networking-layer

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.

149 stars

Best use case

networking-layer is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

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.

Teams using networking-layer should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.

When to use this skill

  • You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.

When not to use this skill

  • You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
  • You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.

Installation

Claude Code / Cursor / Codex

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/networking-layer/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills/main/skills/generators/networking-layer/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/networking-layer/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How networking-layer Compares

Feature / Agentnetworking-layerStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

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.

Where can I find the source code?

You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.

SKILL.md Source

# 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)

Related Skills

watchOS

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

watchOS development guidance including SwiftUI for Watch, Watch Connectivity, complications, and watch-specific UI patterns. Use for watchOS code review, best practices, or Watch app development.

visionos-widgets

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

visionOS widget patterns including mounting styles, glass/paper textures, proximity-aware layouts, and spatial widget families. Use when creating or adapting widgets for visionOS.

test-data-factory

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

Generate test fixture factories for your models. Builder pattern and static factories for zero-boilerplate test data. Use when tests need sample data setup.

test-contract

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

Generate protocol/interface test suites that any implementation must pass. Define the contract once, test every implementation. Use when designing protocols or swapping implementations.

tdd-refactor-guard

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

Pre-refactor safety checklist. Verifies test coverage exists before AI modifies existing code. Use before asking AI to refactor anything.

tdd-feature

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

Red-green-refactor scaffold for building new features with TDD. Write failing tests first, then implement to pass. Use when building new features test-first.

tdd-bug-fix

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

Fix bugs using red-green-refactor — reproduce the bug as a failing test first, then fix it. Use when fixing bugs to ensure they never regress.

snapshot-test-setup

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

Set up SwiftUI visual regression testing with swift-snapshot-testing. Generates snapshot test boilerplate and CI configuration. Use for UI regression prevention.

integration-test-scaffold

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

Generate cross-module test harness with mock servers, in-memory stores, and test configuration. Use when testing networking + persistence + business logic together.

characterization-test-generator

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

Generates tests that capture current behavior of existing code before refactoring. Use when you need a safety net before AI-assisted refactoring or modifying legacy code.

testing

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

TDD and testing skills for iOS/macOS apps. Covers characterization tests, TDD workflows, test contracts, snapshot tests, and test infrastructure. Use for test-driven development, adding tests to existing code, or building test infrastructure.

webkit-integration

149
from rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills

WebKit integration in SwiftUI using WebView and WebPage for embedding web content, navigation, JavaScript interop, and customization. Use when embedding web content in SwiftUI apps.