---
name: networking-layer
description: Generates a protocol-based networking layer with async/await, error handling, and swappable implementations. Use when user wants to add API client, networking, or HTTP layer.
allowed-tools: [Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep, Bash, AskUserQuestion]
last_verified: 2026-07-16
review_by: 2027-06-22
os_version: iOS 27 / macOS 27
---

# Networking Layer Generator

Generate a modern, protocol-based networking layer using Swift's async/await concurrency, with proper error handling and easy testability.

## When This Skill Activates

Use this skill when the user:
- Asks to "add networking" or "create API client"
- Mentions "HTTP layer" or "REST API"
- Wants to "fetch data from API"
- Asks about "URLSession wrapper" or "network requests"

## Pre-Generation Checks

### 1. Project Context Detection
- [ ] Check Swift version (async/await requires Swift 5.5+)
- [ ] Check deployment target (async/await requires iOS 15+ / macOS 12+)
- [ ] Search for existing networking implementations
- [ ] Identify source file locations

### 2. Conflict Detection
Search for existing networking:
```
Glob: **/*API*.swift, **/*Network*.swift, **/*Client*.swift
Grep: "URLSession" or "HTTPURLResponse"
```

If found, ask user:
- Replace existing implementation?
- Extend with new endpoints?

## Configuration Questions

Ask user via AskUserQuestion:

1. **Authentication type?**
   - Bearer token
   - API key (header or query param)
   - None
   - Custom

2. **Base URL configuration?**
   - Single environment
   - Multiple environments (dev/staging/prod)

3. **Additional features?**
   - Retry logic with exponential backoff
   - Request/response logging
   - Caching

## Generation Process

### Step 1: Create Core Files

Generate these files:
1. `APIClient.swift` - Protocol and implementation
2. `APIEndpoint.swift` - Endpoint definition protocol
3. `NetworkError.swift` - Typed errors
4. `APIConfiguration.swift` - Base URL and auth config

### Step 2: Optional Files

Based on configuration:
- `RetryPolicy.swift` - If retry logic selected
- `NetworkLogger.swift` - If logging selected

### Step 3: Determine File Location

Check project structure:
- If `Sources/` exists → `Sources/Networking/`
- If `App/` exists → `App/Networking/`
- Otherwise → `Networking/`

## Swift 6.2 Concurrency Notes

Reference: Apple's Swift Concurrency Updates

### @concurrent for Background Work
Use `@concurrent` to offload heavy processing:
```swift
@concurrent
static func parseResponse<T: Decodable>(_ data: Data) async throws -> T {
    try JSONDecoder().decode(T.self, from: data)
}
```

### MainActor for UI Updates
Keep UI-related code on MainActor:
```swift
@Observable
@MainActor
final class NetworkViewModel {
    var items: [Item] = []

    func fetch() async {
        items = try await apiClient.fetch(ItemsEndpoint())
    }
}
```

## Output Format

After generation, provide:

### Files Created
```
Sources/Networking/
├── APIClient.swift           # Protocol + URLSession implementation
├── APIEndpoint.swift         # Endpoint protocol
├── NetworkError.swift        # Error types
├── APIConfiguration.swift    # Config (base URL, auth)
└── Endpoints/                # Example endpoints
    └── ExampleEndpoint.swift
```

### Integration Steps

**Define an Endpoint:**
```swift
struct UsersEndpoint: APIEndpoint {
    typealias Response = [User]

    var path: String { "/users" }
    var method: HTTPMethod { .get }
}
```

**Make a Request:**
```swift
let client = URLSessionAPIClient(configuration: .production)
let users = try await client.request(UsersEndpoint())
```

**With SwiftUI:**
```swift
struct UsersView: View {
    @State private var users: [User] = []
    @Environment(\.apiClient) private var apiClient

    var body: some View {
        List(users) { user in
            Text(user.name)
        }
        .task {
            users = try await apiClient.request(UsersEndpoint())
        }
    }
}
```

### Testing

Use `MockAPIClient` for tests:
```swift
let mockClient = MockAPIClient()
mockClient.mockResponse(for: UsersEndpoint.self, response: [User.mock])

let viewModel = UsersViewModel(apiClient: mockClient)
await viewModel.fetch()

XCTAssertEqual(viewModel.users.count, 1)
```

## References

- **networking-patterns.md** - Architecture patterns and best practices
- **templates/** - All template files
- Apple Docs: Swift Concurrency Updates (Swift 6.2)


---
Source attribution: rshankras
Original project: https://github.com/rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills/blob/9ffb83138209057875698dd11c1720c657c47a92/skills/generators/networking-layer/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 Ravishankar

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: rshankras
Original project: https://github.com/rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills/blob/9ffb83138209057875698dd11c1720c657c47a92/skills/generators/networking-layer/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Development & Engineering, Product Management
Roles: Backend Developer, Mobile Developer, Product Manager
Specialties: API, DevOps, Frontend, Mobile, Testing
Tools: Swift
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: daa95e08874a1861fd3634882002bcb82624a75895e7626191e96e6ef6895af6