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swiftui-view-refactor
Refactor SwiftUI views into smaller components with stable, explicit data flow.
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Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/swiftui-view-refactor/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills/main/plugins/antigravity-awesome-skills-claude/skills/swiftui-view-refactor/SKILL.md"
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/swiftui-view-refactor/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How swiftui-view-refactor Compares
| Feature / Agent | swiftui-view-refactor | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | multi | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Refactor SwiftUI views into smaller components with stable, explicit data flow.
Which AI agents support this skill?
This skill is compatible with multi.
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
# SwiftUI View Refactor
## Overview
Refactor SwiftUI views toward small, explicit, stable view types. Default to vanilla SwiftUI: local state in the view, shared dependencies in the environment, business logic in services/models, and view models only when the request or existing code clearly requires one.
## When to Use
- When cleaning up a large SwiftUI view or splitting long `body` implementations.
- When you need smaller subviews, explicit dependency injection, or better Observation usage.
## Core Guidelines
### 1) View ordering (top → bottom)
- Enforce this ordering unless the existing file has a stronger local convention you must preserve.
- Environment
- `private`/`public` `let`
- `@State` / other stored properties
- computed `var` (non-view)
- `init`
- `body`
- computed view builders / other view helpers
- helper / async functions
### 2) Default to MV, not MVVM
- Views should be lightweight state expressions and orchestration points, not containers for business logic.
- Favor `@State`, `@Environment`, `@Query`, `.task`, `.task(id:)`, and `onChange` before reaching for a view model.
- Inject services and shared models via `@Environment`; keep domain logic in services/models, not in the view body.
- Do not introduce a view model just to mirror local view state or wrap environment dependencies.
- If a screen is getting large, split the UI into subviews before inventing a new view model layer.
### 3) Strongly prefer dedicated subview types over computed `some View` helpers
- Flag `body` properties that are longer than roughly one screen or contain multiple logical sections.
- Prefer extracting dedicated `View` types for non-trivial sections, especially when they have state, async work, branching, or deserve their own preview.
- Keep computed `some View` helpers rare and small. Do not build an entire screen out of `private var header: some View`-style fragments.
- Pass small, explicit inputs (data, bindings, callbacks) into extracted subviews instead of handing down the entire parent state.
- If an extracted subview becomes reusable or independently meaningful, move it to its own file.
Prefer:
```swift
var body: some View {
List {
HeaderSection(title: title, subtitle: subtitle)
FilterSection(
filterOptions: filterOptions,
selectedFilter: $selectedFilter
)
ResultsSection(items: filteredItems)
FooterSection()
}
}
private struct HeaderSection: View {
let title: String
let subtitle: String
var body: some View {
VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 6) {
Text(title).font(.title2)
Text(subtitle).font(.subheadline)
}
}
}
private struct FilterSection: View {
let filterOptions: [FilterOption]
@Binding var selectedFilter: FilterOption
var body: some View {
ScrollView(.horizontal, showsIndicators: false) {
HStack {
ForEach(filterOptions, id: \.self) { option in
FilterChip(option: option, isSelected: option == selectedFilter)
.onTapGesture { selectedFilter = option }
}
}
}
}
}
```
Avoid:
```swift
var body: some View {
List {
header
filters
results
footer
}
}
private var header: some View {
VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 6) {
Text(title).font(.title2)
Text(subtitle).font(.subheadline)
}
}
```
### 3b) Extract actions and side effects out of `body`
- Do not keep non-trivial button actions inline in the view body.
- Do not bury business logic inside `.task`, `.onAppear`, `.onChange`, or `.refreshable`.
- Prefer calling small private methods from the view, and move real business logic into services/models.
- The body should read like UI, not like a view controller.
```swift
Button("Save", action: save)
.disabled(isSaving)
.task(id: searchText) {
await reload(for: searchText)
}
private func save() {
Task { await saveAsync() }
}
private func reload(for searchText: String) async {
guard !searchText.isEmpty else {
results = []
return
}
await searchService.search(searchText)
}
```
### 4) Keep a stable view tree (avoid top-level conditional view swapping)
- Avoid `body` or computed views that return completely different root branches via `if/else`.
- Prefer a single stable base view with conditions inside sections/modifiers (`overlay`, `opacity`, `disabled`, `toolbar`, etc.).
- Root-level branch swapping causes identity churn, broader invalidation, and extra recomputation.
Prefer:
```swift
var body: some View {
List {
documentsListContent
}
.toolbar {
if canEdit {
editToolbar
}
}
}
```
Avoid:
```swift
var documentsListView: some View {
if canEdit {
editableDocumentsList
} else {
readOnlyDocumentsList
}
}
```
### 5) View model handling (only if already present or explicitly requested)
- Treat view models as a legacy or explicit-need pattern, not the default.
- Do not introduce a view model unless the request or existing code clearly calls for one.
- If a view model exists, make it non-optional when possible.
- Pass dependencies to the view via `init`, then create the view model in the view's `init`.
- Avoid `bootstrapIfNeeded` patterns and other delayed setup workarounds.
Example (Observation-based):
```swift
@State private var viewModel: SomeViewModel
init(dependency: Dependency) {
_viewModel = State(initialValue: SomeViewModel(dependency: dependency))
}
```
### 6) Observation usage
- For `@Observable` reference types on iOS 17+, store them as `@State` in the owning view.
- Pass observables down explicitly; avoid optional state unless the UI genuinely needs it.
- If the deployment target includes iOS 16 or earlier, use `@StateObject` at the owner and `@ObservedObject` when injecting legacy observable models.
## Workflow
1. Reorder the view to match the ordering rules.
2. Remove inline actions and side effects from `body`; move business logic into services/models and keep only thin orchestration in the view.
3. Shorten long bodies by extracting dedicated subview types; avoid rebuilding the screen out of many computed `some View` helpers.
4. Ensure stable view structure: avoid top-level `if`-based branch swapping; move conditions to localized sections/modifiers.
5. If a view model exists or is explicitly required, replace optional view models with a non-optional `@State` view model initialized in `init`.
6. Confirm Observation usage: `@State` for root `@Observable` models on iOS 17+, legacy wrappers only when the deployment target requires them.
7. Keep behavior intact: do not change layout or business logic unless requested.
## Notes
- Prefer small, explicit view types over large conditional blocks and large computed `some View` properties.
- Keep computed view builders below `body` and non-view computed vars above `init`.
- A good SwiftUI refactor should make the view read top-to-bottom as data flow plus layout, not as mixed layout and imperative logic.
- For MV-first guidance and rationale, see `references/mv-patterns.md`.
## Large-view handling
When a SwiftUI view file exceeds ~300 lines, split it aggressively. Extract meaningful sections into dedicated `View` types instead of hiding complexity in many computed properties. Use `private` extensions with `// MARK: -` comments for actions and helpers, but do not treat extensions as a substitute for breaking a giant screen into smaller view types. If an extracted subview is reused or independently meaningful, move it into its own file.