[Tweak] - Enhance IOS With Custom Features
Hey guys! Ever wanted to supercharge your iPhone or iPad with some seriously cool features that Apple just doesn't offer out of the box? Well, that's where tweaks come in. This guide is all about diving deep into the world of iOS tweaks, specifically focusing on the metadata you need to know when submitting your own tweak. We'll break down each field, explain what it does, and why it's super important for getting your creation out there and used by others. So, buckle up, and let's get started!
Understanding Tweak Metadata: The Core Components
When you're crafting a tweak, think of the metadata as the blueprint. It's the information that tells Cydia (or other package managers) everything it needs to know about your tweak: what it does, who made it, and how to install it correctly. Getting this metadata right is absolutely crucial. If it's incorrect, your tweak might not install, or worse, it could mess up someone's device. Let's break down each field in the metadata:
Package
This is the unique identifier for your tweak. Think of it like your tweak's name tag. It typically follows a reverse domain name format (e.g., ai.akemi.appsyncunified). It should be unique to avoid conflicts with other tweaks. Make sure it's something memorable and easy to understand. This is how users and package managers will identify your tweak. It should be consistent across all versions of your tweak to ensure updates are handled correctly.
Version
Versioning is key. The version number helps users and package managers understand which version of your tweak they have installed. It follows a standard format, like 1.0, 1.0.1, 1.1, and so on. Always increment the version number whenever you release an update. This tells users if they have the latest and greatest version of your tweak. It allows for the proper tracking of changes, bug fixes, and new features.
Architecture
This field specifies the architecture your tweak is built for. The most common is iphoneos-arm64, which covers most modern iPhones and iPads. Other architectures exist for older devices. Make sure this matches the device architecture for which your tweak is designed. If you don't specify the correct architecture, your tweak won't install on the target devices. You need to know which architecture your tweak supports to ensure it runs properly on different iOS devices.
Maintainer
This field identifies who is responsible for the tweak. Include the maintainer's name and email address (e.g., Karen/あけみ <karen@akemi.ai>). This is how users can reach out to you if they have questions, find bugs, or need support. It shows users who they can contact if they have any problems with your tweak.
Depends
Dependencies are other packages that your tweak relies on to function. For example, your tweak might require a specific version of MobileSubstrate. List all dependencies using the format package-name (>= version). This ensures that all necessary components are installed before your tweak. This guarantees your tweak will work as intended. Be accurate with your dependencies to avoid install issues.
Conflicts
Sometimes, your tweak might conflict with other tweaks. This is when two tweaks try to modify the same system files or settings. List any conflicting packages in this field. This prevents users from installing incompatible tweaks that could cause problems. This is important to ensure that your tweak doesn't break other tweaks that a user might have installed.
Replaces
If your tweak is designed to replace an older version or another tweak, you specify it here. This ensures that the older version or conflicting tweak is removed before your tweak is installed. Useful for upgrades or when a user needs to migrate from an old package.
Provides
This tells the package manager what this tweak provides, like a core package. This is useful if your tweak provides functionality that another tweak might depend on, even if it's not strictly a dependency.
Filename
This is the path to your tweak's .deb file. This file contains all the necessary files and instructions for your tweak. It is extremely important that you have the correct path to your tweak's .deb file so that the installation process can find and install your tweak. This is usually relative to the repository.
Size
This specifies the file size of your tweak's .deb file in bytes. Package managers use this information to determine how much storage space is required. This information is displayed during installation, so users can see how large the package is. Ensure that the size is correctly calculated to avoid any installation problems.
MD5sum, SHA1, SHA256
These are checksums of your .deb file. They are used to verify the integrity of the file and to ensure that it hasn't been corrupted during download or transfer. These checksums are crucial for verifying the integrity of your tweak's package. Package managers will use these to confirm the file hasn't been tampered with. It ensures that users are installing the correct, unaltered package.
Section
This is the category where your tweak will be listed in Cydia (e.g.,