ios-application-dev

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iOS application development guide covering UIKit, SnapKit, and SwiftUI. Includes touch targets, safe areas, navigation patterns, Dynamic Type, Dark Mode, accessibility, collection views, common UI components, and SwiftUI design guidelines. For detailed references on specific topics, see the reference files. Use when: developing iOS apps, implementing UI, reviewing iOS code, working with UIKit/SnapKit/SwiftUI layouts, building iPhone interfaces, Swift mobile development, Apple HIG compliance, iOS accessibility implementation.

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Sourceminimax-ai/skills

Added on2026-03-22

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SKILL.md Content

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iOS Application Development Guide

A practical guide for building iOS applications using UIKit, SnapKit, and SwiftUI. Focuses on proven patterns and Apple platform conventions.

Quick Reference

UIKit

Purpose	Component
Main sections	`UITabBarController`
Drill-down	`UINavigationController`
Focused task	Sheet presentation
Critical choice	`UIAlertController`
Secondary actions	`UIContextMenuInteraction`
List content	`UICollectionView` + `DiffableDataSource`
Sectioned list	`DiffableDataSource` + `headerMode`
Grid layout	`UICollectionViewCompositionalLayout`
Search	`UISearchController`
Share	`UIActivityViewController`
Location (once)	`CLLocationButton`
Feedback	`UIImpactFeedbackGenerator`
Linear layout	`UIStackView`
Custom shapes	`CAShapeLayer` + `UIBezierPath`
Gradients	`CAGradientLayer`
Modern buttons	`UIButton.Configuration`
Dynamic text	`UIFontMetrics` + `preferredFont`
Dark mode	Semantic colors ( `.systemBackground` , `.label` )
Permissions	Contextual request + `AVCaptureDevice`
Lifecycle	`UIApplication` notifications

SwiftUI

Purpose	Component
Main sections	`TabView` + `tabItem`
Drill-down	`NavigationStack` + `NavigationPath`
Focused task	`.sheet` + `presentationDetents`
Critical choice	`.alert`
Secondary actions	`.contextMenu`
List content	`List` + `.insetGrouped`
Search	`.searchable`
Share	`ShareLink`
Location (once)	`LocationButton`
Feedback	`UIImpactFeedbackGenerator`
Progress (known)	`ProgressView(value:total:)`
Progress (unknown)	`ProgressView()`
Dynamic text	`.font(.body)` semantic styles
Dark mode	`.primary` , `.secondary` , `Color(.systemBackground)`
Scene lifecycle	`@Environment(\.scenePhase)`
Reduce motion	`@Environment(\.accessibilityReduceMotion)`
Dynamic type	`@Environment(\.dynamicTypeSize)`

Core Principles

Layout

Touch targets >= 44pt
Content within safe areas (SwiftUI respects by default, use
```
.ignoresSafeArea()
```
only for backgrounds)
Use 8pt spacing increments (8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48)
Primary actions in thumb zone
Support all screen sizes (iPhone SE 375pt to Pro Max 430pt)

Typography

UIKit:

preferredFont(forTextStyle:)

+

adjustsFontForContentSizeCategory = true

SwiftUI: semantic text styles
```
.headline
```
,
```
.body
```
,
```
.caption
```

Custom fonts:

UIFontMetrics

/

Font.custom(_:size:relativeTo:)

Adapt layout at accessibility sizes (minimum 11pt)

Colors

Use semantic system colors (

.systemBackground

,

.label

,

.primary

,

.secondary

)

Asset catalog variants for custom colors (Any/Dark Appearance)
No color-only information (pair with icons or text)
Contrast ratio >= 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text

Accessibility

Labels on icon buttons (
```
.accessibilityLabel()
```
)

Reduce motion respected (

@Environment(\.accessibilityReduceMotion)

)

Logical reading order (
```
.accessibilitySortPriority()
```
)
Support Bold Text, Increase Contrast preferences

Navigation

Tab bar (3-5 sections) stays visible during navigation
Back swipe works (never override system gestures)
State preserved across tabs (
```
@SceneStorage
```
,
```
@State
```
)
Never use hamburger menus

Privacy & Permissions

Request permissions in context (not at launch)
Custom explanation before system dialog
Support Sign in with Apple
Respect ATT denial

Checklist

Layout

Touch targets >= 44pt
Content within safe areas
Primary actions in thumb zone (bottom half)
Flexible widths for all screen sizes (SE to Pro Max)
Spacing aligns to 8pt grid

Typography

Semantic text styles or UIFontMetrics-scaled custom fonts
Dynamic Type supported up to accessibility sizes
Layouts reflow at large sizes (no truncation)
Minimum text size 11pt

Colors

Semantic system colors or light/dark asset variants
Dark Mode is intentional (not just inverted)
No color-only information
Text contrast >= 4.5:1 (normal) / 3:1 (large)
Single accent color for interactive elements

Accessibility

VoiceOver labels on all interactive elements
Logical reading order
Bold Text preference respected
Reduce Motion disables decorative animations
All gestures have alternative access paths

Navigation

Tab bar for 3-5 top-level sections
No hamburger/drawer menus
Tab bar stays visible during navigation
Back swipe works throughout
State preserved across tabs

Components

Alerts for critical decisions only
Sheets have dismiss path (button and/or swipe)
List rows >= 44pt tall
Destructive buttons use
```
.destructive
```
role

Privacy

Permissions requested in context (not at launch)
Custom explanation before system permission dialog
Sign in with Apple offered with other providers
Basic features usable without account
ATT prompt shown if tracking, denial respected

System Integration

App handles interruptions gracefully (calls, background, Siri)
App content indexed for Spotlight
Share Sheet available for shareable content

References

Topic	Reference
Touch Targets, Safe Area, CollectionView	Layout System
TabBar, NavigationController, Modal	Navigation Patterns
StackView, Button, Alert, Search, ContextMenu	UIKit Components
CAShapeLayer, CAGradientLayer, Core Animation	Graphics & Animation
Dynamic Type, Semantic Colors, VoiceOver	Accessibility
Permissions, Location, Share, Lifecycle, Haptics	System Integration
Metal Shaders & GPU	Metal Shader Reference
SwiftUI HIG, Components, Patterns, Anti-Patterns	SwiftUI Design Guidelines
Optionals, Protocols, async/await, ARC, Error Handling	Swift Coding Standards

Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit, SF Symbols, Metal, and Apple are trademarks of Apple Inc. SnapKit is a trademark of its respective owners.

ios-application-dev

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content

iOS Application Development Guide

Quick Reference

UIKit

SwiftUI

Core Principles

Layout

Typography

Colors

Accessibility

Navigation

Privacy & Permissions

Checklist

Layout

Typography

Colors

Accessibility

Navigation

Components

Privacy

System Integration

References