iOS Build — Feasibility & Plan

Last updated: 2026-03-20

Architecture Summary

Songbird’s architecture is already well-suited for iOS:

Audio engine (JUCE + Tracktion Engine) → first-class iOS support
UI (React in WKWebView) → JUCE’s WebBrowserComponent uses WKWebView on both macOS and iOS
Bridge (window.__JUCE__ native functions + events) → platform-agnostic, works identically on iOS
Data layer (Zustand stores, bridge.ts) → 100% reusable

The WKWebViewImpl in juce_WebBrowserComponent_mac.mm already handles iOS (UIViewComponent) vs macOS (NSViewComponent). The resource provider, native functions, and event bridge all work identically.

Plugin Hosting

Format	iOS	Notes
AUv3	✅	Apple’s native format. JUCE can host AUv3 on iOS. Large ecosystem (Moog, FabFilter, Arturia, etc.)
VST3	❌	Not available on iOS. Disable via `JUCE_PLUGINHOST_VST3=0`

All built-in Songbird instruments/effects (4OSC, Sampler, DrumMachine, STK, 303, Reverb, Delay, etc.) are pure C++ and work on iOS.

Phase 1: Get It to Compile (~1-2 days)

1. CMake iOS Toolchain (~2-4 hours)

Add iOS platform detection to CMakeLists.txt:

if(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME STREQUAL "iOS")
    set(CMAKE_OSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET "15.0" CACHE INTERNAL "")
    set(CMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES "arm64" CACHE INTERNAL "")
endif()

Disable VST3 on iOS:

if(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME STREQUAL "iOS")
    target_compile_definitions(SongbirdPlayer PRIVATE
        JUCE_PLUGINHOST_AU=1
        JUCE_PLUGINHOST_VST3=0)
else()
    target_compile_definitions(SongbirdPlayer PRIVATE
        JUCE_PLUGINHOST_AU=1
        JUCE_PLUGINHOST_VST3=1)
endif()

2. Main.cpp Platform Guards (~1 hour)

The following are macOS-only and need #if JUCE_MAC guards:

DocumentWindow with native title bar
MenuBarModel / setMacMainMenu
setUsingNativeTitleBar, setResizable

On iOS, use a simple full-screen Component instead.

3. OpenSSL (~2-4 hours)

Linked for Lyria/Gemini WebSocket features. Options:

Cross-compile OpenSSL for iOS (well-documented process)
Swap to Apple Security.framework / Network.framework
#if JUCE_IOS out Lyria features initially

4. libgit2 (~1-2 hours)

Used for git-based undo/redo. Compiles for iOS but:

FetchContent may need tweaked flags
Must operate within iOS app sandbox container
Could stub out initially and use a simpler undo stack

5. Sandbox Worker (~30 min)

PluginSandboxWorker spawns child processes — not allowed on iOS. Disable via #if JUCE_IOS.

6. Remaining Compile Fixes (~2-4 hours)

Expect a handful of additional #if JUCE_MAC / #if JUCE_IOS guards. Result: App launches on iPad with the full desktop React UI in WKWebView. Functional but desktop-sized layout.

Phase 2: Mobile UI (~2-3 weeks)

Reusable As-Is

All atoms/ components (Button, Knob, Slider, Switch, RotaryKnob, etc.)
EffectPanel plugin parameter UIs
LoadingScreen, GenerateModal, ExportProgressModal
Full data layer (store.ts, bridge.ts, meters.ts, plugins.ts)

Needs Mobile Layout

App.tsx → tab-based or swipe navigation instead of side panels
ArrangementView → horizontal scroll optimized for touch, simpler track headers
MixerPanel → full-screen vertical mixer instead of bottom strip
MidiEditor → touch gesture support for piano roll
Transport → compact bar at top/bottom
SettingsPanel → full-screen on iOS

Approach

Detect platform in React via a query param or CSS media query, then conditionally render App.tsx vs App.ios.tsx. The same Vite build serves both — just swap the top-level shell component. All stores, bridges, and atoms are shared.

Build Command

# macOS (current)
cmake -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
cmake --build build

# iOS (future)
cmake -B build-ios -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=iOS -DCMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT=iphoneos -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
cmake --build build-ios

Open the generated Xcode project in build-ios/ to deploy to device/simulator.

Collaboration Server

Mobile

Ios build

iOS Build — Feasibility & Plan

Architecture Summary

Plugin Hosting

Phase 1: Get It to Compile (~1-2 days)

1. CMake iOS Toolchain (~2-4 hours)

2. Main.cpp Platform Guards (~1 hour)

3. OpenSSL (~2-4 hours)

4. libgit2 (~1-2 hours)

5. Sandbox Worker (~30 min)

6. Remaining Compile Fixes (~2-4 hours)

Phase 2: Mobile UI (~2-3 weeks)

Reusable As-Is

Needs Mobile Layout

Approach

Build Command

​iOS Build — Feasibility & Plan

​Architecture Summary

​Plugin Hosting

​Phase 1: Get It to Compile (~1-2 days)

​1. CMake iOS Toolchain (~2-4 hours)

​2. Main.cpp Platform Guards (~1 hour)

​3. OpenSSL (~2-4 hours)

​4. libgit2 (~1-2 hours)

​5. Sandbox Worker (~30 min)

​6. Remaining Compile Fixes (~2-4 hours)

​Phase 2: Mobile UI (~2-3 weeks)

​Reusable As-Is

​Needs Mobile Layout

​Approach

​Build Command

iOS Build — Feasibility & Plan

Architecture Summary

Plugin Hosting

Phase 1: Get It to Compile (~1-2 days)

1. CMake iOS Toolchain (~2-4 hours)

2. Main.cpp Platform Guards (~1 hour)

3. OpenSSL (~2-4 hours)

4. libgit2 (~1-2 hours)

5. Sandbox Worker (~30 min)

6. Remaining Compile Fixes (~2-4 hours)

Phase 2: Mobile UI (~2-3 weeks)

Reusable As-Is

Needs Mobile Layout

Approach

Build Command