/axiom-macos

name: axiom-macos
description: Use when building ANY macOS app — windows, menus, sandboxing, distribution, AppKit bridging or modernization (control events, state restoration, concentric corners), or macOS-specific SwiftUI patterns.
license: MIT

macOS Development

**You MUST use this skill for ANY macOS-specific development including windows, menus, sandboxing, distribution, AppKit bridging, and macOS SwiftUI differences.**

Quick Reference

| Symptom / Task | Reference | |----------------|-----------| | Window management (WindowGroup, Window, MenuBarExtra, DocumentGroup) | See `skills/windows.md` | | Menu bar, commands, keyboard shortcuts | See `skills/menus-and-commands.md` | | Table, Inspector, NavigationSplitView, focus | See `skills/swiftui-differences.md` | | App Sandbox, file access, security-scoped bookmarks | See `skills/sandbox-and-file-access.md` | | Developer ID, notarization, Sparkle auto-updates | See `skills/direct-distribution.md` | | NSViewRepresentable, NSHostingController, AppKit bridging, @Observable in AppKit, NSHostingMenu, SwiftUI scenes from AppKit | See `skills/appkit-interop.md` | | Modernizing AppKit: mouseDown replacement, control events, status-item sessions, state restoration, concentric corners, touch (`OS27`) | See `skills/appkit-modernization.md` | | Screen recording, sharing, or capture (ScreenCaptureKit) | See `skills/screencapturekit.md` | | SCStream / SCContentFilter / screenshots / file recording API | See `skills/screencapturekit-ref.md` | | Bring an iOS app to Mac: Catalyst adoption, Designed for iPad, Mac availability opt-out | See `skills/ios-apps-on-mac.md` | | Apple Pay on Mac / Catalyst | See `axiom-payments/skills/apple-pay.md` (Catalyst section) |

Cross-Suite Routes

These topics overlap with macOS development but live in separate suites:

SwiftUI (shared iOS/macOS)

• View state, data flow, @Observable → See axiom-swiftui
• Navigation (NavigationStack basics) → See axiom-swiftui (skills/nav.md)
• Layout (ViewThatFits, AnyLayout) → See axiom-swiftui (skills/layout.md)
• Animations → See axiom-swiftui (skills/animation-ref.md)

Data & persistence

• SwiftData, Core Data, GRDB → See axiom-data
• CloudKit sync → See axiom-data

Concurrency

• Swift 6 concurrency, actors, Sendable → See axiom-concurrency

Other

• Accessibility (VoiceOver, Dynamic Type) → See axiom-accessibility
• Networking (URLSession, Network.framework) → See axiom-networking
• Security (Keychain, passkeys, encryption) → See axiom-security

Conflict Resolution

**axiom-macos vs axiom-swiftui**: When working on a macOS SwiftUI app: 1. **Use axiom-macos** for macOS-only concerns: windows, menus, commands, sandboxing, distribution, Table, Inspector, AppKit bridging 2. **Use axiom-swiftui** for cross-platform SwiftUI: navigation, layout, state management, animations 3. **Both may apply**: A macOS app using NavigationSplitView with Table needs axiom-macos for Table specifics and axiom-swiftui for NavigationSplitView basics

**axiom-macos vs axiom-security**: For sandbox and code signing: 1. **Use axiom-macos** for macOS App Sandbox, security-scoped bookmarks, file access entitlements, Developer ID signing 2. **Use axiom-security** for Keychain storage, encryption, passkeys, certificate management

Decision Tree

digraph macos {
    start [label="macOS development task" shape=ellipse];
    what [label="What area?" shape=diamond];

    start -> what;
    what -> "skills/windows.md" [label="windows/scenes"];
    what -> "skills/menus-and-commands.md" [label="menus/commands/shortcuts"];
    what -> "skills/swiftui-differences.md" [label="Table/Inspector/focus/macOS SwiftUI"];
    what -> "skills/sandbox-and-file-access.md" [label="sandbox/file access"];
    what -> "skills/direct-distribution.md" [label="distribution/notarization/updates"];
    what -> "skills/appkit-interop.md" [label="AppKit bridging"];
    what -> "skills/appkit-modernization.md" [label="modernize AppKit\n(input/restoration/27 look)"];
    what -> "skills/ios-apps-on-mac.md" [label="iOS app to Mac\n(Catalyst / Designed for iPad)"];
    what -> "skills/screencapturekit.md" [label="screen capture/\nrecording/sharing"];
    what -> "axiom-swiftui" [label="cross-platform SwiftUI"];
    what -> "axiom-security" [label="Keychain/encryption"];
}

> **iOS screen capture?** ScreenCaptureKit is macOS-only. For iOS screen recording, use ReplayKit — see axiom-media.

Resources

**WWDC**: 2021-10062, 2022-10061, 2022-10075, 2023-10148, 2024-10149, 2026-272, 2026-289

**Docs**: /security/app-sandbox, /swiftui/windowgroup, /swiftui/table

**Skills**: axiom-swiftui, axiom-security, axiom-concurrency, axiom-uikit