Using Xcode File Templates for the Labs and Example Code

Joseph Simpson Updated on

Did you know you can create your own custom file templates to use in Xcode? These have been a huge time saver in my work for Step Into Vision.

This article explores the process in more detail: Create Custom Xcode Templates.

My file template for the Labs:

~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Templates
// or
Library/Developer/Xcode/Templates/Step Into Lab.xctemplate

Create a file template with placeholder content that Xcode will populate 

//  Step Into Vision - Labs
//
//  Title: ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___
//
//  Subtitle:
//
//  Description:
//
//  Type:
//
//  Created by ___FULLUSERNAME___ on ___DATE___.

import SwiftUI
import RealityKit

struct ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___: View {
    var body: some View {
        Text(/*@START_MENU_TOKEN@*/"Hello, World!"/*@END_MENU_TOKEN@*/)
    }
}

#Preview {
    ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___()
}

Create a plist file with the metadata

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>SupportsSwiftPackage</key>
    <true/>
    <key>Kind</key>
    <string>Xcode.IDEFoundation.TextSubstitutionFileTemplateKind</string>
    <key>Description</key>
    <string>A SwiftUI custom view for Step Into Labs</string>
    <key>Summary</key>
    <string>Step Into Lab</string>
    <key>SortOrder</key>
    <string>1</string>
    <key>AllowedTypes</key>
    <array>
        <string>public.swift-source</string>
    </array>
    <key>Platforms</key>
    <array />
    <key>DefaultCompletionName</key>
    <string>Lab000</string>
    <key>MainTemplateFile</key>
    <string>___FILEBASENAME___.swift</string>
	<key>Image</key>
	<dict>
		<key>FileTypeIcon</key>
		<string>swift</string>
	</dict>
</dict>
</plist>

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