How do I customize the animation speed in ExpandingCollection?

The README doesn't provide direct APIs for animation speed; you'd need to modify the underlying animation parameters in the ExpandingViewController subclass or extend the library, which requires diving into the source code.

Can I use ExpandingCollection with SwiftUI?

No, it's built for UIKit only. To use it in SwiftUI, you'd need to wrap it in a UIViewControllerRepresentable, adding complexity and potential performance overhead.

What's the difference between ExpandingCollection and a custom UICollectionView layout?

ExpandingCollection provides a ready-made, animated card interface with peek/pop interactions, saving development time, while a custom layout offers more control but requires writing all animation and transition code from scratch.

How to handle dynamic content in ExpandingCollection cells?

You can update cell data by implementing UICollectionViewDataSource methods in your ExpandingViewController subclass, but ensure to manage state carefully during animations to avoid glitches.

Is ExpandingCollection compatible with both CocoaPods and Carthage?

Yes, the README shows support for CocoaPods and Carthage via Podfile or Cartfile entries, making dependency management flexible for most iOS projects.

How to change the card size in ExpandingCollection?

Set the itemSize property in your ExpandingViewController's viewDidLoad, as specified in the README, but note that height must account for both open and closed states, which can be tricky to adjust.

ExpandingCollection or manual animations: which is better for performance?

ExpandingCollection optimizes animations with built-in caching, but for highly customized or lightweight needs, manual animations might offer better control and potentially lower overhead on older devices.

expanding-collection — iOS Material Design Card Controller

What is expanding-collection?

ExpandingCollection is an iOS library that provides an animated material design UI card peek/pop controller. It allows developers to create interactive card-based interfaces where users can tap to expand cards into detailed views, implementing a smooth, engaging transition animation. The library solves the need for custom, high-quality animated UI components in iOS apps without requiring extensive animation code.

Target Audience

iOS developers building apps that require interactive, animated card-based interfaces, such as product showcases, portfolios, or content browsers. It's particularly useful for those seeking pre-built, customizable material design components.

Value Proposition

Developers choose ExpandingCollection for its ready-to-use, polished animations that follow material design principles, saving development time. Its structured API and subclass-based approach make integration straightforward while allowing deep customization of card behavior and appearance.

:octocat: ExpandingCollection is an animated material design UI card peek/pop controller. iOS library made by @Ramotion

Use Cases

Best For

Creating interactive product showcases with expandable details
Building portfolio apps with animated card galleries
Implementing material design card interfaces in iOS
Adding peek/pop interactions to collection views
Developing onboarding or tutorial screens with step-by-step cards
Enhancing user engagement with smooth, custom transitions

Not Ideal For

Apps built entirely with SwiftUI due to its UIKit foundation
Projects targeting iOS versions below 9.0, as it requires iOS 9.0+
Teams needing rapid prototyping with minimal configuration, given the detailed cell setup with XIB files and constraints
Applications where binary size is a critical concern, since it adds a third-party dependency

Pros & Cons

Pros

Polished Material Design

Follows material design principles out of the box, providing modern, intuitive UI components that enhance visual appeal without custom design work.

Smooth Animated Transitions

Offers customizable peek/pop animations with built-in support for front and back views, ensuring engaging user interactions as demonstrated in the GIF.

Straightforward UIKit Integration

Works as a subclass of UICollectionViewController, making it easy to drop into existing iOS projects with minimal boilerplate code.

Flexible Cell Customization

Supports custom front and back views with hidden view options during transitions, allowing developers to tailor content display per the README examples.

Cons

Complex Initial Setup

Requires creating cells with specific XIB files, constraints, and outlets, which can be error-prone and time-consuming compared to simpler UI components.

UIKit-Only, No SwiftUI

Built exclusively for UIKit, so it's incompatible with SwiftUI projects without additional bridging or wrapper code, limiting modern iOS development approaches.

Vendor Lock-In Risk

Heavy reliance on subclassing from ExpandingViewController and BasePageCollectionCell makes it difficult to migrate away or integrate with other libraries seamlessly.

Limited iOS Version Support

Only supports iOS 9.0+, excluding apps that need to target older devices, and lacks mention of updates for recent iOS versions or Swift changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is expanding-collection?

Target Audience

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Creating interactive product showcases with expandable details
Building portfolio apps with animated card galleries
Implementing material design card interfaces in iOS
Adding peek/pop interactions to collection views
Developing onboarding or tutorial screens with step-by-step cards
Enhancing user engagement with smooth, custom transitions

Not Ideal For

Apps built entirely with SwiftUI due to its UIKit foundation
Projects targeting iOS versions below 9.0, as it requires iOS 9.0+
Teams needing rapid prototyping with minimal configuration, given the detailed cell setup with XIB files and constraints
Applications where binary size is a critical concern, since it adds a third-party dependency

Pros & Cons

Pros

Polished Material Design

Follows material design principles out of the box, providing modern, intuitive UI components that enhance visual appeal without custom design work.

Smooth Animated Transitions

Offers customizable peek/pop animations with built-in support for front and back views, ensuring engaging user interactions as demonstrated in the GIF.

Straightforward UIKit Integration

Works as a subclass of UICollectionViewController, making it easy to drop into existing iOS projects with minimal boilerplate code.

Flexible Cell Customization

Supports custom front and back views with hidden view options during transitions, allowing developers to tailor content display per the README examples.

Cons

Complex Initial Setup

Requires creating cells with specific XIB files, constraints, and outlets, which can be error-prone and time-consuming compared to simpler UI components.

UIKit-Only, No SwiftUI

Built exclusively for UIKit, so it's incompatible with SwiftUI projects without additional bridging or wrapper code, limiting modern iOS development approaches.

Vendor Lock-In Risk

Heavy reliance on subclassing from ExpandingViewController and BasePageCollectionCell makes it difficult to migrate away or integrate with other libraries seamlessly.

Limited iOS Version Support

Only supports iOS 9.0+, excluding apps that need to target older devices, and lacks mention of updates for recent iOS versions or Swift changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

expanding-collection

What is expanding-collection?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

expanding-collection

What is expanding-collection?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?