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Code in macOS Catalina Suggests Apple is Working on Catalyst Versions of Messages and Shortcuts for Mac

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Apple appears to be working on full Project Catalyst versions of Messages and Shortcuts for Mac, according to hints of the new apps found by developer Steve Troughton-Smith.

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Hidden Shortcuts for Mac code running on macOS Catalina, via Steve Troughton-Smith

Last, Troughton-Smith found that the Project Catalyst software on macOS Catalina includes Shortcuts frameworks suggesting a future Shortcuts for Mac app, and now it appears Apple is also working on a Catalyst version of the Messages app.


Much of the UIKit Messages app is functional on macOS, using the native Catalyst UI from the macOS Catalina system frameworks. iMessage Effects, for example, are functional.



Apple made no mention of an overhauled Messages app or bringing Shortcuts to Mac when introducing macOS Catalina, so these features could be reserved for a future Catalina release that's perhaps coming later in the year.

Tag: Project Catalyst
Related Forum: macOS Catalina

Top Rated Comments

ProwlingTiger Avatar
ProwlingTiger
89 months ago
Project Marzipan is just a glorified Electron framework. I refuse to run such garbage apps as Electron ones as I would rather run flash apps. Native apps only, Apple, or you'll set a terrible precedent here.
Rather run flash apps? What year are we in? Wha?!

If Catalyst works well and there are no major problems, what's the big deal? Suddenly the Mac is filled with apps and developers, paving the way (hopefully) toward ARM Macs.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThisBougieLife Avatar
ThisBougieLife
89 months ago
This is all very good. For a while I've felt that iOS gets all the attention and macOS and its apps sometimes feel neglected or feel like afterthoughts. This is going to change that.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lyoha Avatar
Lyoha
89 months ago
Project Marzipan is just a glorified Electron framework. I refuse to run such garbage apps as Electron ones as I would rather run flash apps. Native apps only, Apple, or you'll set a terrible precedent here.
Electron is basically a chrome-less Chromium browser rendering a web app inside. Project Catalyst is rendering natively on macOS but using the UIKit API rather than AppKit API. Both UI kits are using Cocoa underneath the surface AFAIK. Sure, the current design of Catalyst/Marzipan apps is garbage, but it is native and has absolutely nothing to do with Electron. Finally, how is Flash relevant at all in this conversation?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
Bearxor
89 months ago
The real goodness is in one of his recent blog posts...

https://www.highcaffeinecontent.com/blog/20190518-Translating-an-ARM-iOS-App-to-Intel-macOS-Using-Bitcode

Stuff like

> you can statically translate binaries between Intel and ARM if they include Bitcode. It really works!

and

> Apple could use Bitcode to translate every Bitcode-enabled app on the Mac App Store, without consulting developers, so it would be ready to go on day one. This kind of power means Apple needn’t preannounce an ARM switch a year ahead of time, and also means a technology like Rosetta may be completely unnecessary this time round.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
cardfan
89 months ago
Doesn’t sound promising in that these will be limited iOS like apps.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fairuz Avatar
fairuz
89 months ago
Project Marzipan is just a glorified Electron framework. I refuse to run such garbage apps as Electron ones as I would rather run flash apps. Native apps only, Apple, or you'll set a terrible precedent here.
In what way is this non-native? The binaries are compiled for x86, and the frameworks are built into the OS, right? Electron is Javascript scum.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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