WWDC 2020, Apple confirms: June 22, online, free & more

Apple has announced further details regarding its June 22 Worldwide Developers Conference, which will be held online this year in response to COVID-19.

The big news? It will be free to all developers and made available in the Apple Developer app and via Apple’s website.

June 22, for all developers

Now in its 31st year, WWDC20 will be an opportunity for developers to get early access to the future of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS, and to learn from Apple engineers.

“WWDC20 will be our biggest yet, bringing together our global developer community of more than 23 million in an unprecedented way for a week in June to learn about the future of Apple platforms,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

“We can’t wait to meet online in June with the global developer community and share with them all of the new tools we’ve been working on to help them create even more incredible apps and services. We look forward to sharing more details about WWDC20 with everyone as we get closer to this exciting event.”

In related news, the enterprise-focused Jamf JNUC 2020 event yesterday announced plans to go online this year.

Now with the Swift Student Challenge

The company also announced the Swift Student Challenge, an opportunity for student developers to showcase their love of coding by creating their own Swift playground.

“Students are an integral part of the Apple developer community, and last year WWDC saw attendance from more than 350 student developers spanning 37 different countries,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.

“As we look forward to WWDC20, although our gathering will be virtual this year, we want to recognize and celebrate the creative contributions of our young developers from around the world. We can’t wait to see this next generation of innovative thinkers turn their ideas into a reality through the Swift Student Challenge.”

From right now until 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 17, student developers from all over the world can submit to the Swift Student Challenge by creating an interactive scene in a Swift playground that can be experienced within three minutes.

Winners will receive an exclusive WWDC20 jacket and pin set.

Get the app now for more information later 

Apple wants developers to download the Apple Developer app where additional WWDC20 program information — including keynote and Platforms State of the Union details, session and lab schedules, and more — will be shared in June.

This information will also be made available on the Apple Developer website and by email.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.