Install
brew install carthage
Create a Xcode Project
In Xcode, create a new framework project with File > New > Project > Cocoa Touch Framework.
With the project created, click on Product > Scheme > Manage and make sure the Shared checkbox is enabled.
You will probably want to configure your framework’s target under General. Change the name, version, and especially the (minimum) Deployment Target.
It is a good time to initialize git with git init and do your first commit.
Add your source
This is where you add your source files and assets. Make sure they are added to the framework’s target.
If you use any other external frameworks, make sure they are added under the target’s General > Linked Frameworks and Libraries.
Add a sample project
You will most likely create a sample project to showcase how the framework is to be used.
Go to File > New > Target and choose a suitable one eg. iOS Single View App
Select the target, and under Build Phases > Target Dependencies, add your framework.
Build
Build the framework with carthage,
carthage build --no-skip-current
The command will build and output the framework in the Carthage folder.
Git tag and push now to publish.
git tag "v1.0.0"
git push --tags
That’t it for publishing your own framework!
This tutorial actually does not restrict to only private. If your git repository is public, then you have a public framework :)
Using the framework
There are many tutorials on how to use Carthage to install dependency frameworks. I will keep this short.
App that wants to use the framework can add to their Cartfile with the repository URL (HTTP or SSH), and version (or tag), like this:
git "[email protected]:just2us/MyFramework.git" ~> 0.0.1
Then run carthage update.
Unlike Cocoapods, Carthage needs a few more steps to manually add the frameworks to Xcode.
Drag Carthage/Build/iOS/MyFramework.framework into your application target’s General > Linked Frameworks and Libraries.
Add a New Run Script Phase for the application target’s Build Phases with
/usr/local/bin/carthage copy-frameworks
In the same run script, add the Input Files,
$(SRCROOT)/Carthage/Build/iOS/MyFramework.framework
And the Output Files,
$(BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR)/$(FRAMEWORKS_FOLDER_PATH)/MyFramework.framework
When you add a new dependency, run carthage update again, and repeat those manual setup steps.
You might also want to have dependencies for your test targets, in which you can read here.