How to make a macOS screen saver

4 months ago

macOS's screen saver system is buggy and difficult to work with.
Screen savers are applications with a '.saver' extension.
Xcode project setup involves subclassing ScreenSaverView and implementing key methods.
Preferences sheet can be added for configuration using UserDefaults.
Initial rendering should start in startAnimation, not setup.
animateOneFrame is optional and may not be reliable due to macOS bugs.
Fade-in effects can be implemented using CoreAnimation.
Previewing and stopping behavior differs between real use and System Settings.
Handling resumption requires managing multiple instances to avoid bugs.
Screen savers should implement an idle timeout to exit unused processes.
Testing and distributing screen savers involves manual steps and signing.
Apple's screen saver framework is broken and poorly maintained.
Community workarounds and templates exist but require ongoing maintenance.

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