Capacitor App Development

General guidance for developing cross-platform apps with Capacitor, covering core concepts, CLI usage, app configuration, platform management, and troubleshooting.

Prerequisites

1. Capacitor 6, 7, or 8 app already created and initialized.
2. Node.js and npm installed (Node 18+ for Cap 6, Node 20+ for Cap 7, Node 22+ for Cap 8).
3. For Android: Android Studio installed.
4. For iOS: Xcode installed on macOS.

Agent Behavior

• Auto-detect before asking. Inspect the project for platforms (android/, ios/), framework (vite.config.ts, angular.json, webpack.config.js, next.config.js), Capacitor version (@capacitor/core in package.json), and iOS dependency manager (ios/App/Podfile for CocoaPods vs. SPM).
• Route to the right reference file. Use the topic index below to identify the correct reference file and read it before providing guidance.
• One topic at a time. Address the user's specific question. Do not provide a general overview unless explicitly requested.
• Prefer actionable instructions. Provide exact file paths, commands, and diff blocks rather than conceptual explanations.

Procedures

Step 1: Identify the Topic

Match the user's request to a topic from the index below. If the request spans multiple topics, address them sequentially.

If the request matches a topic covered by a different skill, redirect the user to that skill (see Related Skills at the bottom).

Step 2: Analyze the Project

Auto-detect the following by reading project files:

1. Capacitor version: Read @capacitor/core version from package.json.
2. Platforms: Check which directories exist (android/, ios/).
3. Framework: Check for build tool config files.
4. Capacitor config format: Check for capacitor.config.ts or capacitor.config.json.
5. iOS dependency manager: Check for ios/App/Podfile (CocoaPods) or SPM usage.

Step 3: Read the Reference File and Apply Guidance

Read the reference file for the matched topic and apply the instructions to the user's project.

Topic Index

Error Handling

• npx cap sync fails: Verify @capacitor/core and @capacitor/cli versions match. On iOS with CocoaPods, run cd ios/App && pod install. On Android, sync Gradle files in Android Studio.
• Android build fails after configuration changes: Clean the build with cd android && ./gradlew clean, then rebuild.
• iOS build fails after configuration changes: Clean the build folder in Xcode (Product > Clean Build Folder) or delete ios/App/Pods and run cd ios/App && pod install.
• Plugin not found at runtime: Run npx cap sync after any plugin installation. Verify the plugin appears in capacitor.config or the native project.
• Live reload not connecting: Verify the device and development machine are on the same network. Check that the server URL in capacitor.config uses the correct LAN IP address.
• Deep links not working: Verify the site association file is accessible at https:///.well-known/apple-app-site-association (iOS) or https:///.well-known/assetlinks.json (Android). Verify the app is signed with the correct certificate.

Related Skills

• capacitor-app-creation — Create a new Capacitor app.
• capacitor-angular — Angular-specific Capacitor development.
• capacitor-react — React-specific Capacitor development.
• capacitor-vue — Vue-specific Capacitor development.
• capacitor-plugins — Install and configure Capacitor plugins.
• capacitor-plugin-development — Create custom Capacitor plugins.
• capacitor-app-upgrades — Upgrade Capacitor to a newer major version.
• capacitor-in-app-purchases — Set up in-app purchases.
• capawesome-cloud — Cloud builds, live updates, and app store publishing.