Skills

Apple app playbook

How Akila Studio builds native Apple apps in SwiftUI, so every app starts from the same standard: the pieces every app has, devices, RevenueCat, localization into 12 languages, permissions and App Store Connect. Use when starting a new Apple app or bringing an existing one up to the standard.

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akilastudio.com/skills/apple-app-playbook.md

The standard every Akila Studio app is built to, so apps are easy to develop and consistent with each other. Native Apple apps only, in SwiftUI. Always apply anti-ai-swift-patterns (https://akilastudio.com/skills/anti-ai-swift-patterns.md) alongside it.

Two ways to use it

  • New project: start with the kickoff brief, then build the app to the standard from the first screen.
  • Existing project: review the app against this playbook and add whatever is missing.

Kickoff brief

Before building, run a short brief. At least ask:

  • Does it need a welcome tour?
  • Does it need an Apple Watch app?
  • Does it need a macOS app?
  • Which permissions will it ask for?

Pieces every app has

  • Onboarding: always.
  • Welcome tour: only when the brief asks for it. It comes after onboarding, highlights parts of the interface (coach marks) and explains how to use them.
  • Paywall: always designed, connected to RevenueCat.
  • What's new: after an update, the app shows what changed in that version.
  • Settings: always, with plenty of configuration and personalization.
  • Support: the contact is hello@akilastudio.com.

Devices

  • Every app is designed for different devices: every iPhone size, the foldable iPhone, and landscape.
  • iPad is supported, laid out properly as the window grows.
  • Apple Watch and macOS only when the app needs them and the brief says so.

Monetization

  • Always connected to RevenueCat.

Localization

Always localized into these 12 languages, with these String Catalog codes:

  1. English en (base language)
  2. Spanish es (one Spanish, no split between Spain and Latin America)
  3. Simplified Chinese zh-Hans
  4. Japanese ja
  5. Korean ko
  6. Russian ru
  7. Italian it
  8. German de
  9. Polish pl
  10. Turkish tr
  11. French fr
  12. Brazilian Portuguese pt-BR

Localize everything: the app (Localizable.xcstrings), the permission texts (InfoPlist.xcstrings) and the shortcuts (AppShortcuts.xcstrings), in the Watch, widget and extension targets too.

Feel

  • Apps feel fast and responsive, never clunky.

Permissions

  • Comply with everything Apple requires, and handle every permission well: Health, Reminders, camera, notifications and the rest.

App Store

  • Connect to App Store Connect through its API, with the API key the user has configured. Use it to build the App Store listings and the App Store screenshots.
  • Never commit the key or copy it into a repository.
  • Confirm with the user before any change to the live store: copy, versions, submitting for review.