git:20260428.53308d1 to git:20260503.f77bcc0

---

name: programming-ios

title: "iOS Development"

description: "iOS platform patterns, SwiftUI, SwiftData, App Intents, WidgetKit, StoreKit 2, and modern iOS SDK practices. Auto-activates for iPhone and iPad projects."

license: Apache-2.0

compatibility: "Requires Xcode 16+ and iOS 18+ SDK."

capabilities: programming-swift

domains: developer

rules:

- content(ios)

- content(iphone)

- content(ipad)

- content(uikit)

- match(iphone.+app|ios.+app|ipad.+app)

- file(*.xcodeproj)

---

# iOS Development

## Conventions

- SwiftUI first — UIKit only for components without SwiftUI equivalent

- SwiftData for persistence — prefer over Core Data for new projects (iOS 17+)

- NavigationStack for navigation — NavigationView is deprecated

- App Intents for Siri, Shortcuts, and Apple Intelligence integration

- Privacy manifests (PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy) required — declare all API usage reasons

- Target current and previous major iOS version as minimum deployment target

- Human Interface Guidelines compliance — platform-native look and feel

## SwiftUI Patterns

- NavigationStack with value-based NavigationLink for type-safe programmatic navigation

- NavigationPath for heterogeneous navigation state management

- NavigationSplitView for iPad multi-column layouts — collapses to stack on iPhone

- @Observable model classes — not ObservableObject/@StateObject for new code (iOS 17+)

- @Bindable for creating bindings to @Observable model properties in views

- @Environment for dependency injection — custom EnvironmentKey for app services

- .task modifier for async work tied to view lifecycle — cancels automatically on disappear

- ViewThatFits and AnyLayout for adaptive layouts across size classes

- Custom containers with ForEach(subviewOf:) API (iOS 18+)

- onScrollGeometryChange for tracking scroll position and reacting to scroll state (iOS 18+)

- MeshGradient for multi-directional color transitions with control point grids (iOS 18+)

## Data & Persistence

- SwiftData with @Model macro — automatic schema generation and lightweight migration

- @Query in SwiftUI views for filtered, sorted, animated data fetching

- ModelContainer configured at app entry point — inject via .modelContainer modifier

- CloudKit sync via SwiftData for seamless iCloud persistence

- @Attribute(.unique) for single-property deduplication, #Unique for compound constraints (iOS 18+)

- @Relationship for object graphs with cascade/nullify delete rules

- #Predicate macro for type-safe, compile-checked queries

- VersionedSchema + SchemaMigrationPlan for non-trivial schema migrations

## App Intents & Intelligence

- AppIntent protocol for actions exposed to Shortcuts, Siri, and Spotlight

- AppEntity for domain objects discoverable by the system

- @Parameter with type-safe validation for intent inputs

- AppShortcutsProvider for suggested shortcuts surfaced proactively

- @AssistantIntent(schema:) within App Intent Domains for Apple Intelligence integration (iOS 18+)

## WidgetKit & Live Activities

- TimelineProvider with TimelineEntry for widget content scheduling

- Live Activities via ActivityKit — real-time updates on lock screen and Dynamic Island

- Dynamic Island presentations: compact, expanded, minimal — design for all three

- Interactive widgets with AppIntent-backed Button and Toggle (iOS 17+)

- Push-based widget updates via APNs for server-driven content refresh

## StoreKit 2

- Product.products(for:) async API — no delegate callbacks

- Transaction.currentEntitlements for checking active purchases and subscriptions

- SubscriptionStoreView and ProductView for system-provided purchase UI

- StoreKit Testing in Xcode for local purchase simulation without sandbox accounts

- Transaction.updates AsyncSequence for real-time purchase monitoring

## Testing

- Swift Testing (@Test, #expect, #require) for unit and integration tests

- @Suite for test grouping, @Test(arguments:) for parameterized tests

- XCTest for UI automation — XCUIApplication, XCUIElement accessibility queries

- #Preview macro as living documentation — verify layout across devices and data states

- Test plans in Xcode for organizing configurations (language, region, arguments)

- Simulator testing via xcodebuild — target specific device and OS combinations