how do I implement a FileProvider for Mac?

To implement a FileProvider for Mac, you can follow these general steps:

Create a new target for your FileProvider extension:
- Navigate to the File menu in Xcode and select "New Target".
- Choose the platform for the extension, which in this case is macOS.
- Search for the appropriate extension template and configure it.
Configure the extension:
- Once the new target is added, activate the extension.
- Implement the necessary methods to handle file operations such as reading, writing, and managing files.
Debugging and testing:
- Use command line utilities like mdutil to simulate requests to your bundle ID for debugging purposes.
- Set breakpoints in your code to catch specific points and ensure your implementation is working as expected.

For a more detailed guide, you can refer to the session on Support semantic search with Core Spotlight which provides a demo on creating an index delegate extension, which is similar in nature to creating a FileProvider extension.

Relevant Sessions

Support semantic search with Core Spotlight (Demo: Creating an index delegate extension)
What’s new in privacy (macOS Extensions transparency and control)

These sessions will give you a good starting point and additional context on how to manage extensions and their lifecycle on macOS.