homekit — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install
Assists with Apple smart home development in Swift, covering HomeKit device management and Matter commissioning.
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill homekit -a claude-codeWhat homekit does
This skill supplies the agent with architecture patterns for Apple's HomeKit and MatterSupport frameworks. It enforces the correct data hierarchy from HMHomeManager down to rooms and writable characteristics, alongside grouped action sets and timer triggers.
Using these APIs requires upfront configuration in Xcode. You must enable the HomeKit capability and specify NSHomeKitUsageDescription in Info.plist. Commissioning Matter hardware requires a dedicated MatterSupport Extension target subclassing MatterAddDeviceExtensionRequestHandler and Bonjour service entries for discovery.
Reading the homes array immediately after initializing HMHomeManager fails silently because data loads asynchronously. The skill prevents empty reads by waiting for the homeManagerDidUpdateHomes callback.
What it helps with
- Structure homes and rooms using the HMHomeManager hierarchy
- Read and update device states via HMCharacteristic
- Create grouped automation scenes using HMActionSet
- Configure extension targets and Info.plist keys for Matter commissioning
Example prompts for the agent
- Show how to initialize HMHomeManager and wait for delegate callbacks
- Write Swift code to toggle an accessory power state using HMCharacteristic
- What Bonjour service names and capabilities are needed for a MatterSupport extension?
How to install homekit
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill homekit -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/homekit/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/homekit/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill homekit -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/homekit/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill homekit -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/homekit/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills homekit2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/homekit/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill homekit -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --path skills/homekitManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/homekit/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill homekit -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 homekit
How to install homekit in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill homekit -a claude-code.
What does the homekit skill do?
It gives the coding agent Swift guidelines for controlling smart-home accessories via HomeKit and onboarding devices with MatterSupport.
What configuration is required for commissioning Matter accessories?
Add a MatterSupport Extension target with a MatterAddDeviceExtensionRequestHandler subclass and include _matter._tcp, _matterc._udp, and _matterd._udp in NSBonjourServices.
