How do I get started with app intents?

To get started with app intents, you can follow the guidance provided in the sessions "Design App Intents for system experiences" and "Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents" from WWDC 2024. Here are the key steps:

1. Understand What App Intents Are:

   • App intents allow you to surface your app's functionality outside of the app itself, such as in Spotlight, Siri, widgets, and the Shortcuts app. They consist of a summary of what the intent does, which includes the app name, a verb, and the necessary parameters.

2. Decide Which App Intents to Make:

   • Start by identifying the most habitual tasks in your app that could be useful outside of it. In iOS 18, the guidance has expanded to include any functionality your app offers, not just the most common tasks. Prioritize creating intents that are flexible and avoid making several intents for the same task. For example, instead of creating multiple intents for different types of reminders, create a single intent with parameters to specify the type of reminder.

3. Structure Your App Intents:

   • Ensure that your app intents are structured with clear and readable parameter summaries. This helps users understand what the intent does when exploring it in the Shortcuts app. Avoid creating intents that only trigger specific UI elements; instead, focus on the underlying tasks.

4. Implementing App Intents:

   • Use the app intents framework to lift your app's features out of the app and make them accessible from various system experiences. This involves writing the necessary code to define your intents and their parameters.

5. Testing and Refining:

   • Test your app intents to ensure they work as expected and provide a seamless experience. Make sure they are flexible and can handle various configurations and use cases.

For a detailed walkthrough, you can refer to the following sessions:

• Design App Intents for system experiences at 00:01:50
• Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents at 00:08:06

These sessions provide comprehensive guidance on designing, structuring, and implementing app intents.