Apple would Develop Versions of Messages and Shortcuts for macOS based on Project Catalyst

In the past Apple Event of WWDC 2019 we learned a little more about what Project Catalyst means for developers. This means that you can use applications designed for iPad and move macOS, from version 10.15 (Catalina). Currently, Project Catalyst is being used to improve the apps of Apple News and Casa (HomeKit) and a sign that it is making good use of Catalyst is the new Podcasts app. Thanks to the information of a developer, it is known that those of Cupertino are working on more applications, specifically the apps of Messages and Shortcuts (Shortcuts).

Contents

1 Messages and Shortcuts, the next apps that come to macOS thanks to Project Catalyst
2 Shortcuts would also reach macOS

Messages and Shortcuts, the next apps that come to macOS thanks to Project Catalyst

Now that we are in a period of recent betas of the new operating systems of Apple, Steve Troughton-Smith has posted on his Twitter account several pieces of evidence of macOS Catalina. In these tweets, he explains that Apple is working on the development of Catalyst versions in two applications. In particular, “there is a surprising amount of information about development in UIKit of the Messages app that works in macOS”. Some of the functions that would arrive at Messages for macOS are the varied effects that are used in the text messages, that much is needed to equal the experience as it happens in iOS.

There is a whole lot of evidence in Catalina that they're working on a full, Catalyst version of Messages, much like Shortcuts for Mac. So, just like Shortcuts, I decided to cut to the chase and do it myself by calling the system frameworks. Voilà pic.twitter.com/IsXKrGpemd

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) June 19, 2019

And, just for reference: this isn't a 'marzipanified' version of the Messages app from the iOS Simulator. This is the 'native' Catalyst UI coming from the macOS 10.15 system frameworks. Just like Shortcuts, it's all there, and mostly works if you know how to talk to it pic.twitter.com/VO59kPbbVY

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) June 19, 2019

Another part of the evidence shows that the Messages app in macOS Catalina varies in terms of the design it has in iPadOS. This would mean, according to Troughton-Smith, that Apple would be considering bringing a redesigned version of Messages to macOS and working for a future version.

Shortcuts would also reach macOS

After the discovery of the Messages app, it found information about the Shortcuts app. In macOS Catalina, all shortcuts that can show a user interface are included. This led to him building a fictional app of Shortcuts, which other developers can try thanks to the fact that he has uploaded it to the GitHub platform.

There is no doubt that this means good progress for the future of applications. A third party app that is important to users is Twitter. Recently the information was published that the iPad version will reach macOS thanks to Project Catalyst.

This opens the door for many other apps to reach macOS, however, there is nothing left to do but wait for the time to elapse and the final version of macOS Catalina to arrive to see more progress on Project Catalyst.