Learn to create command plugins for the Swift Bundle Supervisor to execute customized actions utilizing SPM and different instruments.
Swift
Introduction to Swift Bundle Supervisor plugins
To begin with I would like to speak just a few phrases in regards to the new SPM plugin infrastructure, that was launched within the Swift 5.6 launch. The very first proposal describes the detailed design of the plugin API with some plugin examples, that are fairly useful. Actually talking I used to be a bit to lazy to fastidiously learn by the complete documentation, it is fairly lengthy, however lengthy story quick, you’ll be able to create the next plugin sorts with the presently current APIs:
- Construct instruments – may be invoked through the SPM targets
- pre-build – runs earlier than the construct begins
- construct – runs in the course of the construct
- Instructions – may be invoked through the command line
- supply code formatting – modifies the code inside bundle
- documentation technology – generate docs for the bundle
- customized – consumer outlined intentions
For the sake of simplicity on this tutorial I am solely going to jot down a bit in regards to the second class, aka. the command plugins. These plugins have been a bit extra attention-grabbing for me, as a result of I needed to combine my deployment workflow into SPM, so I began to experiment with the plugin API to see how onerous it’s to construct such a factor. Seems it is fairly straightforward, however the developer expertise it isn’t that good. 😅
Constructing a supply code formatting plugin
The very very first thing I needed to combine with SPM was SwiftLint, since I used to be not capable of finding a plugin implementation that I may use I began from scratch. As a place to begin I used to be utilizing the instance code from the Bundle Supervisor Command Plugins proposal.
mkdir Instance
cd Instance
swift bundle init --type=library
I began with a model new bundle, utilizing the swift bundle init command, then I modified the Bundle.swift file in accordance with the documentation. I’ve additionally added SwiftLint as a bundle dependency so SPM can obtain & construct the and hopefully my customized plugin command can invoke the swiftlint executable when it’s wanted.
import PackageDescription
let bundle = Bundle(
identify: "Instance",
platforms: [
.macOS(.v10_15),
],
merchandise: [
.library(name: "Example", targets: ["Example"]),
.plugin(identify: "MyCommandPlugin", targets: ["MyCommandPlugin"]),
],
dependencies: [
.package(url: "https://github.com/realm/SwiftLint", branch: "master"),
],
targets: [
.target(name: "Example", dependencies: []),
.testTarget(identify: "ExampleTests", dependencies: ["Example"]),
.plugin(identify: "MyCommandPlugin",
functionality: .command(
intent: .sourceCodeFormatting(),
permissions: [
.writeToPackageDirectory(reason: "This command reformats source files")
]
),
dependencies: [
.product(name: "swiftlint", package: "SwiftLint"),
]),
]
)
I’ve created a Plugins listing with a predominant.swift file proper subsequent to the Sources folder, with the next contents.
import PackagePlugin
import Basis
@predominant
struct MyCommandPlugin: CommandPlugin {
func performCommand(context: PluginContext, arguments: [String]) throws {
let instrument = strive context.instrument(named: "swiftlint")
let toolUrl = URL(fileURLWithPath: instrument.path.string)
for goal in context.bundle.targets {
guard let goal = goal as? SourceModuleTarget else { proceed }
let course of = Course of()
course of.executableURL = toolUrl
course of.arguments = [
"(target.directory)",
"--fix",
]
strive course of.run()
course of.waitUntilExit()
if course of.terminationReason == .exit && course of.terminationStatus == 0 {
print("Formatted the supply code in (goal.listing).")
}
else {
let downside = "(course of.terminationReason):(course of.terminationStatus)"
Diagnostics.error("swift-format invocation failed: (downside)")
}
}
}
}
The snippet above ought to find the swiftlint instrument utilizing the plugins context then it’s going to iterate by the out there bundle targets, filter out non source-module targets and format solely these targets that accommodates precise Swift supply information. The method object ought to merely invoke the underlying instrument, we are able to wait till the kid (swiftlint invocation) course of exists and hopefully we’re good to go. 🤞
Replace: kalKarmaDev informed me that it’s potential to move the --in-process-sourcekit argument to SwiftLint, this can repair the underlying challenge and the supply information are literally mounted.
