Axiom axiom-networking

Use when implementing or debugging ANY network connection, API call, or socket. Covers URLSession, Network.framework, NetworkConnection, connection diagnostics.

install

source · Clone the upstream repo

git clone https://github.com/CharlesWiltgen/Axiom

Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/

T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/CharlesWiltgen/Axiom "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/.claude-plugin/plugins/axiom/skills/axiom-networking" ~/.claude/skills/charleswiltgen-axiom-axiom-networking && rm -rf "$T"

manifest: .claude-plugin/plugins/axiom/skills/axiom-networking/SKILL.md

source content

Networking

You MUST use this skill for ANY networking work including HTTP requests, WebSockets, TCP connections, or network debugging.

Quick Reference

Symptom / Task	Reference
URLSession with structured concurrency	See `skills/networking-discipline.md`
Network.framework anti-patterns	See `skills/networking-discipline.md`
Deprecated API migration	See `skills/networking-discipline.md`
Pressure scenarios (reachability, sockets)	See `skills/networking-discipline.md`
NetworkConnection (iOS 26+) API reference	See `skills/network-framework-ref.md`
NWConnection (iOS 12-25) API reference	See `skills/network-framework-ref.md`
TLV framing, Coder protocol	See `skills/network-framework-ref.md`
NetworkListener, NetworkBrowser, Wi-Fi Aware	See `skills/network-framework-ref.md`
Connection timeouts, TLS failures	See `skills/networking-diag.md`
Data not arriving, connection drops	See `skills/networking-diag.md`
ATS / HTTP / App Store rejection	See `skills/networking-diag.md`
Production crisis diagnosis	See `skills/networking-diag.md`
NWConnection patterns (iOS 12-25)	See `skills/networking-legacy.md`
UDP batch, NWListener, NWBrowser	See `skills/networking-legacy.md`
BSD sockets → NWConnection migration	See `skills/networking-migration.md`
NWConnection → NetworkConnection migration	See `skills/networking-migration.md`
URLSession StreamTask → NetworkConnection	See `skills/networking-migration.md`

Decision Tree

digraph networking {
    start [label="Networking task" shape=ellipse];
    what [label="What do you need?" shape=diamond];

    start -> what;
    what -> "skills/networking-discipline.md" [label="implement patterns,\nanti-patterns,\npressure scenarios"];
    what -> "skills/network-framework-ref.md" [label="API reference\n(iOS 26+ or 12-25)"];
    what -> "skills/networking-diag.md" [label="debug connection\nfailures"];
    what -> "skills/networking-legacy.md" [label="iOS 12-25\nNWConnection patterns"];
    what -> "skills/networking-migration.md" [label="migrate from\nsockets/URLSession"];
}

URLSession with structured concurrency? →
```
skills/networking-discipline.md
```
Network.framework / NetworkConnection (iOS 26+)? →
```
skills/network-framework-ref.md
```
NWConnection (iOS 12-25)? →
```
skills/networking-legacy.md
```
Migrating from sockets/URLSession? →
```
skills/networking-migration.md
```
Connection issues / debugging? →
```
skills/networking-diag.md
```
ATS / HTTP / App Store rejection for networking? →
```
skills/networking-diag.md
```
+ networking-auditor
Certificate pinning, signing API requests, encrypting payloads? →
```
/skill axiom-security
```
UIWebView or deprecated API rejection? → networking-auditor (Agent)
Want deprecated API / anti-pattern scan? → networking-auditor (Agent)

Platform-specific networking

watchOS low-level-networking limits (TN3135) → See axiom-watchos (skills/background-and-networking.md)

Pressure Resistance

When user has invested significant time in custom implementation:

Do NOT capitulate to sunk cost pressure. The correct approach is:

Diagnose first — Understand what's actually failing before recommending changes
Recommend correctly — If standard APIs (URLSession, Network.framework) would solve the problem, say so professionally
Respect but don't enable — Acknowledge their work while providing honest technical guidance

Critical Patterns

Networking (

skills/networking-discipline.md

URLSession with structured concurrency
8 red-flag anti-patterns (SCNetworkReachability, blocking sockets, hardcoded IPs)
Decision tree for choosing TCP/UDP/TLS patterns
NetworkConnection patterns (iOS 26+): TLS, UDP, TLV framing, Coder protocol
3 pressure scenarios with professional push-back templates
Pre-shipping checklist

Network Framework Reference (

skills/network-framework-ref.md

NetworkConnection (iOS 26+): all 12 WWDC 2025 examples
NWConnection (iOS 12-25): complete API with examples
TLV framing, Coder protocol, NetworkListener, NetworkBrowser
Mobility: viability, better path, Multipath TCP, NWPathMonitor
Security: TLS, certificate pinning, cipher suites
Performance: user-space networking, ECN, service class, TCP Fast Open

Diagnostics (

skills/networking-diag.md

Systematic decision tree for all connection failure types
DNS failures, TLS certificate validation, message framing
TCP congestion, IPv6-only cellular, VPN interference, ATS
Production crisis scenario with professional communication templates

Legacy (

skills/networking-legacy.md

NWConnection with TLS (completion handlers)
UDP batch (30% CPU reduction)
NWListener, NWBrowser (Bonjour discovery)

Automated Scanning

Networking audit → Launch

networking-auditor

agent or

/axiom:audit networking

(deprecated APIs, anti-patterns, and completeness gaps — transition handling, TLS coverage, connection cleanup, framework selection)

Anti-Rationalization

Thought	Reality
"URLSession is simple, I don't need a skill"	URLSession with structured concurrency has async/cancellation patterns. `skills/networking-discipline.md` covers them.
"I'll debug the connection timeout myself"	Connection failures have 8 causes (DNS, TLS, proxy, cellular). `skills/networking-diag.md` diagnoses systematically.
"I just need a basic HTTP request"	Even basic requests need error handling, retry, and cancellation patterns.
"My custom networking layer works fine"	Custom layers miss cellular/proxy edge cases. Standard APIs handle them automatically.

Example Invocations

User: "My API request is failing with a timeout" → Read:

skills/networking-diag.md

User: "How do I use URLSession with async/await?" → Read:

skills/networking-discipline.md

User: "I need to implement a TCP connection" → Read:

skills/network-framework-ref.md

User: "Should I use NWConnection or NetworkConnection?" → Read:

skills/network-framework-ref.md

User: "My app was rejected for using HTTP connections" → Read:

skills/networking-diag.md

(ATS compliance)

User: "App Store says I'm using UIWebView" → Invoke:

networking-auditor

agent (deprecated API scan)

User: "Check my networking code for deprecated APIs" → Invoke:

networking-auditor

agent