Question 1

How to use Tor.framework with Swift instead of Objective-C?

Accepted Answer

Import the framework in Swift and bridge the Objective-C classes like TORConfiguration and TORController. The README's Objective-C example can be adapted using Swift's interoperability, but note the API instability might affect Swift code in updates.

Question 2

Tor.framework vs Orbot for iOS privacy apps?

Accepted Answer

Tor.framework embeds Tor directly into your app, giving full control without external apps, while Orbot is a separate VPN app that routes system traffic. Choose Tor.framework for self-contained apps, but be prepared for more integration work compared to Orbot's simpler VPN configuration.

Question 3

How to handle Tor authentication in my iOS app?

Accepted Answer

Use TORController's authenticateWithData method with a cookie from TORConfiguration, as shown in the README example. Ensure cookieAuthentication is enabled in configuration and handle errors in the completion block for robust setup.

Question 4

Can I build a VPN app with Tor.framework on macOS?

Accepted Answer

Yes, using the experimental Onionmasq subspec, which wraps Arti to process IP packets for VPN-style apps. However, the README notes compilation hurdles for iOS simulators, so expect extra steps for macOS builds and testing.

Question 5

What are the performance differences between C Tor and Arti in this framework?

Accepted Answer

C Tor is the mature, stable implementation, while Arti is a modern Rust alternative that may offer better memory safety and performance in the long run. Arti is marked experimental here, so C Tor is safer for production, but Arti is worth testing for future-proofing.

Question 6

How to update the Tor version in my app using this framework?

Accepted Answer

As a user, update the CocoaPods version (e.g., '~> 409') to get precompiled updates from releases. For custom versions, contributors must follow the complex build-xcframework.sh process, which the README admits is not reproducible.

Tor.framework

What is Tor.framework?

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