/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app

SpringBoard on an unmodified iPhone 4 running iOS 4.0

Summary

SpringBoard.app is essentially iOS's graphical user interface (much the same as GNOME is to Linux, Explorer is to Microsoft Windows, and Finder is to Mac OS) and manages graphical services ranging from icon badges, the dock, multitasking, and folders (among others). When it is launched, it registers PurpleSystemEventPort, essentially making it the main application.

Primary Functions

• SpringBoard acts a stacking window manager, rendering the child applications
• SpringBoard activates/deactivates and manages memory of the UIKit applications it launches
• SpringBoard is responsible for most of the interactions with CoreTelephony

Starting in iOS 6, some of SpringBoard's former functions are now in backboardd.

MobileSubstrate Extensions

After jailbreaking the device, SpringBoard.app can be extended with 3rd party extensions injected by Mobile Substrate.

Alternatives

Apple developers and service center employees use SpringBoard's alternative called SwitchBoard.app. A simple launcher for other developer utilities, such as SkankPhone (SkankPod if on iPod device) and BurnIn.

Main Application Ports

• com.apple.SpringBoard
• com.apple.SpringBoard.UIKit.migserver
• PurpleSystemEventPort
• CARenderServer

Children

Folders

• Translations

Files

• Model definition file(s)
• Related artwork
• ring.m4r (Marimba)

Parents

Root/System/Library/CoreServices