# Programmable Chat iOS Quickstart

> \[!CAUTION]
>
> Programmable Chat has been deprecated and is no longer supported. Instead, we'll be focusing on the next generation of chat: Twilio Conversations. Find out more about the [EOL process here](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/changelog/programmable-chat-end-of-life-notice).
>
> If you're starting a new project, please visit the [Conversations Docs](/docs/conversations) to begin. If you've already built on Programmable Chat, please visit our [Migration Guide](/docs/conversations/migrating-chat-conversations) to learn about how to switch.

In this guide, we will get you up and running quickly with a sample application
you can build on as you learn more about Programmable Chat. Sound like a plan? Then
let's get cracking!

**Table Of Contents**

* [Gather account information](#gather-account-information)
* [Download and explore the mobile app](#download-and-explore-the-mobile-app)

## Gather account information

The first thing we need to do is grab all the necessary configuration values from our
Twilio account. To set up our back-end for Chat, we will need five
pieces of information:

| Config Value               | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| :------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Service Instance SID       | Like a database for your Chat data - [generate one in the console here](https://www.twilio.com/console/chat/services)                                                                                                             |
| Account SID                | Your primary Twilio account identifier - find this [in the console here](https://www.twilio.com/console/chat/getting-started).                                                                                                    |
| API Key                    | Used to authenticate - [generate one here](https://www.twilio.com/console/chat/dev-tools/api-keys).                                                                                                                               |
| API Secret                 | Used to authenticate - [just like the above, you'll get one here](https://www.twilio.com/console/chat/dev-tools/api-keys).                                                                                                        |
| Mobile Push Credential SID | Used to send notifications from Chat to your app - [create one in the console here](https://www.twilio.com/console/chat/credentials) or learn more about [Chat Push Notifications in iOS](/docs/chat/ios/push-notifications-ios). |

## Create a Twilio Function

When you build your application with Twilio Chat, you will need two pieces - the client (this iOS app) and a server that returns access tokens. If you don't want to set up your
own server, you can use [Twilio Functions](/docs/serverless/functions-assets/functions) to create this part of your solution.

Functions are a way to
run your Node.js code in Twilio's environment. You can create new functions on the Twilio Console's [Manage Functions Page](https://www.twilio.com/console/runtime/functions/manage).

You will need to choose the "Programmable Chat Access Token" template:

![New function template selection with Programmable Chat Token highlighted.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/22fb4a04933c11a3354c21d1d2446854ec22552bb0a46814386c21b3a0993616.png)

Select the Programmable Chat Token template and click Create on the above dialog box, and then fill in the account information you gathered above on the next screen.

![Form to configure programmable chat token with fields for app name, service SID, API key, API secret, and push credential.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/ab14d9b202ee478e785b99a22982741a961098212c8b2f95f0167ec14391b709.png)

After you do that, the Function will appear, and you can read through it. Save it, and it will immediately be published at the URL provided - go ahead and put that URL into a web browser, and you should see a token being returned from your Function. If you are getting an error, check to make sure that all of your account information is properly defined.

Want to learn more about the code in the Function template, or want to write your own server code? Checkout the [Twilio Chat Identity Guide](/docs/chat/identity) for the underlying concepts.

Now that the Twilio Function is set up, let's get the starter iOS app up and running.

> \[!CAUTION]
>
> **NOTE:** You should not use Twilio Functions to generate access tokens for your app in production. Each function has a publicly accessible URL which a malicious actor could use to obtain tokens for your app and abuse them.
>
> [Read more about access tokens here](/docs/chat/identity) to learn how to generate access tokens in your own C#, Java, Node.js, PHP, Python, or Ruby application.

## Download and explore the mobile app

To get going quickly, there are starter apps built as stand-alone Xcode
projects written in both Swift and Objective-C. Download one of them now:

* [Download for Swift](https://github.com/TwilioDevEd/chat-quickstart-swift/archive/master.zip)
* [Download for Objective-C](https://github.com/TwilioDevEd/chat-quickstart-objc/archive/master.zip)

Both applications are built using the [Cocoapods](https://cocoapods.org/) package
manager and are available on GitHub ([Objective-C](https://github.com/TwilioDevEd/chat-quickstart-objc),
[Swift](https://github.com/TwilioDevEd/chat-quickstart-swift)). With
Cocoapods installed, download and unzip your preferred application. Go to the
application's directory in the Terminal, and install dependencies with:

```bash
pod install
```

This will generate a new file called `ChatQuickstart.xcworkspace`, as with all
Cocoapods projects. Open this file from now on to use the project:

```bash
open ChatQuickstart.xcworkspace
```

You will need to go into `ViewController.m` or `ChatConstants.swift` and modify the URL for your
Twilio Function there - each Twilio user will have a different domain to use for
their Twilio Functions.

Objective-C:

```bash
const NSString* kTokenURL =  @"https://YOUR_DOMAIN_HERE.twil.io/chat-token";
```

Swift:

```bash
let TOKEN_URL = "https://YOUR_TWILIO_FUNCTION_DOMAIN_HERE.twil.io/chat-token"
```

Start sending yourself a few messages - they should start appearing in a
`UITableView` in the starter app.

## Now You're Ready

You're all set! From here, you can start building your own application. For guidance
on integrating the iOS SDK into your existing project, [head over to our install guide](/docs/chat/sdk-download-install).
If you'd like to learn more about how Programmable Chat works, you might want to dive
into our user identity guide, which talks about the relationship between the mobile
app and the server.

[Next: Managing User Identity and Access Tokens »](/docs/chat/identity)
