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Comment by jordansmithnz | Hacker News Reader

I’m the developer of a popular timetable/schedule app for college. It seems like the perfect use case for Siri: “What class do I have next?”.

Up until now it hasn’t been possible due to the restrictive API. I’ve looked into the new shortcuts and Siri API docs and although the beta documentation is sparse, I’m confident I’ll be able to develop a natural, first class Siri integration.

Unfortunately, it won’t be trivial to implement (at least to do well). It probably won’t be done before the iOS 12 release, and I’m hesitant to start working it just yet due to the sparse beta docs.

Over the next year or two, I think there will be some great Siri integrations built. Hopefully, users discover and use them :)

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I always wanted something like this in my uni days, but was always too lazy to make it! More importantly than what, "Hey Siri, where's my next class?" ;)

-e- heh, quick LinkedIn stalk reveals you went to UC at the same time as me!

Isn't that just.. a calendar?

This is what I did. Create a ‘Uni’ calendar and fill it with your class days and times - with repeats used as necessary.

Irritatingly, Siri doesn’t distinguish between calendars so you can’t reel off just classes, but you can ask about the day or the next ‘event’.

Personally I found this setup along with Apple’s ‘Up Next’ widget and Siri Apple Watch face to be way better than any other class management app I tried.

Many even publish iCalendar files ready to import. I actually ended up writing a custom scraper for my HS[1], after which the LMS provider actually wrote their own exporter fairly quickly.

I guess they weren't too happy one of the kids had to keep a database of all of their students' passwords... :P

[1]: https://github.com/teozkr/schoolsoftsync

Could you add a fake "Class" contact to each of your class/meetings, and then ask Siri "when is my next meeting with Class"? Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue I guess.

Funnily enough I started working on something similar in Uni as a class project and went embarrassingly far before realizing all the functionality I was building already existed in any of the major calendar apps. There should be a name for software developers thinking a customized software solution will solve their personal problems (time-management in particular)? I suspect it is the reason there are so many todo list apps.

I’ve been working on a Siri/Shortcuts-enabled App, and while I agree documentation is very sparse, the API is also very succinct. I only watched the WWDC session about the soup app and was able to get going from there.

Have you checked out the two WWDC talk videos on developer.apple.com about Shortcuts? They should provide a lot more context and connect the dots between a lot of the new APIs.

Thanks, I think I’ve seen them but should definitely check them out again. I might have missed a thing or two :)

I think we’ll see more useful docs before release, they usually release more and more up until the iPhone launch events.

They're already up, though a bit sparse: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/sirikit/

Can't you do that by adding to the iPhone calendar?

Do you mind sharing what the app is called?

He created Class Timetable.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/class-timetable/id425121147?...

Thanks

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