This article shows you how to build a sample application that utilizes the Zebra Link-OS SDK XCFramework. We will manually install the XCFramework and confirm that it is running using one of the sample applications provided by Zebra.
 

Prerequisites

Xcode

Before we begin you will need to have Xcode installed (I am using version 15.3 at the time of writing this article).
 

Zebra Link-OS SDK

You will need to download the SDK:
https://www.zebra.com/us/en/support-downloads/software/printer-software/link-os-multiplatform-sdk.htm
 

When you unzip the download you will find the SDK in the following location where you will find 2 folders to provide options for the install: zebra-linkos-mpsdk-jun-2024/iOS/v1.6.1130/lib

• FATLib
• xcframework (We will be using the xcframework folder.)

 

Zebra iOS Samples

Clone the sample code from git provided by Zebra:
https://github.com/ZebraDevs/LinkOS-iOS-Samples/tree/ZSDK_DevDemos/ZSDK_DevDemos  


Note: There are several other samples provided by Zebra, we will be demonstrating the [ZSDK Dev Demos] sample today, but you may also be interested in the others:
https://github.com/ZebraDevs/LinkOS-iOS-Samples  

Prepare the Workspace

Open the downloaded project by double clicking on the ZSDKDeveloperDemos.xcodeproj file.
 
In Xcode:

• In the project navigator: Delete the Frameworks/libZSDK_API.a file.
• In the project navigator: Delete the Resources/Images/Images reference.
• Change iOS deployment target to at least iOS 13.0. This is because the demo application is older and the current Xcode will not support it.
• Project Signing & Capabilities, change the Team to use your Apple Developer account.
• Update the bundle identifier to use your domain.

 

Adding the XCFramework

• In Xcode, in the project navigator, open the Frameworks folder.
• In Finder, navigate to the folder that you extracted the SDK (zebra-linkos-mpsdk-jun-2024/iOS/v1.6.1130/lib/xcframework).
• Copy the ZSDK_API.xcframework folder from Finder into the Frameworks folder within Xcode.

 
During the copy, you will be prompted to answer a few questions:

• Destination: Copy items if needed
• Added Folders: Create groups
• Add to targets: ZSDKDeveloperDemos

Once you copy the XCFramework you will see it listed in the Link Binary with Libraries in the Build Phases.
 

Build and Run the application

You should now be able to build the application successfully. But, you won't be able to run it yet.
 
Change your target device to an emulator and try to run it. You will encounter one final error: 
The application's Info.plist does not contain a valid CFBundleShortVersionString.
 
So, let's do as the compiler says and add it to the ZSDKDeveloperDemos-Info.plist file. The CFBundleShortVersionString is represented with the Bundle version string (short) in the property list.

 
Now you will be able to build and run the application on the simulated iPhone 15.
 
Congratulations! It's running! Now that you're passed the harderst part, setting it up, you could actually look at the code to see all the features the SDK has to provide.
 
The samples are written in Objective-C, which I'm not a fan of, only because I'm not well versed in it, so keep an eye out for my future article to use the SDK with Swift UI.