Difference between revisions of "Logos"

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===== %hook =====
===== %hook =====
%hook Classname
<source lang="logos">%hook Classname</source>
Open a hook block for the class named ''Classname''.

Revision as of 08:32, 24 July 2011

Logos is a component of the Theos development suite that allows method hooking code to be written easily and clearly, using a set of special preprocessor directives.


The syntax provided by Logos greatly simplifies the development of MobileSubstrate extensions ("tweaks") which can hook other methods throughout the OS. In this context, "method hooking" refers to a technique used to replace or modify methods of classes found in other applications on the phone.

Getting Logos

Logos is distributed with Theos, and you can use Logos' syntax in any Theos-built project without any extra setup. For more information about Theos, visit its page.

Using Logos


Write me!

List of Logos Directives


%init([<class>=<expr>, …])
%init(Group[, [+|-]<class>=<expr>, …])

Initialize a group (or the default group). Passing no group name will initialize "_ungrouped", and passing class=expr arguments will substitute the given expressions for those classes at initialization time. The + sigil (as in class methods in Objective-C) can be prepended to the classname to substitute an expression for the metaclass. If not specified, the sigil defaults to -, to substitute the class itself. If not specified, the metaclass is derived from the class.


The directives in this category open a block of code which must be closed by an %end directive (shown below).


Set a logos configuration flag - currently unused, but the only existing configurable flag is 'generator', and the only generator that exists is "MobileSubstrate"

%hook Classname

Open a hook block for the class named Classname.

Here's a trivial example:

%hook SBApplicationController
-(void)uninstallApplication:(SBApplication *)application {
    NSLog(@"Hey, we're hooking uninstallApplication:!");
%subclass Classname: Superclass <Protocol, Protocol>

Subclass block - the class is created at runtime and populated with methods. ivars are not yet supported.

%group Groupname

Begin a hook group (for conditional initialization or code organization) with the name Groupname. All ungrouped hooks are in the implicit "_ungrouped" group.

%class Class

Forward-declare a class. Outmoded by %c, but still exists. Creates a $Class variable, and initializes it with the "_ungrouped" group.


Add a new method to a hooked class or subclass.

%ctor { … }

Generate an anonymous constructor (of default priority).


Close a hook/subclass/group block.



Effectively evaluates to Class, at runtime. Technically, creates $Class and populates it when the "_ungrouped" group is initialized.


Call the original hooked method. Doesn't function in a `%new`'d method. Works in subclasses, strangely enough, because MobileSubstrate will generate a supercall closure at hook time. (If the hooked method doesn't exist in the class we're hooking, it creates a stub that just calls the superclass implementation.) args is passed to the original function - don't include `self` and `_cmd`, Logos does this for you.


Dump the method arguments to syslog.