# iOS AI Setup

You are here: [AI Docs Home](index.md) > iOS Setup

## Setup Path A: Xcode + GitHub Copilot for Xcode
### Prerequisites
- Xcode installed and up to date.
- GitHub account with Copilot Enterprise access.

### Install and Sign In (High-Level)
1. Install the GitHub Copilot for Xcode plugin.
2. Sign in with your GitHub account.
3. Confirm Copilot is enabled in Xcode.
4. Run a simple prompt to verify suggestions appear.

### Example Prompt (Xcode)
Type this in a Swift file comment, then wait for a suggestion:

Example prompt:
```text
// Create a function that validates an email string.
```

### Verification Steps
- Open a Swift file and start a small function.
- Confirm inline suggestions appear.
- Open the Copilot chat panel and ask a short question.

## Setup Path B: VS Code + GitHub Copilot Extension
### When to Use VS Code on iOS
- Editing shared docs or configs.
- Rapid refactors or explorations.
- Working on multi-platform files.

### Install and Sign In (High-Level)
1. Install VS Code and the GitHub Copilot extension.
2. Sign in with your GitHub account.
3. Confirm Copilot is enabled in VS Code.
4. Run a simple prompt to verify suggestions appear.

### Example Prompt (VS Code)
Open a Swift file and add:

Example prompt:
```text
// Create a Swift struct for a user profile with name and email.
```

### Verification Steps
- Open a Swift file and type a short function signature.
- Confirm inline suggestions appear.
- Open Copilot Chat and request a short summary.

## iOS-Specific Guidance
- Ask for Swift/SwiftUI patterns with small, bounded tasks.
- Request tests or sample usages for view models.
- Favor refactor or patch requests over full rewrites.

### Example Request
Example prompt:
```text
Refactor this SwiftUI view to reduce duplication. Do not change behavior. Provide a short diff summary.
```

### Starter Prompts
Example prompts:
```text
Create a SwiftUI view model for this screen and list its inputs and outputs.
Write unit tests for this view model using XCTest.
Refactor this view to reduce duplication without changing behavior.
```

## MCP For iOS
The detailed MCP setup and XcodeBuildMCP guidance is in a dedicated page:

- [XcodeBuildMCP (iOS)](ios-xcodebuildmcp.md)

## iOS Troubleshooting
- If suggestions are missing, confirm sign-in and access.
- If the plugin is not visible, verify extension compatibility.
- If responses are blocked, check network or policy constraints.

### Common Setup Gaps
- Copilot access not provisioned for the GitHub account.
- Xcode plugin disabled after update.
- Multiple AI plugins competing for suggestions.

## Next Steps
- For workflow patterns, read [Cross-Platform AI Usage](cross-platform.md).
- For MCP automation, read [XcodeBuildMCP (iOS)](ios-xcodebuildmcp.md).
- For safety rules, read [Governance, Privacy, and Policy](governance.md).