>TLSv1.0</string>
                <key>NSThirdPartyExceptionRequiresForwardSecrecy</key>
                <false/>
                <key>NSIncludesSubdomains</key>
                <true/>
        </dict>
        <key>amazonaws.com.cn</key>
        <dict>
                <key>NSThirdPartyExceptionMinimumTLSVersion</key>
                <string>TLSv1.0</string>
                <key>NSThirdPartyExceptionRequiresForwardSecrecy</key>
                <false/>
                <key>NSIncludesSubdomains</key>
                <true/>
        </dict>
        </dict>
</dict>

For more information, see Preparing Your Apps for iOS 9.

Getting Started with Swift

1. Import the AWSCore header in the application delegate.

   import AWSCore

2. Create a default service configuration by adding the following code snippet in the application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: application delegate method.

   let credentialsProvider = AWSCognitoCredentialsProvider(
       regionType: CognitoRegionType,
       identityPoolId: CognitoIdentityPoolId)
   let configuration = AWSServiceConfiguration(
       region: DefaultServiceRegionType,
       credentialsProvider: credentialsProvider)
   AWSServiceManager.default().defaultServiceConfiguration = configuration

3. In Swift file you want to use the SDK, import the appropriate headers for the services you are using. The header file import convention is import AWSServiceName, as in the following examples:

   import AWSS3
   import AWSDynamoDB
   import AWSSQS
   import AWSSNS
   import AWSCognito

4. Make a call to the AWS services.

   let dynamoDB = AWSDynamoDB.default()
   let listTableInput = AWSDynamoDBListTablesInput()
   dynamoDB.listTables(listTableInput!).continueWith { (task:AWSTask<AWSDynamoDBListTablesOutput>) -> Any? in
       if let error = task.error as? NSError {
       print("Error occurred: \(error)")
           return nil
       }
   
       let listTablesOutput = task.result
   
       for tableName in listTablesOutput!.tableNames! {
           print("\(tableName)")
       }
   
       return nil
   }

Note: Most of the service client classes have a singleton method to get a default client. The naming convention is + defaultSERVICENAME (e.g. + defaultDynamoDB in the above code snippet). This singleton method creates a service client with defaultServiceConfiguration, which you set up in step 5, and maintains a strong reference to the client.

Getting Started with Objective-C

1. Import the AWSCore header in the application delegate.

   @import AWSCore;

2. Create a default service configuration by adding the following code snippet in the application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: application delegate method.

   AWSCognitoCredentialsProvider *credentialsProvider = [[AWSCognitoCredentialsProvider alloc] initWithRegionType:CognitoRegionType
                                                                                                   identityPoolId:CognitoIdentityPoolId];
   AWSServiceConfiguration *configuration = [[AWSServiceConfiguration alloc] initWithRegion:DefaultServiceRegionType
                                                                        credentialsProvider:credentialsProvider];
   AWSServiceManager.defaultServiceManager.defaultServiceConfiguration = configuration;

3. Import the appropriate headers for the services you are using. The header file import convention is @import AWSServiceName;, as in the following examples:

   @import AWSS3;
   @import AWSDynamoDB;
   @import AWSSQS;
   @import AWSSNS;
   @import AWSCognito;

4. Make a call to the AWS services.

   AWSS3TransferManager *transferManager = [AWSS3TransferManager defaultS3TransferManager];
   AWSS3TransferManagerUploadRequest *uploadRequest = [AWSS3TransferManagerUploadRequest new];
   uploadRequest.bucket = yourBucket;
   uploadRequest.key = yourKey;
   uploadRequest.body = yourDataURL;
   uploadRequest.contentLength = [NSNumber numberWithUnsignedLongLong:fileSize];
   
   [[transferManager upload:uploadRequest] continueWithBlock:^id(AWSTask *task) {
       // Do something with the response
       return nil;
   }];

Note: Most of the service client classes have a singleton method to get a default client. The naming convention is + defaultSERVICENAME (e.g. + defaultS3TransferManager in the above code snippet). This singleton method creates a service client with defaultServiceConfiguration, which you set up in step 5, and maintains a strong reference to the client.

AWSTask

With native AWSTask support in the SDK for iOS, you can chain async requests instead of nesting them. It makes the logic cleaner, while keeping the code more readable. Read Working with AWSTask to learn how to use AWSTask.

Logging

As of version 2.5.4 of this SDK, logging utilizes CocoaLumberjack, a flexible, fast, open source logging framework. It supports many capabilities including the ability to set logging level per output target, for instance, concise messages logged to the console and verbose messages to a log file.

