---
name: axiom-tools
description: Use when asking how to use Axiom, what skills are available, getting started with Axiom, capturing iOS simulator console output with xclog, or symbolicating .ips/MetricKit/.crash files with xcsym.
license: MIT
---

# Axiom Tools & Onboarding

This suite covers Axiom itself — how to use it, what's available, and the tools that ship with it.

## Routing

| Question | Read |
|----------|------|
| "How do I use Axiom?" / "What skills are available?" | [skills/getting-started.md](skills/getting-started.md) |
| "How do I capture console output?" / "What is xclog?" | [skills/xclog-ref.md](skills/xclog-ref.md) |
| "How do I symbolicate a crash?" / "What is xcsym?" / "Why is my crash unsymbolicated?" | [skills/xcsym-ref.md](skills/xcsym-ref.md) |

## Using Axiom Skills

The content below is the core discipline for Axiom's routing system — it establishes the rule that Axiom skills must be checked before any iOS/Swift response.

<EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>
If you think there is even a 1% chance an Axiom skill might apply to your iOS/Swift task, you ABSOLUTELY MUST check for the skill.

IF AN AXIOM SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR iOS/SWIFT TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT.

This is not negotiable. This is not optional. You cannot rationalize your way out of this.
</EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>

## The Rule

**Check for Axiom skills BEFORE ANY RESPONSE when working with iOS/Swift projects.** This includes clarifying questions. Even 1% chance means check first.

## Red Flags — iOS-Specific Rationalizations

These thoughts mean STOP—you're rationalizing:

| Thought | Reality |
|---------|---------|
| "This is just a simple build issue" | Build failures have patterns. Check axiom-build first. |
| "I can fix this SwiftUI bug quickly" | SwiftUI issues have hidden gotchas. Check axiom-swiftui first. |
| "Let me just add this database column" | Schema changes risk data loss. Check axiom-data first. |
| "This async code looks straightforward" | Swift concurrency has subtle rules. Check axiom-concurrency first. |
| "I'll debug the memory leak manually" | Leak patterns are documented. Check axiom-performance first. |
| "Let me explore the Xcode project first" | Axiom skills tell you HOW to explore. Check first. |
| "I remember how to do this from last time" | iOS changes constantly. Skills are up-to-date. |
| "This iOS/platform version doesn't exist" | Your training ended January 2025. Invoke Axiom skills for post-cutoff facts. |
| "The user just wants a quick answer" | Quick answers without patterns create tech debt. Check skills first. |
| "This doesn't need a formal workflow" | If an Axiom skill exists for it, use it. |
| "I'll gather info first, then check skills" | Skills tell you WHAT info to gather. Check first. |

## Skill Priority for iOS Development

When multiple Axiom skills could apply, use this priority:

1. **Environment/Build first** (axiom-build) — Fix the environment before debugging code
2. **Architecture patterns** (axiom-swiftui, axiom-data, axiom-concurrency) — These determine HOW to structure the solution
3. **Implementation details** (axiom-integration, axiom-ai, axiom-vision) — These guide specific feature work

Examples:
- "Xcode build failed" → axiom-build first (environment)
- "Add SwiftUI screen" → axiom-swiftui first (architecture), then maybe axiom-integration if using system features
- "App is slow" → axiom-performance first (diagnose), then fix the specific domain
- "Network request failing" → axiom-build first (environment check), then axiom-networking (implementation)

## iOS Project Detection

Axiom skills apply when:
- Working directory contains `.xcodeproj` or `.xcworkspace`
- User mentions iOS, Swift, Xcode, SwiftUI, UIKit
- User asks about Apple frameworks (SwiftData, CloudKit, etc.)
- User reports iOS-specific errors (concurrency, memory, build failures)

## Using Axiom Router Skills

Axiom uses **router skills** for progressive disclosure:

1. Check the appropriate router skill first (axiom-build, axiom-swiftui, axiom-data, etc.)
2. Router will invoke the specialized skill(s) you actually need
3. Follow the specialized skill exactly

**Do not skip the router.** Routers have decision logic to select the right specialized skill.

### Multi-Domain Questions

When a question spans multiple domains, **invoke ALL relevant routers — don't stop after the first one.**

Examples:
- "My SwiftUI view doesn't update when SwiftData changes" → invoke **both** axiom-swiftui AND axiom-data
- "My widget isn't showing updated data from SwiftData" → invoke **both** axiom-integration AND axiom-data
- "My Foundation Models session freezes the UI" → invoke **both** axiom-ai AND axiom-concurrency
- "My Core Data saves lose data from background tasks" → invoke **both** axiom-data AND axiom-concurrency

**How to tell**: If the question mentions symptoms from two different domains, or involves two different frameworks, invoke both routers. Each router has cross-domain routing guidance for common overlaps.

## Backward Compatibility

- Direct skill invocation still works: `/skill axiom-concurrency`
- Commands work unchanged: `/axiom:fix-build`, `/axiom:audit-accessibility`
- Agents work via routing or direct command invocation

## When Axiom Skills Don't Apply

Skip Axiom skills for:
- Non-iOS/Swift projects (Android, web, backend)
- Generic programming questions unrelated to Apple platforms
- Questions about Claude Code itself (use claude-code-guide skill)

But when in doubt for iOS/Swift work: **check first, decide later.**

## Resources

**Skills**: axiom-swiftui, axiom-concurrency, axiom-data, axiom-build, axiom-performance

**Axiom tools**: `xclog` (simulator console capture, `skills/xclog-ref.md`), `xcsym` (crash symbolication for `.ips`, MetricKit, and legacy `.crash` text files, `skills/xcsym-ref.md`)