Question 1

How to use Discovery for background BLE on iOS?

Accepted Answer

Initialize Discovery with a UUID and username, and it automatically handles background state transitions by using BLE services and characteristics to exchange data. The library abstracts the complexity, so you don't need to manage Core Bluetooth delegates manually.

Question 2

Discovery vs Core Bluetooth: which is better for device discovery?

Accepted Answer

Discovery is better if you need a simple, out-of-the-box solution for background data exchange and proximity detection. Core Bluetooth offers more control and advanced features but requires more code and doesn't seamlessly handle iOS background limitations.

Question 3

How to exchange custom data like usernames between iOS devices with Discovery?

Accepted Answer

Pass your custom value as the username during initialization, and Discovery attaches it to BLE characteristics. Peers retrieve this data by connecting and reading the characteristics, even when the app is in the background, as described in the problem-solving section.

Question 4

Does Discovery work on both iPhone and iPad?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the example app in the README works on both iPhone and iPad, as long as the devices support Bluetooth Low Energy. It's tested on modern iOS devices for proximity-aware functionality.

Question 5

How to handle errors or connection issues in Discovery?

Accepted Answer

Currently, Discovery has minimal error handling, with improvements slated for future releases. Developers may need to monitor Core Bluetooth logs or implement custom checks, especially for older iOS versions where issues like 'unknown error 1309' can occur.

Question 6

Can Discovery be used for iBeacon apps?

Accepted Answer

Discovery uses raw BLE and isn't optimized for iBeacon protocols; it's better for peer-to-peer ID exchange rather than iBeacon's major/minor value transmission. If you need iBeacon features, consider dedicated iBeacon libraries or Core Bluetooth with iBeacon APIs.

Discovery

What is Discovery?

Overview

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Related Projects

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Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions