Build on iOS
Build with Reader SDK on iOS to process in-person payments with Square hardware.
On this page
Prerequisites and assumptions
To build with Reader SDK, the following must be true:
You have a Square account enabled for payment processing. If you have not enabled payment processing on your account (or you are not sure), visit squareup.com/activate.
You are using Xcode 10.2 or later.
You have set your Xcode iOS deployment target to iOS 11.
Note
If you need to support iOS 10, you must restrict build architectures to arm64 using the following steps:
Open the Build Settings tab for your target in Xcode.
Set the
ArchitecturesandValid Architecturesvalues toarm64.Open your Info.plist file in Xcode.
Set
UIRequiredDeviceCapabilitiestoarm64.
Your application is not able to run on a device that does not support 64-bit code.
Additionally, this guide makes the following assumptions:
Your version of Reader SDK adheres to the Square update policy. To limit risk to developers and their users, Square enforces an update policy for Reader SDK requiring developers keep their version of Reader SDK current.
You are generally familiar with developing applications on iOS. If you are new to iOS development, you should read the Getting Started with iOS Development guide at the Apple Training center before continuing.
Information you need
To use the steps in this guide, you need the following information:
Your application ID. Find your application ID on the Credentials page of your Square application in the Developer Dashboard.
Your Reader SDK repository password. Find your Reader SDK repository password on the Reader SDK page of your Square application in the Developer Dashboard.
Step 1: Request Reader SDK credentials
Open the Square Developer Dashboard. You are prompted to sign in or create an account.
Create a Square application.
Choose the new application to open the Square application settings pages.
Open the Reader SDK page, and then choose Request Credentials to generate your Reader SDK repository password.
ruby <(curl https://connect.squareup.com/readersdk-installer) install \
--app-id SQUARE_READER_SDK_APPLICATION_ID \
--repo-password SQUARE_READER_SDK_REPOSITORY_PASSWORD
Step 3: Configure your iOS project for Reader SDK
Add a Reader SDK build phase
Add Reader SDK to your project:
Open the General tab for your application target in Xcode.
Drag the newly downloaded SquareReaderSDK.framework into the Embedded Binaries section, and then choose Finish in the dialog box that appears.
Open the Xcode workspace or project for your application.
On the Build Phases tab for your application target, choose the + button (at the top of the pane).
Choose New Run Script Phase.
Paste the following into the editor panel of the new run script:
FRAMEWORKS="${BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR}/${FRAMEWORKS_FOLDER_PATH}" "${FRAMEWORKS}/SquareReaderSDK.framework/setup"Important
To avoid "No such file or directory" build errors, make sure the Reader SDK Run Script phase is the last phase in the list.
Disable bitcode
Reader SDK does not currently support bitcode. To disable bitcode:
Open the Build Settings tab for your application target.
In the top right search field, search for "bitcode".
Change the value of Enable Bitcode to NO.
Embed Swift libraries
If your application target is pure Objective-C and contains no Swift code, you must include the standard Swift libraries with your application. To do this:
Open the Build Settings tab for your application target.
In the top right search field, search for "embed swift".
Change the value of Always Embed Swift Standard Libraries to Yes.
Add support for required interface orientations
In Xcode, open the General tab for your application target.
Make sure the Landscape Left and Landscape Right device orientations are supported, as shown:
If your application runs on iPhone, it must support portrait and landscape interface orientations so that Reader SDK can display the signature screen during checkout.
If you want specific screens in your application to only support the portrait
orientation, you can override the supportedInterfaceOrientations method in
your UIViewController subclasses.
Update your Info.plist
Add or update the following key-value pairs on the Info tab for your application target to explain why your application requires these device permissions. Xcode can display human-readable labels (such as, Privacy - Microphone Usage Description) rather than the raw keys.
| Key | Description |
|---|---|
NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription | This application integrates with Square for card processing. To protect buyers and sellers, Square requires your location to process payments. |
NSMicrophoneUsageDescription | This application integrates with Square for card processing. To swipe magnetic cards using the headphone jack, Square requires access to the microphone. |
NSBluetoothPeripheralUsageDescription | This application integrates with Square for card processing. Square uses Bluetooth to connect your device to compatible hardware. |
NSCameraUsageDescription | This application integrates with Square for card processing. Upload your account logo, feature photo, and product images with the photos stored on your mobile device. |
NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription | This application integrates with Square for card processing. Upload your account logo, feature photo, and product images with the photos stored on your mobile device. |
NSBluetoothAlwaysUsageDescription | This application integrates with Square for card processing. Square uses Bluetooth to connect your device to compatible hardware. |
Note
Your application does not need to request Bluetooth, Camera, or Photo Library permissions to use Reader SDK. The usage descriptions are required due to the way Reader SDK is built.
Step 4: Request location permission
Add code to ensure that your application has permission to use location services before starting a checkout flow. The location permission is managed by Apple's CLLocationManager class.
import CoreLocation
class YourViewController: UIViewController {
private lazy var locationManager = CLLocationManager()
func requestLocationPermission() {
switch CLLocationManager.authorizationStatus() {
case .notDetermined:
locationManager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()
case .restricted, .denied:
print("Show UI directing the user to the iOS Settings app")
case .authorizedAlways, .authorizedWhenInUse:
print("Location services have already been authorized.")
