Xcode Templates Explained - Speed Up iOS Development by Eliminating Boilerplate

January 12, 2026

While building production apps, efficiency rarely comes from writing less code. It comes from writing the same code fewer times.

This article explains how Xcode Templates can be used to automate repetitive setup, improve consistency, and significantly speed up everyday development. The ideas apply to any architecture or project style.

To ground the discussion, I’ll start with a real problem I encountered while working on my invocing app Reckord, and then walk through how Xcode File Templates became a practical solution.

The Problem I Faced While Building Reckord

Reckord is a production iOS app built with a strong emphasis on structure and consistency. The app follows The Composable Architecture (TCA), which encourages explicit, well-defined components.

This structure is powerful, but it comes with a tradeoff.

Every time I added a new screen or feature, I had to:

  • Create a new SwiftUI view
  • Create a corresponding reducer file
  • Add standard imports
  • Define state, actions, and reducer structure
  • Wire everything together correctly

None of this was difficult. But all of it was repetitive.

I found myself copying boilerplate code from an existing feature, pasting it into a new file, and carefully renaming types. Over time, this workflow started to slow me down and introduced small but avoidable risks—missed renames, leftover references, or minor inconsistencies.

The problem wasn’t TCA. The problem was manual repetition.

That’s when I decided to move this repetition into the tooling itself.

Why Xcode File Templates Are the Right Tool

Xcode already provides a mechanism to solve this exact problem: File Templates.

Instead of manually creating files and pasting code, Xcode File Templates allow you to:

  • Define a reusable file structure
  • Encode your project’s conventions
  • Automatically replace placeholders like file names
  • Generate ready-to-use files in seconds

In my case, I created:

  • A template for views
  • A template for reducers

From that point onward, adding a new feature in Reckord became a predictable, low-friction operation.

What Are Xcode Templates?

Xcode Templates are customizable file blueprints that appear in:

File → New → File…

A template can include:

  • One or more Swift files
  • Predefined imports
  • Standardized structure
  • Placeholder tokens replaced by Xcode

When you select a template and provide a name, Xcode generates the file exactly according to the template definition.

This allows Xcode to work with your workflow instead of against it.

Why This Matters Beyond Reckord

Although my motivation came from working with TCA, file templates are architecture-agnostic.

They are equally useful for:

  • SwiftUI views
  • Feature modules
  • View models or controllers
  • Test files
  • Design system components

Any time you notice repeated setup, file templates are worth considering.

How Xcode Templates Work

At a high level, a template consists of:

  • A .xctemplate directory
  • One or more template source files
  • A TemplateInfo.plist
  • Placeholder tokens such as ___FILEBASENAME___

Where Custom Templates Live

Custom templates are stored locally at:

~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Templates/

Each folder inside this directory becomes a category in Xcode.

NOTE: If you do not find Templates directory then create by your self.

Example: Creating Templates for the Reckord Workflow

To support my workflow, I created a dedicated template group:

Templates/
└── The Composable Architecture(TCA)
    ├── TCAView.xctemplate
    └── TCAReducer.xctemplate

This keeps arcitecture-specific templates organized and easy to find.

TCAView Template

Inside The Composable Architecture(TCA) folder, I added a template folder named: TCAView.xctemplate. It contain two files: ___FILEBASENAME___.swift and TemplateInfo.plist

TIP: Xcode already ships with well-structured, production-ready templates that can be reused as a foundation. A practical approach is to copy the existing Swift file template provided by Xcode and customize it for your own needs. The standard Swift file template is located at: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Library/Xcode/Templates/File Templates/MultiPlatform/Source/Swift File.xctemplate

Contains of ___FILEBASENAME___.swift file:

//___FILEHEADER___

import SwiftUI
import ComposableArchitecture

struct ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___: View {
    @Bindable var store: StoreOf<___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___Domain>
    
    var body: some View {
        Text("___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___")
    }
}

#Preview {
    ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___(
        store: Store(
            initialState: ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___Domain.State(),
            reducer: {
                ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___Domain()
            }
        )
    )
}

