Essentials Library
The Utility and UI Library for Developing Shortcuts
What this shortcut does
Essentials Library (EssentialsLib) π Get Latest Stable Version With an Integrated Updater, Dictionary and List Utilities, Global Variables, vCard Generation and more, the Essentials Collection will bring your shortcut development to the next level! Essentials Library is meticulously crafted to empower your shortcuts with an expedited method for implementing essential functionalities and facilitating seamless integration. Functioning as a foundational resource, it is replete with invaluable features that elevate your shortcuts. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive set of tools to streamline your automations, all accessible through APIs, all encapsulated within a single shortcut. Code Faster without more Apps It aims to replace most of the functionality of apps such as Actions to reduce the need for outside apps other than the base iOS / Apple apps preinstalled. Such actions that have been replaced include: Create Icon/Encoded Menu , In Dictionary , Global Variables , IsOnline and Invert Dictionary . Essentials is fully released but under active development. Though unlikely, new beta versions may break existing tools and require fixes. All bug reports go to the Docs Implementation Template If you intend on using Essentials Library in your Shortcut, build your Shortcut from EssentialsLib Loader . Apple OS Version Support iOS + iPadOS 17 β β macOS 14 β β iOS + iPadOS 18.0 - 18.6 β macOS 15.0 - 15.6 β iOS + iPadOS + macOS 26 β β¨ Features: β³οΈ Optimised & Fast : Only runs what it needs to and Tools load in around a 1/2 second. Weβre continually working to optimise it. π₯ Integrated Updater : This powerful JS updater not only keeps Essentials Library automatically up-to-date with the latest enhancements but also offers utility for integrating update checks into your shortcuts. π§° Dictionary and List Utilities : Manipulate and manage your data with ease. Powerful actions for dictionaries and lists allow for complex data handling within your shortcuts. π Shortcut Search : Improved Shortcut Searching Mechanism, making it easier to filter shortcuts for all uses! π Improved API : Retrieve Complex information from Other Shortcuts, such as Description, Download Count, Creator, and more! π Global Variables : Implement persistent data across multiple shortcuts and multiple runs. Store and retrieve information globally, making your shortcuts more dynamic and interconnected. π vCard Menu Generation : Create Icon Menus without any hassle, using both Base-64 and Emojis; Generate vCards for a more useful and informative way to display your options in a menu! π΄ Markdown & Card Support : Create and show Markdown and Information Cards, without breaking a sweat! π AES Encryption : Encrypt and Decrypt using any custom key without using super advanced techniques or long lines of code, using super safe AES Encryption! π Run JavaScript : Use JS to automate complex features that are too time-consuming in Native Shortcuts! πΎ Custom Functions : Create your own tools as a package for Essentials Library, turning repetitive steps in your shortcuts to its own method! π¦ Package Installer : Install Dependency Packages (Custom Functions) for your shortcut, without messing around with time-wasting checkers β¦and much more on the way! Run the shortcut or scroll to access the documentation. π Why You Should Consider Essentials Library: β‘οΈ Fast Loading : Tools load in under 0.5 seconds, on par with other libraries! β‘οΈ Fast Tools : Tools run in around 1-2 seconds, continuously to be optimised! β Boost Your Productivity : Automate repetitive tasks and manage data more efficiently. β Simplify Complex Workflows : Break down intricate processes into manageable, reusable components. β Learn and Explore : A great resource for both beginners and advanced users to understand powerful shortcut concepts. β Always Updated : The integrated updater ensures you're always running the most optimised and feature-rich version. β Backwards Compatible : Essentials is designed to be extremely backwards compatible, and you can guarantee that your Essentials Implementation won't break! β Modern : Unlike some libraries or utilities, Essentials is built for the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Always! How to Use Install Latest Stable Version β Read the Docs β Implement & Enjoy All Issues & Suggestions go to the Docs. License EssentialsLib is licensed under the MIT License: MIT License
Copyright (c) 2025-2026 @0xnCubed
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. Consider adding Essentials Library to your Shortcut Toolkit today and unlock the full potential of your Shortcuts! Here is the Dependency Badge if you add this Shortcut as a Dependency Add []( (Black) OR []( (White) to your shortcut description. Support Me If you appreciate my work, do give it a favourite/like! Check out: Page Links Visit SwiftUpdater 2.0 π Page Here! Visit SearchCuts Page Here! Attributions & Credits Graphics made with MediaKit . Fetch Inspired by HubFetch . Some Tools are from the JS1 Set by @atnbueno . Partially inspired by Cyclone Library and UI Library . Partially Motivated by Integrating Actions.
Works with
Before you start
Required apps
- Files
- iCloud Drive
- Shortcuts
Set up your shortcut
01. Open in Shortcuts Library
Review the details and select Install.
02. Review in Apple Shortcuts
Check the actions and permissions, then add the shortcut.