}
}
}
Step 5: Request microphone permission
Add code to ensure that your application has permission to access the microphone before starting checkout. The microphone permission is managed by Apple's AVAudioSession
class. You must have the record permission from AVAudioSession to use Square's magstripe readers.
import AVFoundation
extension <#YourViewController#> {
func requestMicrophonePermission() {
// Note: The microphone permission prompt will not be displayed
// when running on the simulator
AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().requestRecordPermission { authorized in
if !authorized {
print("Show UI directing the user to the iOS Settings app")
}
}
}
}
import SquareReaderSDK
func application(
_: UIApplication,
didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions:
[UIApplicationLaunchOptionsKey: Any]? = nil
) -> Bool {
SQRDReaderSDK.initialize(applicationLaunchOptions: launchOptions)
return true
}
Step 7: Add code to request a mobile authorization code
Reader SDK requires a mobile authorization code from the Mobile Authorization API. Mobile authorization codes allow custom mobile applications to process payments on Square hardware on behalf of a specific Square account for a given location.
Mobile authorization codes are short lived and should be used immediately to authorize Reader SDK. Authorization is valid until it is explicitly revoked by calling deauthorize or your application fails to take a payment within 90 days. Mobile authorization codes do not need to be manually refreshed under normal operations.
Did you know?
Production applications should request mobile authorization codes programmatically, but you can generate mobile authorization codes on the Reader SDK page of your application settings or manually with cURL during development.
Create a function, retrieveAuthorizationCode, to handle the work of calling your authorization service and handling the result:
import SquareReaderSDK
func retrieveAuthorizationCode() -> String {
// TODO: Add code to retrieve a mobile authorization code.
return "<Mobile Authorization Code>"
}
import SquareReaderSDK
func authorizeReaderSDKIfNeeded() {
if SQRDReaderSDK.shared.isAuthorized {
print("Already authorized.")
} else {
let authCode = retrieveAuthorizationCode()
SQRDReaderSDK.shared.authorize(withCode: authCode) { _, error in
if let authError = error {
// Handle the error
print(authError)
} else {
// Proceed to the main application interface.
}
}
}
}
Step 9: Implement CheckoutControllerDelegate methods
Your view controller must conform to the SQRDCheckoutControllerDelegate
protocol to handle results and errors from the checkout flow. In most cases, your view controller should implement SQRDCheckoutControllerDelegate. If you choose to implement the delegate as a separate object, make sure it is retained until the checkout flow completes.
import SquareReaderSDK
extension <#YourViewController#>: SQRDCheckoutControllerDelegate {
func checkoutControllerDidCancel(
_: SQRDCheckoutController
) {
print("Checkout cancelled.")
}
func checkoutController(
_: SQRDCheckoutController, didFailWith _: Error
) {
// TODO: Handle checkout errors
}
func checkoutController(
_: SQRDCheckoutController,
didFinishCheckoutWith _: SQRDCheckoutResult
) {
// TODO: Handle checkout success
}
}
import SquareReaderSDK
extension <#YourViewController#> {
func startCheckout() {
// Create a money amount in the currency of the authorized Square account
let amountMoney = SQRDMoney(amount: 100)
// Create parameters to customize the behavior of the checkout flow.
let params = SQRDCheckoutParameters(amountMoney: amountMoney)
params.additionalPaymentTypes = [.cash, .manualCardEntry]
// Create a checkout controller and call present to start checkout flow.
let checkoutController = SQRDCheckoutController(
parameters: params,
delegate: self
)
checkoutController.present(from: self)
}
}
Step 11: Add code to handle the checkout result
Implement the success and failure delegate methods. For now, print the checkout result to the Xcode console on success and error information on failure.
Reader SDK provides error types for all failable operations. For example, errors that occur while presenting the checkout flow are always of type SQRDCheckoutControllerError. Error objects always contain user displayable details (error code and description) and debugging information (debug code and debug message).
// Success delegate method
func checkoutController(
_: SQRDCheckoutController,
didFinishCheckoutWith result: SQRDCheckoutResult
) {
// result contains details about the completed checkout
print("Checkout completed: \(result.description).")
}
// ...
// Failure delegate method
func checkoutController(
_: SQRDCheckoutController, didFailWith error: Error
) {
// Checkout controller errors are always of type SQRDCheckoutControllerError
let checkoutControllerError = error as! SQRDCheckoutControllerError
switch checkoutControllerError.code {
case .sdkNotAuthorized:
// Checkout failed because the SDK is not authorized
// with a Square merchant account.
print("Reader SDK is not authorized.")
case .usageError:
// Checkout failed due to a usage error. Inspect the userInfo
// dictionary for additional information.
if let debugMessage = checkoutControllerError.userInfo[SQRDErrorDebugMessageKey],
let debugCode = checkoutControllerError.userInfo[SQRDErrorDebugCodeKey] {
print(debugCode, debugMessage)
}
}
}
Test Reader SDK on iOS
Reader SDK provides a testing module that contains additional initializers that are not exposed in the Reader SDK framework. You can use these initializers to construct mock objects in your tests. For example, you might initialize a SQRDCard object in a unit test and use it to verify the behavior of your application.
import SquareReaderSDK.Testing // import the Testing module
func test_updateWithCard() {
let card = SQRDCard(brand: .visa, lastFour: "1111")
self.cardView.updateWithCard(card)
XCTAssertEqualObjects(self.cardView.lastFourLabel.text, "1111")
XCTAssertEqualObjects(self.cardView.brandLabel.text, "Visa")
}
Next steps
Now that you have a basic build in place, expand on it with these options: