<EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>
If you think there is even a 1% chance an Axiom skill might apply to your iOS/Swift task, you ABSOLUTELY MUST check for the skill.
IF AN AXIOM SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR iOS/SWIFT TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT.
This is not negotiable. This is not optional. You cannot rationalize your way out of this.
</EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>
Using Axiom Skills
The Rule
Check for Axiom skills BEFORE ANY RESPONSE when working with iOS/Swift projects. This includes clarifying questions. Even 1% chance means check first.
Red Flags — iOS-Specific Rationalizations
These thoughts mean STOP—you're rationalizing:
| Thought | Reality |
|---|
| "This is just a simple build issue" | Build failures have patterns. Check ios-build first. |
| "I can fix this SwiftUI bug quickly" | SwiftUI issues have hidden gotchas. Check ios-ui first. |
| "Let me just add this database column" | Schema changes risk data loss. Check ios-data first. |
| "This async code looks straightforward" | Swift concurrency has subtle rules. Check ios-concurrency first. |
| "I'll debug the memory leak manually" | Leak patterns are documented. Check ios-performance first. |
| "Let me explore the Xcode project first" | Axiom skills tell you HOW to explore. Check first. |
| "I remember how to do this from last time" | iOS changes constantly. Skills are up-to-date. |
| "This iOS/platform version doesn't exist" | Your training ended January 2025. Invoke Axiom skills for post-cutoff facts. |
| "The user just wants a quick answer" | Quick answers without patterns create tech debt. Check skills first. |
| "This doesn't need a formal workflow" | If an Axiom skill exists for it, use it. |
| "I'll gather info first, then check skills" | Skills tell you WHAT info to gather. Check first. |
Skill Priority for iOS Development
When multiple Axiom skills could apply, use this priority:
- Environment/Build first (ios-build) — Fix the environment before debugging code
- Architecture patterns (ios-ui, axiom-ios-data, axiom-ios-concurrency) — These determine HOW to structure the solution
- Implementation details (ios-integration, axiom-ios-ai, axiom-ios-vision) — These guide specific feature work
Examples:
- "Xcode build failed" → ios-build first (environment)
- "Add SwiftUI screen" → ios-ui first (architecture), then maybe ios-integration if using system features
- "App is slow" → ios-performance first (diagnose), then fix the specific domain
- "Network request failing" → ios-build first (environment check), then ios-networking (implementation)
iOS Project Detection
Axiom skills apply when:
- Working directory contains or
- User mentions iOS, Swift, Xcode, SwiftUI, UIKit
- User asks about Apple frameworks (SwiftData, CloudKit, etc.)
- User reports iOS-specific errors (concurrency, memory, build failures)
Using Axiom Router Skills
Axiom uses router skills for progressive disclosure:
- Check the appropriate router skill first (ios-build, axiom-ios-ui, axiom-ios-data, etc.)
- Router will invoke the specialized skill(s) you actually need
- Follow the specialized skill exactly
Do not skip the router. Routers have decision logic to select the right specialized skill.
Backward Compatibility
- Direct skill invocation still works:
/skill axiom-swift-concurrency
- Commands work unchanged: ,
/axiom:audit-accessibility
- Agents work via routing or direct command invocation
When Axiom Skills Don't Apply
Skip Axiom skills for:
- Non-iOS/Swift projects (Android, web, backend)
- Generic programming questions unrelated to Apple platforms
- Questions about Claude Code itself (use claude-code-guide skill)
But when in doubt for iOS/Swift work: check first, decide later.