App Tracking Transparency Framework for PyObjC

Warnings

• breaking PyObjC 12.0 dropped support for Python 3.9, and PyObjC 11.0 dropped support for Python 3.8. Ensure your project uses Python 3.10 or newer.
  Fix: Upgrade your Python environment to 3.10 or later.
• gotcha To display the App Tracking Transparency authorization prompt, you *must* add the `NSUserTrackingUsageDescription` key to your application's `Info.plist` file (typically done in Xcode). Without this, the system will not present the dialog.
  Fix: Add `NSUserTrackingUsageDescription` (String) with a descriptive message to your application's `Info.plist` file.
• gotcha The `requestTrackingAuthorization` method is a one-time request. The system remembers the user's choice and will not prompt again unless the user uninstalls and then reinstalls the app, or if the status is `notDetermined`. Calls only prompt when the application state is active.
  Fix: Check `ATTrackingManager.trackingAuthorizationStatus()` before calling `requestTrackingAuthorization_()` and handle each status appropriately. Do not expect repeated prompts.
• breaking PyObjC 11.1 introduced significant changes to how the core bridge handles Automatic Reference Counting (ARC) for initializer (`init` family) methods, aligning with `clang`'s documentation. This can affect memory management for custom Objective-C classes implemented in Python.
  Fix: Review memory management practices for custom Objective-C classes implemented in Python, especially those with `init` methods, to ensure correct reference handling under the new ARC model.

Install

• pip install pyobjc-framework-apptrackingtransparency Install latest version

Imports

• ATTrackingManager

  from AppTrackingTransparency import ATTrackingManager

• ATTrackingManagerAuthorizationStatus

  from AppTrackingTransparency import ATTrackingManagerAuthorizationStatus

Quickstart

This example demonstrates how to request app tracking authorization and check its status. For the authorization prompt to appear, you *must* add the `NSUserTrackingUsageDescription` key with a purpose string to your application's `Info.plist` file (an Xcode project setting, not Python code). The completion handler for `requestTrackingAuthorization_` is asynchronous and requires a running `NSRunLoop` to execute.

import objc
from Foundation import NSObject, NSLog, NSRunLoop, NSDefaultRunLoopMode, objc_object
from AppTrackingTransparency import ATTrackingManager, ATTrackingManagerAuthorizationStatus

class TrackingDelegate(NSObject):
    def init(self):
        self = objc.super(TrackingDelegate, self).init()
        if self is None: return None
        return self

    def requestTrackingPermission(self):
        current_status = ATTrackingManager.trackingAuthorizationStatus()
        NSLog(f"Initial tracking status: {current_status}")

        if current_status == ATTrackingManagerAuthorizationStatus.notDetermined:
            NSLog("Requesting tracking authorization...")
            # Objective-C method with completion handler translates to PyObjC with underscore suffix
            ATTrackingManager.requestTrackingAuthorization_(self.trackingAuthorizationCompletionHandler_)
        else:
            NSLog("Authorization already determined or restricted.")
            self.checkTrackingStatus()

    def trackingAuthorizationCompletionHandler_(self, status: ATTrackingManagerAuthorizationStatus) -> None:
        # This handler might not be called on the main thread; dispatch UI updates if any.
        NSLog(f"Tracking authorization completion handler called with status: {status}")
        self.checkTrackingStatus()

    def checkTrackingStatus(self):
        status = ATTrackingManager.trackingAuthorizationStatus()
        if status == ATTrackingManagerAuthorizationStatus.authorized:
            NSLog("Tracking authorized!")
        elif status == ATTrackingManagerAuthorizationStatus.denied:
            NSLog("Tracking denied.")
        elif status == ATTrackingManagerAuthorizationStatus.notDetermined:
            NSLog("Tracking not determined.")
        elif status == ATTrackingManagerAuthorizationStatus.restricted:
            NSLog("Tracking restricted by parental controls or MDM.")
        else:
            NSLog("Unknown tracking status.")

def main():
    delegate = TrackingDelegate.alloc().init()
    delegate.requestTrackingPermission()

    # For the completion handler to be called, an NSRunLoop must be active.
    # In a full AppKit application, this is handled automatically.
    # For a console script, run a short loop.
    NSLog("Running runloop for 5 seconds to allow async callback...")
    NSRunLoop.currentRunLoop().runUntilDate_(objc.NSTimeIntervalToBeDateTime(objc.current_time() + 5.0))
    NSLog("Runloop finished.")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()