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Core Data remains a nightmare framework, with many lines of code to get started.

Apple provides a snippet section just for Core Data. Browse through it, be afraid, then appreciate the 2 libraries I will be introducing here.

MagicalRecord and mogenerator are 2 popular libraries to use when dealing with Core Data. NSHipster mentioned others, but these 2 are the must use.

In this post, I will explain a step by step to set them up, for there is a lack of proper documentation.

1. Install MagicalRecords

Using CocoaPods, add this to your podfile:

pod 'MagicalRecord/Shorthand', '~> 2.2'

Then pod install.

Note: We want to used shorthand, therefore the additional “/Shorthand” in the podfile. Shorthand is recommended, so that you use findAll instead of MR_findAll.

2. Setup pch

Your pch file should look like this:

#ifdef __OBJC__
    #define MR_SHORTHAND
    #import <CoreData+MagicalRecord.h>
#endif

3. Setup when application load/exit

- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions {
    [MagicalRecord setupCoreDataStack];
}

- (void)applicationWillTerminate:(UIApplication *)application {
    [MagicalRecord cleanUp];
}

Or if you want to setup with a different sqlite name, or deal with migration, refer to this documentation.

4. Using MagicalRecord API

MagicalRecord documentation is kind of messy. Here’s a orderly guide to using:

• Basic & Advanced fetching
• Saving
• Threading make easy
• Logging which you can disable
• iCloud support

At this point, you may already use MagicalRecord API with Core Data. Just create your model and entities. Refer to a tutorial if needed.

But it is better to use mogenerator to generate the entitiy classes. I will explain setting up of mogenerator in the rest of the sections. But if you are not using mogenerator, stop here.

5. Install mogenerator

The value of mogenerator is:

Generate 2 classes per entity - 1 for machine and 1 for human (which you can edit)

It is a command-line tool, which you can install using brew:

// On your command line
$ sudo brew install mogenerator
// Or if you need to update
$ sudo brew update && brew upgrade mogenerator

6. Add a Model

Next, add a core data model (if you have not).

Go to File > New File > Core Data > Data Model

You should save Model.xcdatamodeld in a Models directory.

7. Add new Entity

Add a new entity into the model. Assume the entity name is Person.

Change the entity name, and also class name to Person too.

8. Setup target and build script

Follow the guide to setup a target for mogenerator. That creates a mogenerator target that you can build everytime you change your model.

Here’s my build script:

mogenerator -m "MyApp/Models/Model.xcdatamodeld/Model.xcdatamodel" -O MyApp/Models --template-var arc=true

MyApp/Models/ is the directory containing all my models related file, which is also where I save the data model when I created it. You may make changes accordingly.

You can also refer to the command-line options, if you need to change how it generates.

UPDATE: If you are using v1.28 (Sep 2014), and wants to use ARC, the shorter command is:

mogenerator --v2 -m "MyApp/Models/Model.xcdatamodeld" -O "Jade/Models"

Note that if you have a new version of your model, you should edit the build script correspondingly. eg. I have a “Model 2.xcdatamodel”:

mogenerator -m "MyApp/Models/Model.xcdatamodeld/Model 2.xcdatamodel" -O MyApp/Models --template-var arc=true

9. Build mogenerator target

Select the mogenerator target and build. This will generate all the files.

Person.h/m is the file for human, which you may edit.

_Person.h/m is the file for machines, which you should never touch.

10. Add the files to project

Add _Person.h/m into Models group in your project.

That’s it!

Start using with MagicalRecords, or refer to a tutorial if needed.