xcode-shared-swiftui-workflow_skill

Overview

This skill provides an end-to-end Xcode workflow for architecting, debugging, profiling, testing, and shipping a shared SwiftUI app that runs on iOS and macOS (including Catalyst options). It focuses on practical project setup, dependency management, architecture choices (MVVM or TCA), CI/CD, and distribution via TestFlight or archives. The goal is a repeatable, team-friendly process that minimizes duplication and maximizes testability and performance.

How this skill works

The workflow walks you through creating a multiplatform Xcode project or adding macOS/Catalyst targets, organizing shared code, and configuring targets, schemes, and build configurations. It covers dependency management with SPM (and CocoaPods where necessary), selecting an architecture (MVVM or TCA), and implementing unit and UI tests. Finally, it shows debugging and profiling techniques in Xcode and how to automate builds and distribution using Xcode Cloud or GitHub Actions.

When to use it

• Starting a new SwiftUI app that must run on both iOS and macOS
• Migrating a single-platform app to a shared codebase and Catalyst
• Setting up CI/CD and automated TestFlight distribution for Apple platforms
• Standardizing team workflows and project configurations
• Improving test coverage and profiling UI/CPU/memory issues before release

Best practices

• Use a single shared codebase for SwiftUI views and models; apply platform checks only where necessary
• Prefer Swift Package Manager for Swift dependencies; use CocoaPods only for legacy/Objective-C libraries
• Choose MVVM for small-to-medium apps and TCA for complex, large-scale state management and testability
• Commit Package.resolved and share Xcode schemes to keep CI and team environments consistent
• Define environment values in XCConfig and Info.plist keys, and use compiler flags for build-time behavior
• Profile in Release builds using Instruments and capture SwiftUI view hierarchies to diagnose layout and performance issues

Example use cases

• Create a Multiplatform App target to share views and models across iPhone, iPad, and macOS
• Add Staging and Production build configurations with distinct BASE_URL values driven by XCConfig files
• Implement a ViewModel with @Published state (MVVM) or a Reducer/Store setup (TCA) to manage complex flows and enable unit testing
• Use Xcode Cloud to run tests and automatically archive builds for TestFlight distribution
• Run GitHub Actions on macOS runners to build, test, and produce build artifacts or trigger Fastlane uploads