Contains of TemplateInfo.plist file:

<?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 TCA View with Preview</string>
	<key>Summary</key>
	<string>TCA View</string>
	<key>SortOrder</key>
	<string>1</string>
	<key>Image</key>
	<dict>
		<key>FileTypeIcon</key>
		<string>swift</string>
	</dict>
	<key>AllowedTypes</key>
	<array>
		<string>public.swift-source</string>
	</array>
	<key>Platforms</key>
	<array/>
	<key>DefaultCompletionName</key>
	<string>TCAView</string>
	<key>MainTemplateFile</key>
	<string>___FILEBASENAME___.swift</string>
	<key>Options</key>
	<array>
		<dict>
			<key>NotPersisted</key>
			<true/>
			<key>Type</key>
			<string>text</string>
			<key>Description</key>
			<string>The name of the view to create</string>
			<key>Name</key>
			<string>Name of View:</string>
			<key>Required</key>
			<true/>
			<key>Identifier</key>
			<string>productName</string>
		</dict>
	</array>
</dict>
</plist>

TCAReducer Template

Similarly, the TCAReducer.xctemplate contains a predefined structure.

Contains of ___FILEBASENAME___.swift file:

//___FILEHEADER___

import ComposableArchitecture

@Reducer
struct ___FILEBASENAMEASIDENTIFIER___ {
    @ObservableState
    struct State: Equatable {
    }
    
    enum Action: Equatable {
    }
    
    var body: some Reducer<State, Action> {
        Reduce { state, action in
            switch action {
            }
        }
    }
}

Contains of TemplateInfo.plist file:

<?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 TCA View Reducer</string>
	<key>Summary</key>
	<string>TCA View Reducer</string>
	<key>SortOrder</key>
	<string>1</string>
	<key>Image</key>
	<dict>
		<key>FileTypeIcon</key>
		<string>swift</string>
	</dict>
	<key>AllowedTypes</key>
	<array>
		<string>public.swift-source</string>
	</array>
	<key>Platforms</key>
	<array/>
	<key>DefaultCompletionName</key>
	<string>TCAView</string>
	<key>MainTemplateFile</key>
	<string>___FILEBASENAME___.swift</string>
	<key>Options</key>
	<array>
		<dict>
			<key>NotPersisted</key>
			<true/>
			<key>Type</key>
			<string>text</string>
			<key>Description</key>
			<string>The name of the reducer to create</string>
			<key>Name</key>
			<string>Name of Reducer:</string>
			<key>Required</key>
			<true/>
			<key>Identifier</key>
			<string>productName</string>
		</dict>
	</array>
</dict>
</plist>

All boilerplate is generated automatically, leaving only feature-specific logic to implement. After creating or updating templates, restarting Xcode is required.

Output: Using the Templates in Xcode

Once Xcode restarts:

  • Select New File
  • Choose the template
  • Enter a name
  • Xcode generates the file instantly

No copy-paste. No cleanup.

Benefits Observed in Practice

  • Faster Feature Creation - New screens are scaffolded in seconds.
  • Consistent Structure - Every file follows the same conventions.
  • Reduced Errors - No leftover identifiers or missed renames.
  • Better Focus - Time is spent on behavior, not setup.
  • Scales With the Project - Templates grow alongside the codebase.

Best Practices

  • Keep templates focused and minimal
  • Avoid embedding feature-specific logic
  • Revisit templates as conventions evolve
  • Treat templates as part of your tooling
  • Share templates with the team when possible

Conclusion

Xcode Templates are a small investment with long-term impact.

By moving repetitive setup into Xcode itself, you:

  • Improve development speed
  • Enforce consistency
  • Reduce mental overhead
  • Create a smoother daily workflow

For me, solving this problem while building Reckord made templates an essential part of my development environment—and once set up, they quietly pay dividends every day.

Thank you for reading. If you have any questions feel free to follow me on X and send me a DM. If you enjoyed this article and would like to support me, Buy me a coffee.