What do you need?

┌─ Just let user pick a photo?
│  └─ Don't use AVFoundation - use PHPicker or PhotosPicker
│     See: /skill axiom-photo-library
│
├─ Simple photo/video capture with system UI?
│  └─ UIImagePickerController (but limited customization)
│
├─ Custom camera UI with photo capture?
│  └─ AVCaptureSession + AVCapturePhotoOutput
│     → Continue with this skill
│
├─ Custom camera UI with video recording?
│  └─ AVCaptureSession + AVCaptureMovieFileOutput
│     → Continue with this skill
│
└─ Both photo and video in same session?
   └─ AVCaptureSession + both outputs
      → Continue with this skill

import AVFoundation

func requestCameraAccess() async -> Bool {
    let status = AVCaptureDevice.authorizationStatus(for: .video)

    switch status {
    case .authorized:
        return true
    case .notDetermined:
        return await AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(for: .video)
    case .denied, .restricted:
        // Show settings prompt
        return false
    @unknown default:
        return false
    }
}

<key>NSCameraUsageDescription</key>
<string>Take photos and videos</string>

<key>NSMicrophoneUsageDescription</key>
<string>Record audio with video</string>

AVCaptureSession
    ├─ Inputs
    │   ├─ AVCaptureDeviceInput (camera)
    │   └─ AVCaptureDeviceInput (microphone, for video)
    │
    ├─ Outputs
    │   ├─ AVCapturePhotoOutput (photos)
    │   ├─ AVCaptureMovieFileOutput (video files)
    │   └─ AVCaptureVideoDataOutput (raw frames)
    │
    └─ Connections (automatic between compatible input/output)

import AVFoundation

class CameraManager: NSObject {
    let session = AVCaptureSession()
    let photoOutput = AVCapturePhotoOutput()

    // CRITICAL: Dedicated serial queue for session work
    private let sessionQueue = DispatchQueue(label: "camera.session")

    func setupSession() {
        sessionQueue.async { [self] in
            session.beginConfiguration()
            defer { session.commitConfiguration() }

            // 1. Set session preset
            session.sessionPreset = .photo

            // 2. Add camera input
            guard let camera = AVCaptureDevice.default(.builtInWideAngleCamera,
                                                        for: .video,
                                                        position: .back),
                  let input = try? AVCaptureDeviceInput(device: camera),
                  session.canAddInput(input) else {
                return
            }
            session.addInput(input)

            // 3. Add photo output
            guard session.canAddOutput(photoOutput) else { return }
            session.addOutput(photoOutput)

            // 4. Configure photo output
            photoOutput.isHighResolutionCaptureEnabled = true
            photoOutput.maxPhotoQualityPrioritization = .quality
        }
    }

    func startSession() {
        sessionQueue.async { [self] in
            if !session.isRunning {
                session.startRunning()  // Blocking call - never on main thread!
            }
        }
    }

    func stopSession() {
        sessionQueue.async { [self] in
            if session.isRunning {
                session.stopRunning()
            }
        }
    }
}

import SwiftUI
import AVFoundation

struct CameraPreview: UIViewRepresentable {
    let session: AVCaptureSession

    func makeUIView(context: Context) -> PreviewView {
        let view = PreviewView()
        view.previewLayer.session = session
        view.previewLayer.videoGravity = .resizeAspectFill
        return view
    }

    func updateUIView(_ uiView: PreviewView, context: Context) {}

    class PreviewView: UIView {
        override class var layerClass: AnyClass { AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer.self }
        var previewLayer: AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer { layer as! AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer }
    }
}

// Usage in SwiftUI
struct CameraView: View {
    @StateObject private var camera = CameraManager()

    var body: some View {
        CameraPreview(session: camera.session)
            .ignoresSafeArea()
            .onAppear { camera.startSession() }
            .onDisappear { camera.stopSession() }
    }
}

import AVFoundation

class CameraManager {
    private var rotationCoordinator: AVCaptureDevice.RotationCoordinator?
    private var rotationObservation: NSKeyValueObservation?

