CloudKit Reference

Purpose: Comprehensive CloudKit reference for database-based iCloud storage and sync Availability: iOS 10.0+ (basic), iOS 17.0+ (CKSyncEngine), iOS 17.0+ (SwiftData integration) Context: Modern CloudKit sync via CKSyncEngine (WWDC 2023) or SwiftData integration

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Implementing structured data sync to iCloud
• Choosing between SwiftData+CloudKit, CKSyncEngine, or raw CloudKit APIs
• Setting up public/private/shared databases
• Implementing conflict resolution
• Debugging CloudKit sync issues
• Monitoring CloudKit performance

NOT for: Simple file sync (use axiom-icloud-drive-ref instead)

Overview

CloudKit is for STRUCTURED DATA sync (records with relationships), not simple file sync.

Three modern approaches:

1. SwiftData + CloudKit (Easiest, iOS 17+)
2. CKSyncEngine (Custom persistence, iOS 17+, WWDC 2023)
3. Raw CloudKit APIs (Maximum control, more complexity)

Approach 1: SwiftData + CloudKit (Recommended)

When to use: iOS 17+ apps with SwiftData models

Limitations:

• Private database only (no public/shared)
• Automatic sync (less control)
• SwiftData constraints apply

// ✅ CORRECT: SwiftData with CloudKit sync
import SwiftData

@Model
class Task {
    var title: String
    var isCompleted: Bool
    var dueDate: Date

    init(title: String, isCompleted: Bool = false, dueDate: Date) {
        self.title = title
        self.isCompleted = isCompleted
        self.dueDate = dueDate
    }
}

// Configure CloudKit container
let container = try ModelContainer(
    for: Task.self,
    configurations: ModelConfiguration(
        cloudKitDatabase: .private("iCloud.com.example.app")
    )
)

// That's it! Sync happens automatically

Entitlements required:

• iCloud capability
• CloudKit container

Use axiom-swiftdata skill for SwiftData details

Approach 2: CKSyncEngine (Modern, WWDC 2023)

When to use: Custom persistence (SQLite, GRDB, JSON) with cloud sync

Advantages over raw CloudKit:

• Manages fetch/upload cycles automatically
• Handles conflicts
• Manages account changes
• Recommended over manual CKDatabase operations

// ✅ CORRECT: CKSyncEngine setup
import CloudKit

class SyncManager {
    let syncEngine: CKSyncEngine

    init() throws {
        let config = CKSyncEngine.Configuration(
            database: CKContainer.default().privateCloudDatabase,
            stateSerialization: loadSyncState(),
            delegate: self
        )

        syncEngine = try CKSyncEngine(config)
    }

    // Implement delegate methods
}

extension SyncManager: CKSyncEngineDelegate {
    // Handle events
    func handleEvent(_ event: CKSyncEngine.Event, syncEngine: CKSyncEngine) async {
        switch event {
        case .stateUpdate(let stateUpdate):
            saveSyncState(stateUpdate.stateSerialization)

        case .accountChange(let change):
            handleAccountChange(change)

        case .fetchedDatabaseChanges(let changes):
            applyDatabaseChanges(changes)

        case .fetchedRecordZoneChanges(let changes):
            applyRecordChanges(changes)

        case .sentRecordZoneChanges(let changes):
            handleSentChanges(changes)

        case .willFetchChanges, .didFetchChanges,
             .willSendChanges, .didSendChanges:
            // Optional lifecycle events
            break

        @unknown default:
            break
        }
    }

    // Next batch of changes to send
    func nextRecordZoneChangeBatch(
        _ context: CKSyncEngine.SendChangesContext,
        syncEngine: CKSyncEngine
    ) async -> CKSyncEngine.RecordZoneChangeBatch? {
        // Return pending local changes
        let pendingChanges = getPendingLocalChanges()
        return CKSyncEngine.RecordZoneChangeBatch(
            pendingSaves: pendingChanges,
            recordIDsToDelete: []
        )
    }
}

Key concepts:

• State serialization: Persist sync state between app launches
• Events: Delegate receives events for changes
• Batches: You provide pending changes, engine uploads them
• Automatic conflict resolution: Engine handles basic conflicts

Approach 3: Raw CloudKit APIs (Legacy)

When to use: Only if CKSyncEngine doesn't fit (rare)

Core types:

• CKContainer — Entry point
• CKDatabase — Public/private/shared scope
• CKRecord — Individual data record
• CKRecordZone — Logical grouping
• CKAsset — Binary file storage

Basic Operations

// ✅ Container and database
let container = CKContainer.default()
let privateDatabase = container.privateCloudDatabase
let publicDatabase = container.publicCloudDatabase

// ✅ Create record
let record = CKRecord(recordType: "Task")
record["title"] = "Buy groceries"
record["isCompleted"] = false
record["dueDate"] = Date()

// ✅ Save record
try await privateDatabase.save(record)

// ✅ Fetch record
let recordID = CKRecord.ID(recordName: "task-123")
let fetchedRecord = try await privateDatabase.record(for: recordID)

// ✅ Query records
let predicate = NSPredicate(format: "isCompleted == NO")
let query = CKQuery(recordType: "Task", predicate: predicate)
let (matchResults, _) = try await privateDatabase.records(matching: query)

for result in matchResults {
    if case .success(let record) = result.1 {
        print("Task: \(record["title"] as? String ?? "")
how to use axiom-cloudkit-ref
CursorClaude CodeClineCodexWindsurfGooseGitHub CopilotVS CodeGemini CLIKiloOpencodeKimi CLIRoo ClineAiderContinueZedBolt.newLovablev0Replit AgentSweepSmol DeveloperDevinCavemanAmpAntigravity
How to use axiom-cloudkit-ref on Cursor
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1
Prerequisites
Before installing skills in Cursor, ensure your development environment meets these requirements:
›Cursor installed and configured on your development machine
›Node.js version 16.0+ with npm package manager (verify with node --version)
›Active project directory or workspace where you want to add axiom-cloudkit-ref
2
Execute installation command
Execute the skills CLI command in your project's root directory to begin installation:
$npx skills add https://github.com/charleswiltgen/axiom --skill axiom-cloudkit-refcopy
The skills CLI fetches axiom-cloudkit-ref from GitHub repository charleswiltgen/axiom and configures it for Cursor.
3
Select Cursor when prompted
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4
Verify installation
Confirm successful installation by checking the skill directory location:
.cursor/skills/axiom-cloudkit-ref
Reload or restart Cursor to activate axiom-cloudkit-ref. Access the skill through slash commands (e.g., /axiom-cloudkit-ref) or your agent's skill management interface.
⚠
Security & Verification Notice
We perform automated surface-level scans (Gen AI Scanner, Socket, Snyk) during installation. These checks detect common vulnerabilities but do not guarantee complete security. Always review skill source code and verify the publisher's reputation before production use.
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