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Apple Documentation Router

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Access authoritative Apple API documentation seamlessly.

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Free · Opens the source repo

What Apple Documentation Router does

The Apple Documentation Router skill provides developers with direct access to Apple’s comprehensive framework APIs and documentation bundled within Xcode. This skill is particularly useful for those working with Swift, as it allows for quick retrieval of official guides and diagnostics written by Apple engineers. Users can leverage the native Read tool in Claude Code to read documentation without needing additional tools or servers, streamlining the development process.

This skill covers a wide range of topics, including Liquid Glass design implementations across various Apple UI frameworks, updates on Swift concurrency, and detailed explanations of Swift compiler diagnostics. With 20 additional documentation files and 46 Swift compiler diagnostics available, developers can easily find the information they need to resolve issues or understand specific API functionalities. The skill is designed to enhance the workflow of developers who regularly interact with Apple’s ecosystem, providing them with the most accurate and up-to-date information available.

To utilize this skill, users simply invoke the Read command with the appropriate file path corresponding to the documentation they wish to access. The session-start hook automatically determines the Xcode installation path, ensuring that users can quickly find the necessary documentation without manual configuration. This capability is particularly beneficial for those who frequently encounter Swift compiler errors or need to reference specific Apple framework features in their projects.

Overall, the Apple Documentation Router skill is an essential tool for developers working within the Apple ecosystem, facilitating efficient access to vital resources that can aid in troubleshooting and enhancing application development.

When to use it

Use this skill when you need authoritative information on Apple APIs, Swift errors, or specific framework features.

When not to use it

This skill may not be suitable for non-Apple development or when working with frameworks outside of the Apple ecosystem.

What you can build with it

Resolving Swift Compiler Errors

When encountering a Swift compiler error, use this skill to quickly access the relevant diagnostic documentation for an explanation.

Implementing Liquid Glass Design

If you're tasked with implementing Liquid Glass design in your app, this skill provides the necessary guides for SwiftUI, UIKit, and more.

Accessing API Signatures

When you need the exact API signature for an Apple framework, this skill allows you to retrieve the official documentation directly.

How to install Apple Documentation Router

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add charleswiltgen/axiom/axiom-apple-docs --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by charleswiltgen

Apple Documentation Router

Apple bundles for-LLM markdown documentation inside Xcode. These are authoritative, up-to-date guides and diagnostics written by Apple engineers. Read them directly with Claude Code's native Read tool — no MCP server or special tool required.

When to Use

  • You need the exact API signature or behavior from Apple
  • An Axiom skill references an Apple framework and you want the official source
  • A Swift compiler diagnostic needs explanation
  • The user asks about a specific Apple framework feature

Priority: Axiom skills provide opinionated guidance (decision trees, anti-patterns, pressure scenarios). Apple docs provide authoritative API details. Use both together.

How to Read These Docs

The session-start hook resolves Xcode's location and echoes the literal base directories into session context (look for "Apple for-LLM Documentation: Xcode detected at <path>"). Use the Read tool with <that base>/<filename>.

Default Xcode location (/Applications/Xcode.app) base directories:

ContentBase directory
AdditionalDocumentation guides/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/PlugIns/IDEIntelligenceChat.framework/Versions/A/Resources/AdditionalDocumentation/
Swift compiler diagnostics/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/share/doc/swift/diagnostics/

Example invocation Claude should produce:

Read /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/PlugIns/IDEIntelligenceChat.framework/Versions/A/Resources/AdditionalDocumentation/SwiftUI-Implementing-Liquid-Glass-Design.md

Xcode-beta users: the session-start hook respects AXIOM_XCODE_PATH and reports the resolved path in session context — use that path, not the default above.

Guide Files (AdditionalDocumentation)

20 files. Read with the path pattern {guides base}/{filename}.

UI & Design

TopicFilename
Liquid Glass in SwiftUISwiftUI-Implementing-Liquid-Glass-Design.md
Liquid Glass in UIKitUIKit-Implementing-Liquid-Glass-Design.md
Liquid Glass in AppKitAppKit-Implementing-Liquid-Glass-Design.md
Liquid Glass in WidgetKitWidgetKit-Implementing-Liquid-Glass-Design.md
SwiftUI new toolbar featuresSwiftUI-New-Toolbar-Features.md
SwiftUI styled text editingSwiftUI-Styled-Text-Editing.md
SwiftUI WebKit integrationSwiftUI-WebKit-Integration.md
SwiftUI AlarmKit integrationSwiftUI-AlarmKit-Integration.md
Swift Charts 3D visualizationSwift-Charts-3D-Visualization.md
Foundation AttributedString updatesFoundation-AttributedString-Updates.md

Data & Persistence

TopicFilename
SwiftData class inheritanceSwiftData-Class-Inheritance.md

Concurrency & Performance

TopicFilename
Swift concurrency updatesSwift-Concurrency-Updates.md
InlineArray and SpanSwift-InlineArray-Span.md

Apple Intelligence

TopicFilename
Foundation Models (on-device LLM)FoundationModels-Using-on-device-LLM-in-your-app.md

System Integration

TopicFilename
App Intents updatesAppIntents-Updates.md
StoreKit updatesStoreKit-Updates.md
MapKit GeoToolbox PlaceDescriptorsMapKit-GeoToolbox-PlaceDescriptors.md
Widgets for visionOSWidgets-for-visionOS.md

Accessibility

TopicFilename
Assistive Access in iOSImplementing-Assistive-Access-in-iOS.md

Computer Vision

TopicFilename
Visual Intelligence in iOSImplementing-Visual-Intelligence-in-iOS.md

Swift Compiler Diagnostics

46 files in the diagnostics directory. Read with the path pattern {diagnostics base}/{filename}.

