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Use when debugging 'files disappeared', 'data missing after restart', 'backup too large', 'can't save file', 'file not found', 'storage full error', 'file inaccessible when locked' - systematic local file storage diagnostics
npx skill4agent add charleswiltgen/axiom axiom-storage-diag// 1. Check WHERE file is stored
func diagnoseFileLocation(_ url: URL) {
let path = url.path
if path.contains("/tmp/") {
print("⚠️ File in tmp/ - system purges aggressively")
} else if path.contains("/Caches/") {
print("⚠️ File in Caches/ - purged under storage pressure")
} else if path.contains("/Documents/") {
print("✅ File in Documents/ - never purged, backed up")
} else if path.contains("/Library/Application Support/") {
print("✅ File in Application Support/ - never purged, backed up")
}
}
// 2. Check file protection level
func diagnoseFileProtection(_ url: URL) throws {
let attrs = try FileManager.default.attributesOfItem(atPath: url.path)
if let protection = attrs[.protectionKey] as? FileProtectionType {
print("Protection: \(protection)")
if protection == .complete {
print("⚠️ File inaccessible when device locked")
}
}
}
// 3. Check backup status
func diagnoseBackupStatus(_ url: URL) throws {
let values = try url.resourceValues(forKeys: [.isExcludedFromBackupKey])
if let excluded = values.isExcludedFromBackup {
print("Excluded from backup: \(excluded)")
}
}
// 4. Check file existence and size
func diagnoseFileState(_ url: URL) {
if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: url.path) {
if let size = try? FileManager.default.attributesOfItem(atPath: url.path)[.size] as? Int64 {
print("File exists, size: \(size) bytes")
}
} else {
print("❌ File does not exist")
}
}Files missing? → Check where stored
├─ Disappeared after device restart
│ ├─ Was in tmp/? → EXPECTED (tmp/ purged on reboot)
│ │ → FIX: Move to Caches/ or Application Support/
│ │
│ ├─ Was in Caches/? → System purged (storage pressure)
│ │ → FIX: Move to Application Support/ if can't be regenerated
│ │
│ └─ Protection level .complete? → Inaccessible until unlock
│ → FIX: Wait for unlock or use .completeUntilFirstUserAuthentication
│
├─ Disappeared randomly (weeks later)
│ ├─ In Caches/? → System purged under storage pressure
│ │ → EXPECTED if re-downloadable
│ │ → FIX: Re-download when needed, or move to Application Support/
│ │
│ └─ In Documents or Application Support/?
│ → Check if user deleted app (purges all data)
│ → Check iOS update (rare, but check migration path)
│
└─ Only some files missing
→ Check isExcludedFromBackup + iCloud sync
→ Check if file names have special characters
→ Check file permissionsCan't access file?
├─ Error: "No permission" or NSFileReadNoPermissionError
│ ├─ Device locked? → Check file protection
│ │ └─ .complete protection? → Wait for unlock
│ │ → FIX: Use .completeUntilFirstUserAuthentication
│ │
│ └─ Background task accessing? → .complete blocks background
│ → FIX: Change to .completeUntilFirstUserAuthentication
│
├─ File exists but read returns empty/nil
│ └─ Check actual file size on disk
│ → May be zero-byte file from failed write
│
└─ File exists in debugger but not at runtime
→ Check if using wrong directory (Documents vs Caches)
→ Check URL constructionApp backup > 500 MB?
├─ Check Documents directory size
│ └─ Large files (>10 MB each)?
│ ├─ Can they be re-downloaded? → Move to Caches + isExcludedFromBackup
│ └─ User-created? → Keep in Documents (warn user if >1 GB)
│
├─ Check Application Support size
│ └─ Downloaded media/podcasts?
│ → Mark isExcludedFromBackup = true
│
└─ Audit backup with code:
```swift
func auditBackupSize() {
let docsURL = FileManager.default.urls(
for: .documentDirectory,
in: .userDomainMask
)[0]
let size = getDirectorySize(url: docsURL)
print("Documents (backed up): \(size / 1_000_000) MB")
}
```// ❌ WRONG: Using tmp/ for anything that should persist
let tmpURL = FileManager.default.temporaryDirectory
let fileURL = tmpURL.appendingPathComponent("data.json")
try data.write(to: fileURL) // WILL BE DELETED
// ✅ CORRECT: Use Caches/ for re-generable data
let cacheURL = FileManager.default.urls(
for: .cachesDirectory,
in: .userDomainMask
)[0]
let fileURL = cacheURL.appendingPathComponent("data.json")
try data.write(to: fileURL)// ✅ CORRECT: Handle missing cache gracefully
func loadCachedImage(url: URL) async throws -> UIImage {
let cacheURL = getCacheURL(for: url)
// Try cache first
if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: cacheURL.path),
let data = try? Data(contentsOf: cacheURL),
let image = UIImage(data: data) {
return image
}
// Cache miss - re-download
let (data, _) = try await URLSession.shared.data(from: url)
try data.write(to: cacheURL)
return UIImage(data: data)!
}// ❌ WRONG: .complete protection for background-accessed files
try data.write(to: url, options: .completeFileProtection)
// Background task fails when device locked
// ✅ CORRECT: Use .completeUntilFirstUserAuthentication
try data.write(
to: url,
options: .completeFileProtectionUntilFirstUserAuthentication
)
// Accessible in background after first unlock// ✅ CORRECT: Exclude re-downloadable content
func downloadPodcast(url: URL) async throws {
let appSupportURL = FileManager.default.urls(
for: .applicationSupportDirectory,
in: .userDomainMask
)[0]
let podcastURL = appSupportURL
.appendingPathComponent("Podcasts")
.appendingPathComponent(url.lastPathComponent)
// Download
let (data, _) = try await URLSession.shared.data(from: url)
try data.write(to: podcastURL)
// Mark excluded from backup
var resourceValues = URLResourceValues()
resourceValues.isExcludedFromBackup = true
try podcastURL.setResourceValues(resourceValues)
}// Were photos in Caches/?
let photosInCaches = path.contains("/Caches/")
// If yes → system purged them (expected)// Check if excluded from backup
let excluded = try? url.resourceValues(
forKeys: [.isExcludedFromBackupKey]
).isExcludedFromBackup
// If excluded=true AND not synced → lostfunc diagnoseStorageIssue(fileURL: URL) {
print("=== Storage Diagnosis ===")
// 1. Location
diagnoseFileLocation(fileURL)
// 2. Protection
try? diagnoseFileProtection(fileURL)
// 3. Backup status
try? diagnoseBackupStatus(fileURL)
// 4. File state
diagnoseFileState(fileURL)
// 5. Directory size
if let parentURL = fileURL.deletingLastPathComponent() as URL? {
let size = getDirectorySize(url: parentURL)
print("Parent directory size: \(size / 1_000_000) MB")
}
print("=== End Diagnosis ===")
}axiom-storageaxiom-file-protection-refaxiom-storage-management-ref