    func setupRotationCoordinator(device: AVCaptureDevice, previewLayer: AVCaptureVideoPreviewLayer) {
        // Create coordinator with device and preview layer
        rotationCoordinator = AVCaptureDevice.RotationCoordinator(
            device: device,
            previewLayer: previewLayer
        )

        // Observe preview rotation changes
        rotationObservation = rotationCoordinator?.observe(
            \.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelPreview,
            options: [.new]
        ) { [weak previewLayer] coordinator, _ in
            // Update preview layer rotation on main thread
            DispatchQueue.main.async {
                previewLayer?.connection?.videoRotationAngle = coordinator.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelPreview
            }
        }

        // Set initial rotation
        previewLayer.connection?.videoRotationAngle = rotationCoordinator!.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelPreview
    }

    func captureRotationAngle() -> CGFloat {
        // Use this angle when capturing photos
        rotationCoordinator?.videoRotationAngleForHorizonLevelCapture ?? 0
    }
}

func capturePhoto() {
    let settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings()

    // Apply rotation angle from coordinator
    if let connection = photoOutput.connection(with: .video) {
        connection.videoRotationAngle = captureRotationAngle()
    }

    photoOutput.capturePhoto(with: settings, delegate: self)
}

// Check if supported for current format
if photoOutput.isZeroShutterLagSupported {
    // Enabled by default for apps linking iOS 17+
    // Opt out if causing issues:
    // photoOutput.isZeroShutterLagEnabled = false
}

// Check support first
if photoOutput.isZeroShutterLagSupported {
    photoOutput.isZeroShutterLagEnabled = true  // Required for responsive capture

    if photoOutput.isResponsiveCaptureSupported {
        photoOutput.isResponsiveCaptureEnabled = true
    }
}

if photoOutput.isFastCapturePrioritizationSupported {
    photoOutput.isFastCapturePrioritizationEnabled = true
    // When enabled, rapid captures use "balanced" quality instead of "quality"
    // to maintain consistent shot-to-shot time
}

class CameraManager {
    private var readinessCoordinator: AVCapturePhotoOutputReadinessCoordinator!

    func setupReadinessCoordinator() {
        readinessCoordinator = AVCapturePhotoOutputReadinessCoordinator(photoOutput: photoOutput)
        readinessCoordinator.delegate = self
    }

    func capturePhoto() {
        var settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings()
        settings.photoQualityPrioritization = .balanced

        // Tell coordinator to track this capture BEFORE calling capturePhoto
        readinessCoordinator.startTrackingCaptureRequest(using: settings)

        photoOutput.capturePhoto(with: settings, delegate: self)
    }
}

extension CameraManager: AVCapturePhotoOutputReadinessCoordinatorDelegate {
    func readinessCoordinator(_ coordinator: AVCapturePhotoOutputReadinessCoordinator,
                              captureReadinessDidChange captureReadiness: AVCapturePhotoOutput.CaptureReadiness) {
        DispatchQueue.main.async {
            switch captureReadiness {
            case .ready:
                self.shutterButton.isEnabled = true
                self.shutterButton.alpha = 1.0

            case .notReadyMomentarily:
                // Brief delay - disable to prevent double-tap
                self.shutterButton.isEnabled = false

            case .notReadyWaitingForCapture:
                // Flash is firing - dim button
                self.shutterButton.alpha = 0.5

            case .notReadyWaitingForProcessing:
                // Processing previous photo - show spinner
                self.showProcessingIndicator()

            case .sessionNotRunning:
                self.shutterButton.isEnabled = false

            @unknown default:
                break
            }
        }
    }
}

func capturePhoto() {
    var settings = AVCapturePhotoSettings()

    // Speed vs Quality tradeoff
    // .speed     - Fastest capture, lower quality
    // .balanced  - Good default
    // .quality   - Best quality, may have delay
    settings.photoQualityPrioritization = .speed

