URL
The URL at which the content is missing or inaccurate
https://capacitorjs.com/docs/ios/spm
What is missing or inaccurate about the content on this page?
Summary
This page documents migrating to / using Swift Package Manager on iOS, but it does not warn about a crash-on-launch that this setup causes on iOS 15, 16, and 17 — the very range Capacitor 8 still supports (iOS deployment target 15). Apps build and pass review, launch fine on iOS 18+, and then hard-crash at launch for every user below iOS 18.
Symptom
The app terminates immediately at launch (before the web view loads) on iOS 15–17. It works normally on iOS 18+. Crash report shows a dyld failure:
Termination Reason: DYLD, Library missing
Library not loaded: /System/Library/Frameworks/SwiftUICore.framework/SwiftUICore
Referenced from: .../App.app/App
Reason: tried: '.../SwiftUICore.framework/SwiftUICore' (no such file, not in dyld cache)
Exception Type: EXC_CRASH (SIGABRT), terminated at launch.
Root cause
SwiftUICore is a private framework Apple split out of SwiftUI; it only exists as a standalone framework on iOS 18+. Under SPM, Capacitor plugins are statically linked into the main App binary, so a plugin that references SwiftUI pulls a strong link to SwiftUICore into App itself. Xcode (16 and later, including 26.x) links it strongly even though the minimum deployment target is iOS 15, with no warning — so the binary can't load on any device below iOS 18.
Fix (should be documented here)
In XCode, select the App in Targets, and go to Build Settings. In the "Basic/Customized/All" filter select "All", and search for "Other Linker Flags".
Add two separate entries:
-weak_frameworkSwiftUICore
Weak-linking is safe: if SwiftUICore isn't linked it's a no-op; if it is, it lets the app launch on iOS 15–17 (the symbols aren't actually called there); on iOS 18+ it behaves identically.
Suggested change
Add a "⚠️ Known issue" callout to this page with the symptom + the -weak_framework SwiftUICore workaround.
Note: this isn't only a migration issue
A new app started on Capacitor 8 + SPM with deployment target 15 hits the same crash, so the same warning belongs on the iOS getting-started / new-project docs too. Longer term this could be automated (e.g. adding the flag to the @capacitor/ios project template, or a cap doctor check for a deployment-target/SwiftUICore mismatch) — happy to open a separate issue for that if useful.
URL
The URL at which the content is missing or inaccurate
https://capacitorjs.com/docs/ios/spm
What is missing or inaccurate about the content on this page?
Summary
This page documents migrating to / using Swift Package Manager on iOS, but it does not warn about a crash-on-launch that this setup causes on iOS 15, 16, and 17 — the very range Capacitor 8 still supports (iOS deployment target 15). Apps build and pass review, launch fine on iOS 18+, and then hard-crash at launch for every user below iOS 18.
Symptom
The app terminates immediately at launch (before the web view loads) on iOS 15–17. It works normally on iOS 18+. Crash report shows a dyld failure:
Exception Type: EXC_CRASH (SIGABRT), terminated at launch.
Root cause
SwiftUICoreis a private framework Apple split out of SwiftUI; it only exists as a standalone framework on iOS 18+. Under SPM, Capacitor plugins are statically linked into the mainAppbinary, so a plugin that references SwiftUI pulls a strong link toSwiftUICoreintoAppitself. Xcode (16 and later, including 26.x) links it strongly even though the minimum deployment target is iOS 15, with no warning — so the binary can't load on any device below iOS 18.Fix (should be documented here)
In XCode, select the App in Targets, and go to Build Settings. In the "Basic/Customized/All" filter select "All", and search for "Other Linker Flags".
Add two separate entries:
-weak_frameworkSwiftUICoreWeak-linking is safe: if
SwiftUICoreisn't linked it's a no-op; if it is, it lets the app launch on iOS 15–17 (the symbols aren't actually called there); on iOS 18+ it behaves identically.Suggested change
Add a "⚠️ Known issue" callout to this page with the symptom + the
-weak_framework SwiftUICoreworkaround.Note: this isn't only a migration issue
A new app started on Capacitor 8 + SPM with deployment target 15 hits the same crash, so the same warning belongs on the iOS getting-started / new-project docs too. Longer term this could be automated (e.g. adding the flag to the
@capacitor/iosproject template, or acap doctorcheck for a deployment-target/SwiftUICore mismatch) — happy to open a separate issue for that if useful.