Explain macOS Tahoe and how I can maximize the developer experience based on the latest changes

Asked on 2025-06-11

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macOS Tahoe, introduced at WWDC 2025, is designed to enhance the user experience with a beautiful and powerful set of tools. It incorporates features from iOS, such as backgrounds, screening tools, and Live Translation, and introduces new updates specific to macOS. Here are some key highlights and ways to maximize the developer experience with macOS Tahoe:

  1. New Design with Liquid Glass: The new design introduces Liquid Glass, a translucent material that adds depth and dynamism to the user interface. This design is consistent across Apple platforms, allowing apps to blend seamlessly into the display. Developers can use AppKit to adapt their apps to this new design, taking advantage of the new APIs to fine-tune their app's appearance. For more details, you can watch the session Build an AppKit app with the new design.

  2. Metal 4 for Gaming: macOS Tahoe introduces Metal 4, which brings next-generation rendering technologies to games, such as frame interpolation and denoising. This is particularly beneficial for developers looking to create visually stunning games on Mac.

  3. Spotlight Enhancements: The new Spotlight experience in macOS Tahoe allows users to access app intents directly from Spotlight, making it easier for users to interact with your app. Developers can create app intents with parameters that users can fill in, providing a more seamless experience.

  4. Apple Silicon Focus: macOS Tahoe will be the final release for Intel Macs, emphasizing the transition to Apple Silicon. Developers are encouraged to migrate their apps to take full advantage of Apple Silicon's capabilities.

  5. Xcode 26 and Swift Enhancements: Xcode 26 introduces new features like improved code completion and support for natural language interaction with code. Swift updates further enhance app performance and capabilities, making it easier to develop for the full range of Apple platforms.

By leveraging these new features and tools, developers can create more engaging and visually appealing apps on macOS Tahoe. For a deeper dive into these updates, you can explore the Platforms State of the Union session.