    // For specific use cases:
    // - Social sharing: .speed (users expect instant)
    // - Document scanning: .quality (accuracy matters)
    // - General photography: .balanced

    photoOutput.capturePhoto(with: settings, delegate: self)
}

// Check support and enable deferred processing
if photoOutput.isAutoDeferredPhotoDeliverySupported {
    photoOutput.isAutoDeferredPhotoDeliveryEnabled = true
}

// Called for BOTH regular photos AND deferred proxies
func photoOutput(_ output: AVCapturePhotoOutput,
                 didFinishProcessingPhoto photo: AVCapturePhoto,
                 error: Error?) {
    guard error == nil else { return }

    // Non-deferred photo - save directly
    if !photo.isRawPhoto, let data = photo.fileDataRepresentation() {
        savePhotoToLibrary(data)
    }
}

// Called ONLY for deferred proxies - save to PhotoKit for later processing
func photoOutput(_ output: AVCapturePhotoOutput,
                 didFinishCapturingDeferredPhotoProxy deferredPhotoProxy: AVCaptureDeferredPhotoProxy,
                 error: Error?) {
    guard error == nil else { return }

    // CRITICAL: Save proxy to library ASAP before app is backgrounded
    // App may be force-quit if memory pressure is high during backgrounding
    guard let proxyData = deferredPhotoProxy.fileDataRepresentation() else { return }

    Task {
        try await PHPhotoLibrary.shared().performChanges {
            let request = PHAssetCreationRequest.forAsset()
            // Use .photoProxy resource type - triggers deferred processing in Photos
            request.addResource(with: .photoProxy, data: proxyData, options: nil)
        }
    }
}

// Request with secondary degraded image for smoother UX
let options = PHImageRequestOptions()
options.allowSecondaryDegradedImage = true  // New in iOS 17

PHImageManager.default().requestImage(
    for: asset,
    targetSize: targetSize,
    contentMode: .aspectFill,
    options: options
) { image, info in
    let isDegraded = info?[PHImageResultIsDegradedKey] as? Bool ?? false

    if isDegraded {
        // First: Low quality (immediate)
        // Second: Medium quality (new - while processing)
        // Third callback will be final quality
        self.showTemporaryImage(image)
    } else {
        // Final quality - processing complete
        self.showFinalImage(image)
    }
}

class CameraManager {
    private var interruptionObservers: [NSObjectProtocol] = []

    func setupInterruptionHandling() {
        // Session was interrupted
        let interruptedObserver = NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
            forName: .AVCaptureSessionWasInterrupted,
            object: session,
            queue: .main
        ) { [weak self] notification in
            guard let reason = notification.userInfo?[AVCaptureSessionInterruptionReasonKey] as? Int,
                  let interruptionReason = AVCaptureSession.InterruptionReason(rawValue: reason) else {
                return
            }

            switch interruptionReason {
            case .videoDeviceNotAvailableInBackground:
                // App went to background - normal, will resume
                self?.showPausedOverlay()

            case .audioDeviceInUseByAnotherClient:
                // Another app using audio
                self?.showInterruptedBanner("Audio in use by another app")

            case .videoDeviceInUseByAnotherClient:
                // Another app using camera
                self?.showInterruptedBanner("Camera in use by another app")

            case .videoDeviceNotAvailableWithMultipleForegroundApps:
                // Split View/Slide Over - camera not available
                self?.showInterruptedBanner("Camera unavailable in Split View")

            case .videoDeviceNotAvailableDueToSystemPressure:
                // Thermal state - reduce quality or stop
                self?.handleThermalPressure()

            @unknown default:
                self?.showInterruptedBanner("Camera interrupted")
            }
        }
        interruptionObservers.append(interruptedObserver)

