carplay — Claude Code skill: build CarPlay apps
A skill for building CarPlay-enabled apps: templates, scene setup, entitlements and testing in the CarPlay Simulator.
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill carplay -a claude-codeWhat carplay does
This skill walks an agent through building an app that renders on the car display. It covers category entitlements, the scene entry in Info.plist, the CPTemplateApplicationSceneDelegate lifecycle and CPInterfaceController, which sets the root template and manages the template stack.
Separate sections handle navigation, audio, communication and point-of-interest apps. Template tables list CPListTemplate, CPGridTemplate, CPMapTemplate, CPNowPlayingTemplate and the rest. For navigation it shows how the scene hands you a CPWindow and how to put your own map view controller inside it.
The scope boundary is stated plainly: WidgetKit widgets and Live Activities on CarPlay belong to other domains. One thing to line up first — request the category entitlement through Apple's form, accept the addendum, then regenerate the provisioning profile. Without an approved key, nothing reaches the car screen. The skill targets Swift 6.3 and iOS 26+.
What it helps with
- wire a CarPlay scene into an existing iOS app
- pick the right template for navigation, audio or food ordering
- set up entitlements and a provisioning profile for a category
- build a template stack with
CPInterfaceController - test the app in the CarPlay Simulator
Example prompts for the agent
- add a CarPlay scene to the project and set a
CPListTemplateas the root - build a navigation screen with
CPMapTemplateand a map inCPWindow - check which entitlement an EV charging app needs
How to install carplay
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill carplay -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/carplay/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/carplay/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill carplay -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/carplay/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill carplay -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/carplay/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills carplay2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/carplay/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill carplay -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --path skills/carplayManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/carplay/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill carplay -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about carplay
How do I install carplay in Claude?
Run npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill carplay -a claude-code. The skill file then lives at ~/.claude/skills/carplay/SKILL.md.
What does the carplay skill do?
It helps the agent write CarPlay app code: scene configuration, per-category entitlements, template hierarchies and the interface controller.
Which app categories are covered?
Audio, communication, navigation, EV charging, parking and quick food ordering. Each category has its own entitlement key.
