Swiftui Examples

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name: swiftui-examples description: Ground SwiftUI code in ranked examples from shipping macOS apps before choosing APIs, argument shapes, or implementation patterns. license: MIT

Bundled resource root

Let <swiftui-plugin-root> be the absolute plugin directory two levels above this SKILL.md. Resolve that path before running commands or opening shared references. When these instructions say swiftui-ctx, invoke <swiftui-plugin-root>/scripts/swiftui-ctx; do not assume the command is on PATH.

Compatibility: Requires macOS with a Swift 6 toolchain (Xcode) to build the bundled CLI on first run; the file command needs network access. Using the CLI needs nothing else (the catalog is bundled).

swiftui-examples — drive swiftui-ctx

swiftui-ctx answers "how do shipping macOS apps actually write this SwiftUI?" from 1,857 analyzed production repos, quality-ranked (author authority + stars + modernity) with GitHub permalinks. It is the practice layer; the spec is sosumi.ai (official docs), which every result links to.

swiftui-ctx is the bundled wrapper at <swiftui-plugin-root>/scripts/swiftui-ctx — it downloads or builds the CLI on first run and points it at the catalog automatically. Inside the plugin call "<swiftui-plugin-root>/scripts/swiftui-ctx" <cmd>; from a clone, run make install once to put swiftui-ctx on PATH. Both self-locate the catalog.

The rule (do this first, every time)

Writing SwiftUI from memory is how LLMs ship hallucinated and deprecated APIs — and it happens on routine code, not just exotic APIs. This skill exists to stop that. So:

1. Announce it. Before writing any SwiftUI, say: "Using swiftui-examples to ground this in production code." (Committing out loud is what keeps you in the loop instead of reverting to memory.)
2. Query before you write. Do not emit a SwiftUI type, modifier, or property wrapper from memory. Run swiftui-ctx lookup <api> (or recipe/search) first. No exceptions — even for APIs you "know," because the catalog also tells you the current idiom and whether your call is deprecated.
3. Do not return code until you have file --smart output in context. A lookup line is a fragment; file --smart gives the real, compilable enclosing view. Returning the fragment is the #1 failure mode — don't.

Why this beats your memory (the payoff)

Querying gives you	Skipping it risks
The current idiom (e.g. foregroundStyle, NavigationStack, @Observable)	Shipping a deprecated API (foregroundColor, NavigationView) — flagged in 1,000+ real repos
The consensus argument shape real apps use	Guessing an overload that compiles but isn't idiomatic
A compilable enclosing view from a high-authority app	A plausible-looking fragment that doesn't actually work
macOS-correct patterns (MenuBarExtra, Settings, NSViewRepresentable bridges)	iOS-isms that don't fit a Mac app
A GitHub permalink the user can verify	Unverifiable, confidently-wrong code

Full rationale + how ranking works (so you can trust recommended/consensus) → references/why-this-matters.md.

When to use — fire on ANY of these

• About to write/edit a SwiftUI call: a View/Scene type, a .modifier(...), @State/@Binding/@Observable/@Environment/@AppStorage/@FocusState, a gesture, a Command, a style.
• Unsure of an argument shape or which overload; verifying the current idiom for an API before you write it.
• Planning a SwiftUI feature (which APIs/recipes to reach for). For migrating an existing file off deprecated APIs use swiftui-modernize; for symptoms in finished code ("state not updating", "list is slow") or a whole-codebase pass, run the relevant audit-swiftui-* skill / audit-macos-swiftui-full.

Do NOT use (and what to use instead)

• Official signatures/semantics → sosumi.ai (the doc: link in every result).
• Non-SwiftUI Swift (Foundation, Combine, standalone AppKit, language syntax). Xcode/build/signing config.
• iOS-only code → only with --platform any (the corpus is macOS-first).

First run / discovery

The CLI + catalog ship with the plugin. The bundled wrapper downloads or builds the CLI on first use and finds the catalog automatically — no manual paths.

CTX="<swiftui-plugin-root>/scripts/swiftui-ctx"   # or just `swiftui-ctx` after `make install` from a clone
"$CTX" doctor     # confirms the catalog loads (exit 5 = catalog missing → STOP, tell the user, do not fabricate)

First run may take ~1-2 min (downloads a prebuilt binary, or builds from source if a Swift toolchain is present). Names work as you write them: lookup @State, lookup .searchable, lookup frame(width:height:) all resolve. Add --json for the machine envelope; default is human markdown ending in a literal Next: block.

The loop (non-negotiable)

1. Run the first command for your situation (table below).
2. Read next_actions and run the highest-priority one — almost always swiftui-ctx file <id> --smart.
3. Only then write code. Stop after lookup + file --smart on the recommended example; go deeper (examples, file --full) only if the consensus shape is ambiguous for your task.

Scenario → command playbook (situation → first command → required follow-up)

Situation	First command	Then
Writing a call to a known API	swiftui-ctx lookup <api>	swiftui-ctx file <recommended.id> --smart
Choosing the argument shape / overload	swiftui-ctx lookup <api> → read consensus	swiftui-ctx examples <api> --shape "(…)"
Is it current / deprecated?	swiftui-ctx deprecated <api>	if deprecated → swiftui-ctx lookup <replacement>
Building a known pattern	swiftui-ctx recipe <name>	swiftui-ctx file <example.id> --smart
Planning a feature (unknown APIs)	swiftui-ctx search "<intent>"	swiftui-ctx lookup <each candidate>

(Migrating a file off deprecated APIs → swiftui-modernize. Reviewing/auditing finished code or a whole project → the audit-swiftui-* skills / audit-macos-swiftui-full. This skill is the write/lookup layer those skills call for the consensus shape.)

Worked transcripts for each row + the recipe list → references/playbook.md.

Reading results (trust the ranking)

• Prefer recommended over diverse — it's the highest production-quality call site (authority + stars + modernity).
• Follow consensus — write the shape most apps use; rare shapes are edge cases.
• Never emit a deprecated API — use the replacement the tool gives.
• co_occurs_with = APIs used disproportionately with this one (real pattern signal). low_corpus: true = thin evidence, cross-check the doc: link.

Errors → actions (exit codes)

3 not-found → swiftui-ctx search "<broader term>". 4 network (only file w/o --offline) → retry once, then --offline. 5 no catalog → STOP, tell the user, do NOT fabricate from memory. Full command/flag/field/exit contract → references/commands.md.

Anti-patterns (don't)

• Writing the modifier first and "checking later" → you won't; the deprecated/wrong idiom ships. Query first.
• Returning the one-line lookup src as the answer → it's a fragment. file --smart or it didn't happen.
• Inventing an API when lookup 404s → run search; if still nothing, say so and use sosumi — never fabricate.

References

File	Read when
references/playbook.md	You need the worked command transcripts per scenario + the recipe catalog.
references/commands.md	You need the exact flags, --json field schema, and exit-code contract.
references/why-this-matters.md	You doubt the tool / want to know how ranking works and what "production-grade" means here.