        // Session interruption ended
        let endedObserver = NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
            forName: .AVCaptureSessionInterruptionEnded,
            object: session,
            queue: .main
        ) { [weak self] _ in
            self?.hideInterruptedBanner()
            self?.hidePausedOverlay()
            // Session automatically resumes - no need to call startRunning()
        }
        interruptionObservers.append(endedObserver)
    }

    deinit {
        interruptionObservers.forEach { NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver($0) }
    }
}

func switchCamera() {
    sessionQueue.async { [self] in
        guard let currentInput = session.inputs.first as? AVCaptureDeviceInput else {
            return
        }

        let currentPosition = currentInput.device.position
        let newPosition: AVCaptureDevice.Position = currentPosition == .back ? .front : .back

        guard let newDevice = AVCaptureDevice.default(
            .builtInWideAngleCamera,
            for: .video,
            position: newPosition
        ) else {
            return
        }

        session.beginConfiguration()
        defer { session.commitConfiguration() }

        // Remove old input
        session.removeInput(currentInput)

        // Add new input
        do {
            let newInput = try AVCaptureDeviceInput(device: newDevice)
            if session.canAddInput(newInput) {
                session.addInput(newInput)

                // Update rotation coordinator for new device
                if let previewLayer = previewLayer {
                    setupRotationCoordinator(device: newDevice, previewLayer: previewLayer)
                }
            } else {
                // Fallback: restore old input
                session.addInput(currentInput)
            }
        } catch {
            session.addInput(currentInput)
        }
    }
}

class CameraManager: NSObject {
    let movieOutput = AVCaptureMovieFileOutput()
    private var currentRecordingURL: URL?

    func setupVideoRecording() {
        sessionQueue.async { [self] in
            session.beginConfiguration()
            defer { session.commitConfiguration() }

            // Set video preset
            session.sessionPreset = .high  // Or .hd1920x1080, .hd4K3840x2160

            // Add microphone input
            if let microphone = AVCaptureDevice.default(for: .audio),
               let audioInput = try? AVCaptureDeviceInput(device: microphone),
               session.canAddInput(audioInput) {
                session.addInput(audioInput)
            }

            // Add movie output
            if session.canAddOutput(movieOutput) {
                session.addOutput(movieOutput)
            }
        }
    }

    func startRecording() {
        guard !movieOutput.isRecording else { return }

        let outputURL = FileManager.default.temporaryDirectory
            .appendingPathComponent(UUID().uuidString)
            .appendingPathExtension("mov")

        currentRecordingURL = outputURL

        // Apply rotation
        if let connection = movieOutput.connection(with: .video) {
            connection.videoRotationAngle = captureRotationAngle()
        }

        movieOutput.startRecording(to: outputURL, recordingDelegate: self)
    }

    func stopRecording() {
        guard movieOutput.isRecording else { return }
        movieOutput.stopRecording()
    }
}

extension CameraManager: AVCaptureFileOutputRecordingDelegate {
    func fileOutput(_ output: AVCaptureFileOutput,
                    didFinishRecordingTo outputFileURL: URL,
                    from connections: [AVCaptureConnection],
                    error: Error?) {
        if let error = error {
            print("Recording error: \(error)")
            return
        }

        // Video saved to outputFileURL
        saveVideoToPhotoLibrary(outputFileURL)
    }
}

func startCamera() {
    session.startRunning()  // Blocks UI for 1-3 seconds!
}

func startCamera() {
    sessionQueue.async { [self] in
        session.startRunning()
    }
}

// Manually tracking orientation
NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
    forName: UIDevice.orientationDidChangeNotification,
    object: nil,
    queue: .main
) { _ in
    // Manual rotation logic...
}

let coordinator = AVCaptureDevice.RotationCoordinator(device: camera, previewLayer: preview)
// Automatically tracks gravity, provides angles

// No interruption handling - camera freezes on phone call

NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
    forName: .AVCaptureSessionWasInterrupted,
    object: session,
    queue: .main
) { notification in
    // Show UI feedback
}

session.removeInput(oldInput)
session.addInput(newInput)  // May fail mid-stream

session.beginConfiguration()
session.removeInput(oldInput)
session.addInput(newInput)
session.commitConfiguration()  // Atomic change