Playgrounds app with the latest SDK (OS 26)

Question

LiYanan04818 OP

Created Jan ’26

Replies 5

Boosts 4

Participants 6

I am preparing for Swift Student Challenge, but it seems like the iPad Playground app still not support the latest SDK.

I can't use frameworks like FoundationModel, etc., directly in playground app

My playground for this year would require iPad environment since it uses PencilKit, ARKit, etc., and I also want to use the latest tech + the liquid glass UI

Right now, I develop the project as a normal Xcode project, and I am wondering how do I post it?

As Xcode playground, it must run on macOS
As Swift Playground project, the iPad version of Playground does not support latest APIs and it can't compile

Boost

Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

4w

Yeah, this is tricky. We do hope to ship an update to the Swift Playground app [1] but I don’t have any timeline info to share. I can’t even say whether it’ll happen before or after the Swift Student Challenge submission period [2]. Given that, my only advice is to plan to develop using the tools that are currently available. If things change before the submission period ends, you can then adjust accordingly.

I’m sorry I don’t have better news here.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

[1] See here.

[2] Per the main page, that’s 2026-02-06…28.

1

Answer 2

deverman OP

2w

Oh, I also wanted to do something with ARKit and Foundation models that probably requires an iPad for the Swift Student Challenge and looks like I have run into the same wall.

0

Answer 3

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

1w

I just wanted to update this thread to cover two points:

This is being discussed internally, but I still don’t have any info to share as to how/when/if it might be resolved. Sorry.
I’m going to use this thread as the ‘lead’ thread for this issue. If and when there’s news, I’ll post an update here.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

8

Answer 4

TheBeeApplications OP

4d

Hello there, since Swift Playgrounds doesn't use the latest SDK for Liquid Glass, is it acceptable that I use my own glass system instead (seems to work well in the playground)? Also, I am not able to make portrait mode be locked when tested on iPad, is there any method to lock it in SP?

Thanks, The Bee Applications

0

Answer 5

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

1d

is it acceptable that I use my own glass system instead …?

I don’t think you’ll get a detailed answer to that. When folks ask questions about what is or isn’t acceptable, I can only really point them at the challenge rules, and specifically:

Also, I am not able to make portrait mode be locked when tested on iPad, is there any method to lock it in SP?

I recommend that you start a new thread with that specific question. Put it in the UI Frameworks subtopic that’s most appropriate for the UI framework you’re using, and tag it with Swift Student Challenge.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

0