Concurrency Diagnostics

DiagnosticFilename
Actor-isolated call from nonisolated contextactor-isolated-call.md
Conformance isolationconformance-isolation.md
Isolated conformancesisolated-conformances.md
Nonisolated nonsending by defaultnonisolated-nonsending-by-default.md
Sendable closure capturessendable-closure-captures.md
Sendable metatypessendable-metatypes.md
Explicit Sendable annotationsexplicit-sendable-annotations.md
Sending closure risks data racesending-closure-risks-data-race.md
Sending risks data racesending-risks-data-race.md
Mutable global variablemutable-global-variable.md
Preconcurrency importpreconcurrency-import.md
Dynamic exclusivitydynamic-exclusivity.md
Exclusivity violationexclusivity-violation.md

Type System Diagnostics

DiagnosticFilename
Existential anyexistential-any.md
Existential member access limitationsexistential-member-access-limitations.md
Nominal typesnominal-types.md
Multiple inheritancemultiple-inheritance.md
Protocol type non-conformanceprotocol-type-non-conformance.md
Opaque type inferenceopaque-type-inference.md
Foreign reference typeforeign-reference-type.md

Build & Migration Diagnostics

DiagnosticFilename
Deprecated declarationdeprecated-declaration.md
Error in future Swift versionerror-in-future-swift-version.md
Strict language featuresstrict-language-features.md
Strict memory safetystrict-memory-safety.md
Implementation only deprecatedimplementation-only-deprecated.md
Member import visibilitymember-import-visibility.md
Missing module on known pathsmissing-module-on-known-paths.md
Module not testablemodule-not-testable.md
Module version missingmodule-version-missing.md
Clang declaration importclang-declaration-import.md
Availability unrecognized nameavailability-unrecognized-name.md
Always-available domainalways-available-domain.md
Upcoming language featuresupcoming-language-features.md
Unknown warning groupunknown-warning-group.md
Compilation cachingcompilation-caching.md
Embedded restrictionsembedded-restrictions.md

Swift Language Diagnostics

DiagnosticFilename
Dynamic callable requirementsdynamic-callable-requirements.md
Property wrapper requirementsproperty-wrapper-requirements.md
Result builder methodsresult-builder-methods.md
String interpolation conformancestring-interpolation-conformance.md
Trailing closure matchingtrailing-closure-matching.md
Temporary pointerstemporary-pointers.md
Semantic copiessemantic-copies.md
Performance hintsperformance-hints.md

Index

DiagnosticFilename
Diagnostic groups (taxonomy)diagnostic-groups.md
All diagnostics indexdiagnostics.md

If a diagnostic you need isn't listed above, list the diagnostics directory first:

ls $AXIOM_XCODE_PATH/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/share/doc/swift/diagnostics/

Filenames follow the diagnostic's short name (lowercase, hyphenated).

Routing Decision Tree

User question about Apple API/framework?
├── Specific compiler error/warning → Read {diagnostics base}/<diagnostic-name>.md
├── Liquid Glass implementation     → Read {guides base}/<Framework>-Implementing-Liquid-Glass-Design.md
├── Swift concurrency patterns      → Read {guides base}/Swift-Concurrency-Updates.md
├── Foundation Models / on-device AI → Read {guides base}/FoundationModels-Using-on-device-LLM-in-your-app.md
├── SwiftData features              → Read {guides base}/SwiftData-Class-Inheritance.md
├── StoreKit / IAP                  → Read {guides base}/StoreKit-Updates.md
├── App Intents / Siri              → Read {guides base}/AppIntents-Updates.md
├── Charts / visualization          → Read {guides base}/Swift-Charts-3D-Visualization.md
├── Text editing / AttributedString → Read {guides base}/SwiftUI-Styled-Text-Editing.md or Foundation-AttributedString-Updates.md
├── WebKit in SwiftUI               → Read {guides base}/SwiftUI-WebKit-Integration.md
├── Toolbar features                → Read {guides base}/SwiftUI-New-Toolbar-Features.md
└── Other                           → ls the base directory to see what's available

Fallback When Xcode Is Unavailable

If AXIOM_XCODE_PATH is unset, or the path doesn't exist, or the IDEIntelligenceChat.framework directory is missing (older Xcode), fall back to:

  1. sosumi.ai (markdown mirror of developer.apple.com — see axiom-tools/apple-docs-research.md)
  2. WebFetch of the equivalent developer.apple.com URL
  3. Suggest installing the latest Xcode for full Apple docs coverage

Do not silently fail — tell the user when Xcode docs aren't available locally and which fallback you used.

MCP Convenience Path

Clients using axiom-mcp can also invoke axiom_read_skill with the legacy ID (e.g., apple-guide-swiftui-implementing-liquid-glass-design). The MCP server reads the same Xcode files and returns the same content. Both paths are supported — the file-Read path works everywhere; the MCP path is a convenience for catalog/search workflows.

Research Methodology

For WWDC transcript capture (Chrome auto-capture), sosumi.ai documentation access, and multi-session research workflows, see skills/apple-docs-research.md.

Resources

Skills: axiom-swiftui, axiom-concurrency, axiom-data, axiom-ai, axiom-integration

Frequently asked questions about Apple Documentation Router

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