CocoaLumberjack logging levels are additive such that when the level is set to verbose, all messages from the levels below verbose are logged. It is also possible to set custom logging to meet your needs. For more information, see CocoaLumberjack

Changing Log Levels

Swift

AWSDDLog.sharedInstance.logLevel = .verbose

The following logging level options are available:

• .off
• .error
• .warning
• .info
• .debug
• .verbose

Objective-C

[AWSDDLog sharedInstance].logLevel = AWSDDLogLevelVerbose;

The following logging level options are available:

• AWSDDLogLevelOff
• AWSDDLogLevelError
• AWSDDLogLevelWarning
• AWSDDLogLevelInfo
• AWSDDLogLevelDebug
• AWSDDLogLevelVerbose

We recommend setting the log level to Off before publishing to the Apple App Store.

Targeting Log Output

CocoaLumberjack can direct logs to file or used as a framework that integrates with the Xcode console.

To initialize logging to files, use the following code:

Swift

let fileLogger: AWSDDFileLogger = AWSDDFileLogger() // File Logger
fileLogger.rollingFrequency = TimeInterval(60*60*24)  // 24 hours
fileLogger.logFileManager.maximumNumberOfLogFiles = 7
AWSDDLog.add(fileLogger)

Objective-C

AWSDDFileLogger *fileLogger = [[AWSDDFileLogger alloc] init]; // File Logger
fileLogger.rollingFrequency = 60 * 60 * 24; // 24 hour rolling
fileLogger.logFileManager.maximumNumberOfLogFiles = 7;
[AWSDDLog addLogger:fileLogger];

To initialize logging to your Xcode console, use the following code:

Swift

AWSDDLog.add(AWSDDTTYLogger.sharedInstance()) // TTY = Xcode console

Objective-C

[AWSDDLog addLogger:[AWSDDTTYLogger sharedInstance]]; // TTY = Xcode console

Sample Apps

The AWS SDK for iOS includes sample apps that demonstrate common use cases.

Cognito Your User Pools Sample (Swift, Objective-C)

This sample demonstrates how sign up and sign in a user to display an authenticated portion of your app.

Cognito Sync Sample (Swift, Objective-C)

This sample demonstrates how to securely manage and sync your mobile app data and create unique identities via login providers including Facebook, Google, and Login with Amazon.

AWS Services Demonstrated:

• Amazon Cognito Sync
• Amazon Cognito Identity

DynamoDB Object Mapper Sample (Swift, Objective-C)

This sample demonstrates how to insert / update / delete / query items using DynamoDB Object Mapper.

AWS Services Demonstrated:

• Amazon DynamoDB
• Amazon Cognito Identity

S3 Transfer Manager Sample (Swift, Objective-C)

This sample demonstrates how to upload / download multiple files simultaneously using S3 Transfer Manager. It also shows how to pause, resume, and cancel file upload / download.

AWS Services Demonstrated:

• Amazon S3
• Amazon Cognito Identity

S3 Transfer Utility Sample (Swift, Objective-C)

This sample demonstrates how to use the Amazon S3 PreSigned URL Builder to download / upload files in background.

AWS Services Demonstrated:

• Amazon S3
• Amazon Cognito Identity

SNS Mobile Push and Mobile Analytics Sample (Swift, Objective-C)

This sample demonstrates how to set up Amazon SNS Mobile Push and record events using Amazon Mobile Analytics.

AWS Services Demonstrated:

• Amazon SNS Mobile Push
• Amazon Mobile Analytics
• Amazon Cognito Identity

IoT Sample (Swift)

This sample demonstrates how to publish and subscribe to data using AWS IoT.

AWS Services Demonstrated:

• Amazon AWS IoT
• Amazon Cognito Identity

IoT Temperature Control Sample (Swift)

This sample demonstrates accessing device shadows using Cognito authentication; it works in conjunction with the Temperature Control Example Program in the AWS IoT JavaScript SDK for Embedded Devices.

AWS Services Demonstrated:

• Amazon AWS IoT
• Amazon Cognito Identity

Install the Reference Documentation in Xcode

The AWS Mobile SDK for iOS zip file includes documentation in the DocSets format that you can view within Xcode. The easiest way to install the documentation is to use the Mac OS X terminal.

1. Open the Mac OS X terminal and go to the directory containing the expanded archive. For example:

    $ cd ~/Downloads/aws-ios-sdk-2.5.0
   

   Note: Remember to replace 2.5.0 in the example above with the actual version number of the AWS SDK for iOS that you downloaded.

2. Create a directory called ~/Library/Developer/Shared/Documentation/DocSets:

    $ mkdir -p ~/Library/Developer/Shared/Documentation/DocSets
   

3. Copy (or move) Documentation/com.amazon.aws.ios.docset from the SDK installation files to the directory you created in the previous step:

    $ mv Documentation/com.amazon.aws.ios.docset ~/Library/Developer/Shared/Documentation/DocSets/
   

4. If Xcode was running during this procedure, restart Xcode. To browse the documentation, go to Help, click Documentation and API Reference, and select AWS Mobile SDK for iOS v2.5.0 Documentation (where '2.5.0' is the appropriate version number).

Talk to Us

Visit our GitHub Issues to leave feedback and to connect with other users of the SDK.

Author

Amazon Web Services

License

See the LICENSE file for more info.