I needed to checklist the out there plugins & run my supply code linter / formatter utilizing the next shell instructions, however sadly looks as if the swiftlint invocation half failed for some unusual motive.
swift bundle plugin --list
swift bundle format-source-code #will not work, wants entry to supply information
swift bundle --allow-writing-to-package-directory format-source-code
Looks like there’s an issue with the exit code of the invoked swiftlint course of, so I eliminated the success verify from the plugin supply to see if that is inflicting the difficulty or not additionally tried to print out the executable command to debug the underlying downside.
import PackagePlugin
import Basis
@predominant
struct MyCommandPlugin: CommandPlugin {
func performCommand(context: PluginContext, arguments: [String]) throws {
let instrument = strive context.instrument(named: "swiftlint")
let toolUrl = URL(fileURLWithPath: instrument.path.string)
for goal in context.bundle.targets {
guard let goal = goal as? SourceModuleTarget else { proceed }
let course of = Course of()
course of.executableURL = toolUrl
course of.arguments = [
"(target.directory)",
"--fix",
]
print(toolUrl.path, course of.arguments!.joined(separator: " "))
strive course of.run()
course of.waitUntilExit()
}
}
}
Deliberately made a small “mistake” within the Instance.swift supply file, so I can see if the swiftlint –fix command will clear up this challenge or not. 🤔
public struct Instance {
public non-public(set) var textual content = "Hey, World!"
public init() {
let xxx :Int = 123
}
}
Seems, once I run the plugin through the Course of invocation, nothing occurs, however once I enter the next code manually into the shell, it simply works.
/Customers/tib/Instance/.construct/arm64-apple-macosx/debug/swiftlint /Customers/tib/Instance/Exams/Instance --fix
/Customers/tib/Instance/.construct/arm64-apple-macosx/debug/swiftlint /Customers/tib/Instance/Exams/ExampleTests --fix
All proper, so we positively have an issue right here… I attempted to get the usual output message and error message from the operating course of, looks as if swiftlint runs, however one thing within the SPM infrastructure blocks the code modifications within the bundle. After a number of hours of debugging I made a decision to present a shot to swift-format, as a result of that is what the official docs recommend. 🤷♂️
import PackageDescription
let bundle = Bundle(
identify: "Instance",
platforms: [
.macOS(.v10_15),
],
merchandise: [
.library(name: "Example", targets: ["Example"]),
.plugin(identify: "MyCommandPlugin", targets: ["MyCommandPlugin"]),
],
dependencies: [
.package(url: "https://github.com/apple/swift-format", exact: "0.50600.1"),
],
targets: [
.target(name: "Example", dependencies: []),
.testTarget(identify: "ExampleTests", dependencies: ["Example"]),
.plugin(identify: "MyCommandPlugin",
functionality: .command(
intent: .sourceCodeFormatting(),
permissions: [
.writeToPackageDirectory(reason: "This command reformats source files")
]
),
dependencies: [
.product(name: "swift-format", package: "swift-format"),
]),
]
)
Modified each the Bundle.swift file and the plugin supply code, to make it work with swift-format.
import PackagePlugin
import Basis
@predominant
struct MyCommandPlugin: CommandPlugin {
func performCommand(context: PluginContext, arguments: [String]) throws {
let swiftFormatTool = strive context.instrument(named: "swift-format")
let swiftFormatExec = URL(fileURLWithPath: swiftFormatTool.path.string)
for goal in context.bundle.targets {
guard let goal = goal as? SourceModuleTarget else { proceed }
let course of = Course of()
course of.executableURL = swiftFormatExec
course of.arguments = [
"--in-place",
"--recursive",
"(target.directory)",
]
strive course of.run()
course of.waitUntilExit()
if course of.terminationReason == .exit && course of.terminationStatus == 0 {
print("Formatted the supply code in (goal.listing).")
