swiftxcodecarplay

Create a list for CarPlay


So I am currently having to manually add new stations to our CarPlay app. However we have a JSON which our app uses for iPhone and iPad. So I am wondering how do I create a list that uses this information instead of me manually creating it.

func templateApplicationScene(_ templateApplicationScene: CPTemplateApplicationScene, didConnect interfaceController: CPInterfaceController) {
   
    
    let DRN1 = CPListItem(text: "DRN1", detailText: "Perth's No.1 Online Station.")
    let Hits = CPListItem(text: "DRN1 Hits", detailText: "Top 40 songs and yesturdays hits.")
    let United = CPListItem(text: "DRN1 United", detailText: "Perth's Dedicated LGBTIQA+ Station.")
    let Dance = CPListItem(text: "DRN1 Dance", detailText: "Playing the hottest dance tracks.")
    
   
    
    if #available(iOS 14.0, *) {
        let nowplay = CPNowPlayingTemplate.shared
        
        DRN1.setImage(UIImage(imageLiteralResourceName:"DRN1Logo"))
        DRN1.handler = { item, completion in
            print("selected DRN1")
            AdStichrApi.station = "DRN1"
            MusicPlayer.shared.startBackgroundMusic(url:"https://api.example.com.au:9000/station/DRN1", type: "radio")
            Nowplayinginfo().getsong()
            DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 5.00) {
                interfaceController.pushTemplate(nowplay, animated: true,completion:nil)
                completion()
            }
        }
        
        Hits.setImage(UIImage(imageLiteralResourceName:"DRN1Hits"))
        Hits.handler = { item, completion in
            print("selected Hits")
            MusicPlayer.shared.player?.pause()
            AdStichrApi.station = "DRN1Hits"
            MusicPlayer.shared.startBackgroundMusic(url:"https://api.example.com.au:9000/station/DRN1Hits", type: "radio")
            Nowplayinginfo().getsong()
            DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 5.00) {
               
                //interfaceController.presentTemplate(nowplay, animated: false)
                interfaceController.pushTemplate(nowplay, animated: true,completion:nil)
                completion()
                
            }
        }
        
        United.setImage(UIImage(imageLiteralResourceName:"DRN1United"))
        United.handler = { item, completion in
            print("selected United")
            AdStichrApi.station = "DRN1United"
            MusicPlayer.shared.startBackgroundMusic(url:"https://api.example.com.au:9000/station/DRN1United", type: "radio")
              // do work in the UI thread here
            Nowplayinginfo().getsong()
            DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 5.00) {
                interfaceController.pushTemplate(nowplay, animated: true,completion:nil)
                completion()
            }
            
            
            
        }
        
        Dance.setImage(UIImage(imageLiteralResourceName:"DRN1Dance"))
        Dance.handler = { item, completion in
            print("selected Dance")
            AdStichrApi.station = "dance"
            MusicPlayer.shared.startBackgroundMusic(url:"https://api.example.com.au:9000/station/dance", type: "radio")
            Nowplayinginfo().getsong()
            DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 5.00) {
                completion()
                interfaceController.pushTemplate(nowplay, animated: true,completion:nil)
            }
        }
        
        
        
        
    } else {
        // Fallback on earlier versions
    }
    
    
    
    let listTemplate = CPListTemplate(title: "Select a Station", sections: [CPListSection(items:[DRN1,United,Hits,Dance])])
   
   

However in my iOS app I just use

Api().getStations { (stations) in
                       self.stations = stations
        }

Which fetches the JSON from the backend and provides me with every station available.

I am wondering How can I create a CPList using this information instead.

Example: I found this example but it is fetching local data and I don't need the tab bar at this time.

https://github.com/T0yBoy/CarPlayTutorial/tree/master/CarPlayTutorial

From my understanding all I need to do is create a list

for station in (radios) {
            let item = CPListItem(text: station.name, detailText: station.name)
            item.accessoryType = .disclosureIndicator
            item.setImage(UIImage(named: station.imageurl))
            item.handler = { [weak self] item, completion in
                guard let strongSelf = self else { return }
               // strongSelf.favoriteAlert(radio: radio, completion: completion)
            }
            radioItems.append(item)
        
        }

I know I need to do something along the lines of


        Api().getStations { (stations) in
            self.radios = stations
            
            INSERT THE STATIONS INTO A LIST for 

let listTemplate = CPListTemplate(title: "Select a Station", sections: [CPListSection(items:stations)])
        }

This is how it should still look after creating a list from the API screenshot


Solution

  • Give this a try:

    // In some function in the CarPlaySceneDelegate
    Api().getStations { (stations) in
        
        var stationItems: [CPListItem] = []
        
        self.radios = stations
        
        for station in stations {
            
            let item = CPListItem(text: station.name, 
                                  detailText: station.description
                                  image: station.image)
            
            item.handler = { [weak self] item, completion in
                
                // manage what should happen on tap
                // like navigate to NowPlayingView
                
            }
            
            stationItems.append(item)
        }
        
        loadList(withStations: stationItems)
    }
    
    // Load the list template
    private func loadList(withStations stations: [CPListItem]) {
        
        let section = CPListSection(items: stations)
        let listTemplate = CPListTemplate(title: "Select a station",
                                          sections: [section])
        
        // Set the root template of the CarPlay interface
        // to the list template with a completion handler
        interfaceController?.setRootTemplate(listTemplate,
                                             animated: true) { success, error in
            
            // add anything you want after setting the root template
        }
    }
    

    The for loop to add the stations in a CPListItem array can be replaced by a map function but I did it this way for clarity.

    Update

    In your class CarPlaySceneDelegate, fix the spelling from

    var interfactController: CPInterfaceController?
    

    to

    var interfaceController: CPInterfaceController?
    

    In your templateApplicationScene didConnect comment out the interfactController?.setRootTemplate(listTemplate, animated: false) for now

    and add this line to it self.interfaceController = interfaceController

    So the updated function looks like this:

    func templateApplicationScene(_ templateApplicationScene: CPTemplateApplicationScene,
                                  didConnect interfaceController: CPInterfaceController) {
        
        // Add this
        self.interfaceController = interfaceController
        
        Api().getStations { (stations) in
            
            var stationItems: [CPListItem] = []
            
            self.stations = stations
            
            for station in stations {
                
                let item = CPListItem(text: station.name,
                                      detailText: station.name
                                      // image: imageLiteralResourceName:"DRN1Logo")
                )
                
                item.handler = { [weak self] item, completion in
                    
                    // manage what should happen on tap
                    // like navigate to NowPlayingView
                    print(item)
                }
                
                stationItems.append(item)
            }
            
            self.loadList(withStations: stationItems)
        }
    }
    

    Do you see any better results ?