Project Graveyard – Devlog 003

Working on an improved toolbar and volume presentations.

In the last update I talked about replacing the utility window with some popover presentations inside the volume. I also created an app-wide mode to switch between Look, Move, and Edit. Today I started cleaning up the toolbar. The first thing I did was create a visual indicator for the selected mode. I used the new controlSize modifier to get slightly smaller buttons. The toolbar contains five controls grouped into three sections.

1. Add a record: open a modal to create a record
2. Mode
   • Look
   • Move
   • Edit
3. More: open a popover to adjust settings, view credits, etc.

I used the app accent color for the selection state but I may look into better ideas. One feature that is still on my to do list is automatic mode change. The app should default to Look mode most of the time. I’d like to add an automatic process that can set it to Look mode when in Move and Edit Mode. I think it could be a simple as a timer that gets deferred anytime the user performs an action. As long as they are doing something, keep them in their selected mode. After 30 seconds of inactivity, switch the app back to Look mode.

I’m using two styles of presentations in the volume. The Add and Edit cards are displayed inside the 3D bounds of the volume. The edit card appears above a gravestone when tapped. The add card appears toward the center of the volume. I’m using the new presentationBreakthroughEffect to make sure these cards are always easy to see and use. The other presentation style I’m using is a simple popover anchored to the More button in the toolbar. This works well to change app settings, but blocks too much of the view for editing.

I’m considering two additional features for the toolbar and settings. Compact Mode would move all of the toolbar controls into the popover for settings. Then I could move the Settings button (…) to one of the ornament anchors and hide the toolbar. Focus Mode could work with or without Compact Mode. Focus Mode would do a few things:

• Hide volume baseplate (learn more)
• Hide volume / window controls (learn more)
• Hide toolbar / ornaments
• Remove all hover effects and interactivity

Focus mode would effectively turn the app into a 3D model for display only. Focus mode would be enabled in the Settings and would persist until the user turns it off. I think something as simple as double tapping anywhere in the volume could be a good way to deactivate it.

A few visionOS 26 / SwiftUI highlights

• Presentation Component
• Control size
• Presentation breakthrough effect

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