Axiom Deep Link Debugging

2. "I want to take screenshots of different screens automatically"

→ Create debug deep links for each screen, callable from simulator

3. "Automated testing needs to set up specific app states"

→ Add debug links that navigate AND configure state

Red Flags — When You Need Debug Deep Links

If you're experiencing ANY of these, add debug deep links:

Testing friction:

• ❌ "I have to manually tap through 5 screens to test this feature"
• ❌ "Screenshot capture can't show the screen I need to debug"
• ❌ "Automated tests can't reach the error state without complex setup"

Debugging inefficiency:

• ❌ "I make a fix, rebuild, manually navigate, check — takes 3 minutes per iteration"
• ❌ "Can't visually verify fixes because Claude Code can't navigate there"

Solution: Add debug deep links that let you (and Claude Code) jump directly to any screen with any state configuration.

Implementation

Pattern 1: Basic Debug URL Scheme (SwiftUI)

Add a debug-only URL scheme that routes to screens.

import SwiftUI

struct MyApp: App {
    var body: some Scene {
        WindowGroup {
            ContentView()
                #if DEBUG
                .onOpenURL { url in
                    handleDebugURL(url)
                }
                #endif
        }
    }

    #if DEBUG
    private func handleDebugURL(_ url: URL) {
        guard url.scheme == "debug" else { return }

        // Route based on host
        switch url.host {
        case "settings":
            // Navigate to settings
            NotificationCenter.default.post(
                name: .navigateToSettings,
                object: nil
            )

        case "profile":
            // Navigate to profile
            let userID = url.queryItems?["id"] ?? "current"
            NotificationCenter.default.post(
                name: .navigateToProfile,
                object: userID
            )

        case "reset":
            // Reset app to initial state
            resetApp()

        default:
            print("⚠️ Unknown debug URL: \(url)")
        }
    }
    #endif
}

#if DEBUG
extension Notification.Name {
    static let navigateToSettings = Notification.Name("navigateToSettings")
    static let navigateToProfile = Notification.Name("navigateToProfile")
}

extension URL {
    var queryItems: [String: String]? {
        guard let components = URLComponents(url: self, resolvingAgainstBaseURL: false),
              let items = components.queryItems else {
            return nil
        }
        return Dictionary(uniqueKeysWithValues: items.map { ($0.name, $0.value ?? "") })
    }
}
#endif

Usage:

# From simulator
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://settings"
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://profile?id=123"
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://reset"

Pattern 2: NavigationPath Integration (iOS 16+)

Integrate debug deep links with NavigationStack for robust navigation.

import SwiftUI

@MainActor
class DebugRouter: ObservableObject {
    @Published var path = NavigationPath()

    #if DEBUG
    func handleDebugURL(_ url: URL) {
        guard url.scheme == "debug" else { return }

        switch url.host {
        case "settings":
            path.append(Destination.settings)

        case "recipe":
            if let id = url.queryItems?["id"], let recipeID = Int(id) {
                path.append(Destination.recipe(id: recipeID))
            }

        case "recipe-edit":
            if let id = url.queryItems?["id"], let recipeID = Int(id) {
                // Navigate to recipe, then to edit
                path.append(Destination.recipe(id: recipeID))
                path.append(Destination.recipeEdit(id: recipeID))
            }

        case "reset":
            path = NavigationPath() // Pop to root

        default:
            print("⚠️ Unknown debug URL: \(url)")
        }
    }
    #endif
}

struct ContentView: View {
    @StateObject private var router = DebugRouter()

    var body: some View {
        NavigationStack(path: $router.path) {
            HomeView()
                .navigationDestination(for: Destination.self) { destination in
                    destinationView(for: destination)
                }
        }
        #if DEBUG
        .onOpenURL { url in
            router.handleDebugURL(url)
        }
        #endif
    }

    @ViewBuilder
    private func destinationView(for destination: Destination) -> some View {
        switch destination {
        case .settings:
            SettingsView()
        case .recipe(let id):
            RecipeDetailView(recipeID: id)
        case .recipeEdit(let id):
            RecipeEditView(recipeID: id)
        }
    }
}

enum Destination: Hashable {
    case settings
    case recipe(id: Int)
    case recipeEdit(id: Int)
}

Usage:

# Navigate to settings
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://settings"

# Navigate to recipe #42
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://recipe?id=42"

# Navigate to recipe #42 edit screen
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://recipe-edit?id=42"

# Pop to root
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://reset"

Pattern 3: State Configuration Links

Debug links that both navigate AND configure state.

#if DEBUG
extension DebugRouter {
    func handleDebugURL(_ url: URL) {
        guard url.scheme == "debug" else { return }

        switch url.host {
        case "login":
            // Show login screen
            path.append(Destination.login)

        case "login-error":
            // Show login screen WITH error state
            path.append(Destination.login)
            // Trigger error state
            NotificationCenter.default.post(
                name: .showLoginError,
                object: "Invalid credentials"
            )

        case "recipe-empty":
            // Show recipe list in empty state
            UserDefaults.standard.set(true, forKey: "debug_emptyRecipeList")
            path.append(Destination.recipes)

        case "recipe-error":
            // Show recipe list with network error
            UserDefaults.standard.set(true, forKey: "debug_networkError")
            path.append(Destination.recipes)

        default:
            print("⚠️ Unknown debug URL: \(url)")
        }
    }
}
#endif

Usage:

# Test login error state
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://login-error"

# Test empty recipe list
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://recipe-empty"

# Test network error handling
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://recipe-error"

Pattern 4: Info.plist Configuration (DEBUG only)

Register the debug URL scheme ONLY in debug builds.

Step 1: Add scheme to Info.plist

<key>CFBundleURLTypes</key>
<array>
    <dict>
        <key>CFBundleURLSchemes</key>
        <array>
            <string>debug</string>
        </array>
        <key>CFBundleURLName</key>
        <string>com.example.debug</string>
    </dict>
</array>

Step 2: Strip from release builds

Add a Run Script phase to your target's Build Phases (runs BEFORE "Copy Bundle Resources"):

# Strip debug URL scheme from Release builds
if [ "${CONFIGURATION}" = "Release" ]; then
    echo "Removing debug URL scheme from Info.plist"

    /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Delete :CFBundleURLTypes:0" "${BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR}/${INFOPLIST_PATH}" 2>/dev/null || true
fi

Alternative: Use separate Info.plist files for Debug vs Release configurations in Build Settings.

Integration with Simulator Testing

With /axiom:screenshot Command

# 1. Navigate to screen
xcrun simctl openurl booted "debug://settings"

# 2. Wait for navigation
sleep 1

# 3. Capture screenshot
/axiom:screenshot

With simulator-tester Agent

Simply tell the agent:

• "Navigate to Settings and take a screenshot"
• "Open the recipe editor and verify the layout"
• "Go to the error state and show me what it looks like"

The agent will use your debug deep links to navigate.

Mandatory First Steps

ALWAYS complete these steps before adding debug deep links:

Step 1: Define Navigation Needs

List all screens you need to reach for testing:

- Settings screen
- Profile screen (with specific user ID)
- Recipe detail (with specific recipe ID)
- Error states (login error, network error, etc.)
- Empty states (no recipes, no favorites)

Step 2: Choose URL Scheme Pattern