}
else {
let downside = "(course of.terminationReason):(course of.terminationStatus)"
Diagnostics.error("swift-format invocation failed: (downside)")
}
}
}
}
I attempted to run once more the very same bundle plugin command to format my supply information, however this time swift-format was doing the code formatting as a substitute of swiftlint.
swift bundle --allow-writing-to-package-directory format-source-code
// ... loading dependencies
Construct full! (6.38s)
Formatted the supply code in /Customers/tib/Linter/Exams/ExampleTests.
Formatted the supply code in /Customers/tib/Linter/Sources/Instance.
Labored like a allure, my Instance.swift file was mounted and the : was on the left facet… 🎊
public struct Instance {
public non-public(set) var textual content = "Hey, World!"
public init() {
let xxx: Int = 123
}
}
Yeah, I’ve made some progress, but it surely took me various time to debug this challenge and I do not like the truth that I’ve to fiddle with processes to invoke different instruments… my intestine tells me that SwiftLint will not be following the usual shell exit standing codes and that is inflicting some points, possibly it is spawning baby processes and that is the issue, I actually do not know however I do not needed to waste extra time on this challenge, however I needed to maneuver ahead with the opposite class. 😅
Integrating the DocC plugin with SPM
As a primary step I added some dummy feedback to my Instance library to have the ability to see one thing within the generated documentation, nothing fancy just a few one-liners. 📖
public struct Instance {
public non-public(set) var textual content = "Hey, World!"
public init() {
let xxx: Int = 123
}
}
I found that Apple has an official DocC plugin, so I added it as a dependency to my undertaking.
import PackageDescription
let bundle = Bundle(
identify: "Instance",
platforms: [
.macOS(.v10_15),
],
merchandise: [
.library(name: "Example", targets: ["Example"]),
.plugin(identify: "MyCommandPlugin", targets: ["MyCommandPlugin"]),
],
dependencies: [
.package(url: "https://github.com/apple/swift-format", exact: "0.50600.1"),
.package(url: "https://github.com/apple/swift-docc-plugin", from: "1.0.0"),
],
targets: [
.target(name: "Example", dependencies: []),
.testTarget(identify: "ExampleTests", dependencies: ["Example"]),
.plugin(identify: "MyCommandPlugin",
functionality: .command(
intent: .sourceCodeFormatting(),
permissions: [
.writeToPackageDirectory(reason: "This command reformats source files")
]
),
dependencies: [
.product(name: "swift-format", package: "swift-format"),
]),
]
)
Two new plugin instructions have been out there after I executed the plugin checklist command.
swift bundle plugin --list
Tried to run the primary one, and thankfully the doccarchive file was generated. 😊
swift bundle generate-documentation
Additionally tried to preview the documentation, there was a notice in regards to the --disable-sandbox flag within the output, so I merely added it to my unique command and…
swift bundle preview-documentation
swift bundle --disable-sandbox preview-documentation
Magic. It labored and my documentation was out there. Now that is how plugins ought to work, I beloved this expertise and I actually hope that increasingly more official plugins are coming quickly. 😍
Constructing a customized intent command plugin
I needed to construct a small executable goal with some bundled sources and see if a plugin can deploy the executable binary with the sources. This could possibly be very helpful once I deploy feather apps, I’ve a number of module bundles there and now I’ve to manually copy all the things… 🙈
import PackageDescription
let bundle = Bundle(
identify: "Instance",
platforms: [
.macOS(.v10_15),
],
merchandise: [
.library(name: "Example", targets: ["Example"]),
.executable(identify: "MyExample", targets: ["MyExample"]),
.plugin(identify: "MyCommandPlugin", targets: ["MyCommandPlugin"]),
.plugin(identify: "MyDistCommandPlugin", targets: ["MyDistCommandPlugin"]),
],
dependencies: [
.package(url: "https://github.com/apple/swift-format", exact: "0.50600.1"),
.package(url: "https://github.com/apple/swift-docc-plugin", from: "1.0.0"),
],
targets: [
.executableTarget(name: "MyExample",
resources: [
.copy("Resources"),
], plugins: [
]),
.goal(identify: "Instance", dependencies: []),
.testTarget(identify: "ExampleTests", dependencies: ["Example"]),
.plugin(identify: "MyCommandPlugin",
functionality: .command(
intent: .sourceCodeFormatting(),
permissions: [
.writeToPackageDirectory(reason: "This command reformats source files")
]
),
dependencies: [
.product(name: "swift-format", package: "swift-format"),
]),
.plugin(identify: "MyDistCommandPlugin",
functionality: .command(
intent: .customized(verb: "dist", description: "Create dist archive"),
permissions: [
.writeToPackageDirectory(reason: "This command deploys the executable")
]
),
dependencies: [
]),
]
)
As a primary step I created a brand new executable goal known as MyExample and a brand new MyDistCommandPlugin with a customized verb. Contained in the Sources/MyExample/Assets folder I’ve positioned a easy take a look at.json file with the next contents.
