apple

SwiftShip

Spec-driven development for iOS & macOS apps, run entirely through Claude Code.

Every change is checked in CI: all 190+ skill references resolve against the skills library, documented counts match reality, every command is registered, and frontmatter is well-formed (scripts/validate.sh).

SwiftShip combines GSD's workflow methodology with deep Apple-platform expertise to walk you from "I have an app idea" all the way to "it's live on the App Store" — without losing context between sessions.

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What is SwiftShip?

Imagine building an app with an AI assistant that, left alone, is brilliant but forgetful — it doesn't remember last week's decisions, and it doesn't automatically know all of Apple's rules.

SwiftShip is a project manager + a team of Apple specialists that sits on top of Claude Code. It gives you:

• A clear path — a sequence of simple commands (you type /apple:something) that take you from idea → design → build → test → ship.
• A memory — a hidden .planning/ folder inside your project that records your spec, roadmap, decisions, and progress, so you can stop today and resume tomorrow exactly where you left off.
• Specialists on call — for the tricky parts (SwiftUI screens, in‑app purchases, iCloud sync, App Store review), the right "agent" is brought in automatically.

Important: SwiftShip is not an app and not a program you compile. It's a set of carefully‑written instruction files (Markdown) that teach Claude Code how to behave like that project manager. There's nothing to build — you just install it and start typing commands.

A simple mental model

Building an app is like building a house:

House	SwiftShip
Blueprints & permits	the .planning/ files (spec, roadmap, plan)
The foreman you give orders to	the /apple:* commands you type
The plumber, electrician, roofer	the specialist agents the foreman calls in
The building‑code manuals on the shelf	the skills library (a separate companion project)

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Highlights

• 49 commands covering the whole lifecycle: idea validation, planning, building, testing, App Store metadata, screenshots, TestFlight, submission, and post‑launch.
• Works for brand‑new apps and existing apps — one command maps your existing code, and another turns it into a phased feature‑plus‑bug‑fix release plan.
• Run & screenshot your app — quality commands can actually launch your app (iOS Simulator or a real Mac app) and look at it, instead of just asking you "does it work?"
• Optional App Store Connect automation — with the right tool connected, commands can push your metadata, release notes, and TestFlight setup straight to App Store Connect — always after showing you a preview and asking first. (The final "Submit for Review" always stays your decision.)
• Data‑driven planning — pull real downloads, sales, crashes, and reviews into your "what to build next" decisions.
• Portable — installs on any Mac with one script; no hardcoded paths to edit.
• Graceful by default — every "smart" capability is optional. If a tool isn't installed, the command quietly falls back to plain manual instructions. Nothing breaks.

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How it works

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  COMMANDS  (you type these)                                              │
│  /apple:validate → /apple:new-app → /apple:roadmap → /apple:plan → ...   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  PLANNING FILES  (your project's memory, in .planning/)                  │
│  VALIDATION · APP · ROADMAP · STATE · PLAN · REVIEW · ASO · ...          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  AGENTS  (specialists, called automatically)                 │
│  swiftui-builder · storekit-expert · hig-reviewer · ...      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                              │
                              ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SKILLS  (the "manuals" — from claude-code-apple-skills)     │
│  ios/ · macos/ · generators/ · app-store/ · security/ · ...  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