How can I get started with shortcuts

To get started with Shortcuts, you can leverage the App Intents framework, which allows you to integrate your app's core features into the Shortcuts app. Here are some steps and insights based on the WWDC sessions:

1. Understanding App Intents:

   • App Intents are the building blocks for creating shortcuts. They represent actions (verbs) and entities (nouns) in your app.
   • For example, an intent could be "open a view" or "start a hike," and an entity could be a "trail" or a "collection" (Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents).

2. Creating Shortcuts Actions:

   • Shortcuts actions are intents that appear by default in the Shortcuts app. You can create a simple shortcut action with no parameters or a parameterized one.
   • For instance, you can create a shortcut that picks a random biking trail or opens the details of a pinned trail (Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents).

3. Using the Shortcuts App:

   • You can test your intents and actions using the Shortcuts app. Create a new shortcut by tapping the plus button, then filter for actions from your app (Bring your app to Siri).

4. App Shortcuts:

   • App shortcuts are wrappers around intents that highlight important functions of your app. They can be made available in Spotlight, Siri, the action button, and Apple Pencil Pro without needing your app to be running (Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents).

5. Code Implementation:

   • Define an app shortcuts provider with a static member, which is a list of app shortcuts. Each app shortcut wraps an intent, and you can pre-fill parameters to create specific actions (Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents).

6. Testing and Customization:

   • Save your shortcuts to the home screen and test them. You can customize the experience by choosing parameters when the shortcut runs (Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents).

Relevant Sessions:

1. Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents
2. Bring your app to Siri
3. Design App Intents for system experiences

By following these steps and utilizing the App Intents framework, you can effectively integrate your app's features into the Shortcuts app, providing users with a powerful tool to create custom workflows.