{
"success": true
}
The predominant.swift file of the MyExample goal seems like this. It simply validates that the useful resource file is out there and it merely decodes the contents of it and prints all the things to the usual output. 👍
import Basis
guard let jsonFile = Bundle.module.url(forResource: "Assets/take a look at", withExtension: "json") else {
fatalError("Bundle file not discovered")
}
let jsonData = strive Knowledge(contentsOf: jsonFile)
struct Json: Codable {
let success: Bool
}
let json = strive JSONDecoder().decode(Json.self, from: jsonData)
print("Is success?", json.success)
Contained in the Plugins folder I’ve created a predominant.swift file underneath the MyDistCommandPlugin folder.
import PackagePlugin
import Basis
@predominant
struct MyDistCommandPlugin: CommandPlugin {
func performCommand(context: PluginContext, arguments: [String]) throws {
}
}
Now I used to be capable of re-run the swift bundle plugin --list command and the dist verb appeared within the checklist of accessible instructions. Now the one query is: how will we get the artifacts out of the construct listing? Luckily the third instance of the instructions proposal is sort of comparable.
import PackagePlugin
import Basis
@predominant
struct MyDistCommandPlugin: CommandPlugin {
func performCommand(context: PluginContext, arguments: [String]) throws {
let cpTool = strive context.instrument(named: "cp")
let cpToolURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: cpTool.path.string)
let outcome = strive packageManager.construct(.product("MyExample"), parameters: .init(configuration: .launch, logging: .concise))
guard outcome.succeeded else {
fatalError("could not construct product")
}
guard let executable = outcome.builtArtifacts.first(the place : { $0.form == .executable }) else {
fatalError("could not discover executable")
}
let course of = strive Course of.run(cpToolURL, arguments: [
executable.path.string,
context.package.directory.string,
])
course of.waitUntilExit()
let exeUrl = URL(fileURLWithPath: executable.path.string).deletingLastPathComponent()
let bundles = strive FileManager.default.contentsOfDirectory(atPath: exeUrl.path).filter { $0.hasSuffix(".bundle") }
for bundle in bundles {
let course of = strive Course of.run(cpToolURL, arguments: ["-R",
exeUrl.appendingPathComponent(bundle).path,
context.package.directory.string,
])
course of.waitUntilExit()
}
}
}
So the one downside was that I used to be not capable of get again the bundled sources, so I had to make use of the URL of the executable file, drop the final path element and skim the contents of that listing utilizing the FileManager to get again the .bundle packages within that folder.
Sadly the builtArtifacts property solely returns the executables and libraries. I actually hope that we will get assist for bundles as effectively sooner or later so this hacky resolution may be prevented for good. Anyway it really works simply high-quality, however nonetheless it is a hack, so use it fastidiously. ⚠️
swift bundle --allow-writing-to-package-directory dist
./MyExample
I used to be capable of run my customized dist command with out additional points, after all you need to use extra arguments to customise your plugin or add extra flexibility, the examples within the proposal are just about okay, but it surely’s fairly unlucky that there is no such thing as a official documentation for Swift bundle supervisor plugins simply but. 😕
Conclusion
Studying about command plugins was enjoyable, however at first it was annoying as a result of I anticipated a bit higher developer expertise concerning the instrument invocation APIs. In abstract I can say that that is only the start. It is similar to the async / await and actors addition to the Swift language. The function itself is there, it is principally able to go, however not many builders are utilizing it each day. This stuff would require time and hopefully we will see much more plugins afterward… 💪