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/skills/ios-swiftui-view-refactor
This skill refactors SwiftUI views to follow a consistent MV structure, proper dependency injection, and clean Observation usage for safer, reusable components.
npx playbooks add skill derklinke/codex-config --skill ios-swiftui-view-refactorReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: swiftui-view-refactor
description: Refactor and review SwiftUI view files for consistent structure, dependency injection, and Observation usage. Use when asked to clean up a SwiftUI view’s layout/ordering, handle view models safely (non-optional when possible), or standardize how dependencies and @Observable state are initialized and passed.
---
# SwiftUI View Refactor
## Overview
Apply a consistent structure and dependency pattern to SwiftUI views, with a focus on ordering, Model-View (MV) patterns, careful view model handling, and correct Observation usage.
## Core Guidelines
### 1) View ordering (top → bottom)
- Environment
- `private`/`public` `let`
- `@State` / other stored properties
- computed `var` (non-view)
- `init`
- `body`
- computed view builders / other view helpers
- helper / async functions
### 2) Prefer MV (Model-View) patterns
- Default to MV: Views are lightweight state expressions; models/services own business logic.
- Favor `@State`, `@Environment`, `@Query`, and `task`/`onChange` for orchestration.
- Inject services and shared models via `@Environment`; keep views small and composable.
- Split large views into subviews rather than introducing a view model.
### 3) Split large bodies and view properties
- If `body` grows beyond a screen or has multiple logical sections, split it into smaller subviews.
- Extract large computed view properties (`var header: some View { ... }`) into dedicated `View` types when they carry state or complex branching.
- It's fine to keep related subviews as computed view properties in the same file; extract to a standalone `View` struct only when it structurally makes sense or when reuse is intended.
- Prefer passing small inputs (data, bindings, callbacks) over reusing the entire parent view state.
Example (extracting a section):
```swift
var body: some View {
VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 16) {
HeaderSection(title: title, isPinned: isPinned)
DetailsSection(details: details)
ActionsSection(onSave: onSave, onCancel: onCancel)
}
}
```
Example (long body → shorter body + computed views in the same file):
```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)
}
}
private var filters: some View {
ScrollView(.horizontal, showsIndicators: false) {
HStack {
ForEach(filterOptions, id: \.self) { option in
FilterChip(option: option, isSelected: option == selectedFilter)
.onTapGesture { selectedFilter = option }
}
}
}
}
```
Example (extracting a complex computed view):
```swift
private var header: some View {
HeaderSection(title: title, subtitle: subtitle, status: status)
}
private struct HeaderSection: View {
let title: String
let subtitle: String?
let status: Status
var body: some View {
VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 4) {
Text(title).font(.headline)
if let subtitle { Text(subtitle).font(.subheadline) }
StatusBadge(status: status)
}
}
}
```
### 4) View model handling (only if already present)
- 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 pass them into the view model in the view's `init`.
- Avoid `bootstrapIfNeeded` patterns.
Example (Observation-based):
```swift
@State private var viewModel: SomeViewModel
init(dependency: Dependency) {
_viewModel = State(initialValue: SomeViewModel(dependency: dependency))
}
```
### 5) Observation usage
- For `@Observable` reference types, store them as `@State` in the root view.
- Pass observables down explicitly as needed; avoid optional state unless required.
## Workflow
1) Reorder the view to match the ordering rules.
2) Favor MV: move lightweight orchestration into the view using `@State`, `@Environment`, `@Query`, `task`, and `onChange`.
3) If a view model exists, replace optional view models with a non-optional `@State` view model initialized in `init` by passing dependencies from the view.
4) Confirm Observation usage: `@State` for root `@Observable` view models, no redundant wrappers.
5) Keep behavior intact: do not change layout or business logic unless requested.
## Notes
- Prefer small, explicit helpers over large conditional blocks.
- Keep computed view builders below `body` and non-view computed vars above `init`.
- For MV-first guidance and rationale, see `references/mv-patterns.md`.
This skill refactors and reviews SwiftUI view files to enforce a consistent structure, clear dependency injection, and correct Observation usage. It focuses on view ordering, MV patterns, safe view model initialization, and splitting large view bodies into composable subviews. The goal is predictable, maintainable SwiftUI views without changing layout or business logic unless requested.
I inspect the view file and reorder declarations to the canonical top→bottom structure (Environment, lets, state, computed non-view vars, init, body, view helpers, helpers). I convert optional view models to non-optional @State-backed observables when a view model exists and pass dependencies into the view model from init. I also identify large bodies and extract logical sections into computed view properties or small subviews, and ensure Observables are stored at the root as @State.
Will you change layout or behavior during refactor?
No — layout and business logic are preserved unless you explicitly ask for behavioral changes.
When should I extract a computed view into a separate View type?
Extract when the section carries its own state, has complex branching, or will be reused; keep small, purely presentational helpers as computed properties.