---
name: add-to-xcode
description: "\ud83e\udde0 The right skill, one API call. AI agent skills registry with token-efficient skill resolution. 5,000+ skills from 500+ top repos."
---

# Add to Xcode

## ⚠️ MANDATORY: Run After Creating Source Files

**Every time you create a `.swift`, `.m`, `.mm`, `.c`, `.cpp`, or `.h` file in an Xcode project, you MUST run:**

```bash
ruby ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-to-xcode/scripts/add_to_xcode.rb <filepath>
```

**If you skip this step:**
- ❌ File will NOT appear in Xcode's navigator
- ❌ File will NOT compile with the app
- ❌ User will have to manually add it

---

## Quick Reference

```bash
# ALWAYS do this after creating any source file:
# Use subshell to get latest version (handles multiple cached versions)
ruby "$(ls -1d ~/.claude/plugins/cache/michaelboeding-skills/skills/*/skills/add-to-xcode/scripts/add_to_xcode.rb 2>/dev/null | sort -V | tail -1)" NewFile.swift
```

---

## Supported File Types

| Extension | Added to Compile Sources |
|-----------|-------------------------|
| `.swift` | ✅ Yes |
| `.m` | ✅ Yes |
| `.mm` | ✅ Yes |
| `.c` | ✅ Yes |
| `.cpp` | ✅ Yes |
| `.h` | ❌ No (reference only) |

## Workflow

### Step 1: Create the file normally

```bash
# Example: Create a new Swift file
cat > Sources/Features/MyFeature.swift << 'EOF'
import Foundation

class MyFeature {
    // Implementation
}
EOF
```

### Step 2: Add to Xcode project

```bash
ruby ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-to-xcode/scripts/add_to_xcode.rb Sources/Features/MyFeature.swift
```

**Output:**
```
✓ Added Sources/Features/MyFeature.swift to MyApp.xcodeproj (target: MyApp)
```

## What the Script Does

1. **Finds the `.xcodeproj`** - Searches current directory and parents
2. **Creates group hierarchy** - Matches the file's directory structure
3. **Adds file reference** - Registers with the project
4. **Adds to build target** - Source files (`.swift`, `.m`, `.mm`, `.c`, `.cpp`) are added to the first target's compile sources

## Requirements

Ruby with the `xcodeproj` gem:

```bash
gem install xcodeproj
```

## Examples

### Adding a new Swift file

```bash
# Create the file
cat > MyApp/ViewModels/ProfileViewModel.swift << 'EOF'
import SwiftUI

@Observable
class ProfileViewModel {
    var name: String = ""
    var email: String = ""
}
EOF

# Add to Xcode
ruby ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-to-xcode/scripts/add_to_xcode.rb MyApp/ViewModels/ProfileViewModel.swift
```

### Adding a header file

```bash
# Create header
cat > MyApp/Bridge/MyApp-Bridging-Header.h << 'EOF'
#import <SomeLibrary/SomeLibrary.h>
EOF

# Add to Xcode (headers are added but not to compile sources)
ruby ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-to-xcode/scripts/add_to_xcode.rb MyApp/Bridge/MyApp-Bridging-Header.h
```

### Adding Objective-C files

```bash
# Create implementation
cat > MyApp/Legacy/LegacyManager.m << 'EOF'
#import "LegacyManager.h"

@implementation LegacyManager
// Implementation
@end
EOF

# Add to Xcode
ruby ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-to-xcode/scripts/add_to_xcode.rb MyApp/Legacy/LegacyManager.m
```

## Agent Integration

When working in an Xcode project, agents should:

1. **Check for `.xcodeproj`** before creating source files
2. **Create the file** using standard file creation
3. **Run add_to_xcode.rb** immediately after file creation

```bash
# Pattern for agents:
# 1. Create file
cat > NewFile.swift << 'EOF'
// content
EOF

# 2. Register with Xcode
ruby ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/add-to-xcode/scripts/add_to_xcode.rb NewFile.swift
```

## Troubleshooting

### "No .xcodeproj found"
- Make sure you're running from within the Xcode project directory or a subdirectory

### "gem not found: xcodeproj"
- Install with: `gem install xcodeproj`
- On macOS with system Ruby, you may need: `sudo gem install xcodeproj`

### File added but not compiling
- Check that the file extension is recognized (`.swift`, `.m`, `.mm`, `.c`, `.cpp`)
- Verify the target exists and has a source build phase
- Header files (`.h`) are not added to compile sources (this is correct)

## Related Skills

| Skill | Use Case |
|-------|----------|
| `ios-to-android` | Convert iOS code to Android |
| `android-to-ios` | Convert Android code to iOS |


---
Source attribution: michaelboeding
Original project: https://github.com/michaelboeding/skills
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 SkillsHub Contributors

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: michaelboeding
Original project: https://github.com/michaelboeding/skills
Attribution basis: Original repository namespace preserved by package mirror

Fields of work: Development & Engineering
Roles: Backend Developer, Frontend Developer, Mobile Developer
Specialties: Backend, Mobile
Tools: Xcode
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: a316e4828aaf4203ec5814c7e75d602989dc7538ce2f21739623715ba6c9f298
Metadata reviewed: 2026-10-27
This metadata supersedes earlier Mega AI Hub catalog attribution. Original instruction and supporting files are preserved.