Handle Capacitor platform depth beyond UI: plugins, OTA, deep links, push, offline, native CI/CD, App Store / Play Store submission, Apple preflight, security scan, Cordova migration. Use for "add push notifications", "deep linking", "OTA update", "native build CI", "App Store rejection", "migrate to Capacitor".
Installation
Install with Codex or Claude Copy this prompt, paste it into Codex, Claude, or another assistant, and let it review the skill page and install it for you.
Handle Capacitor platform depth beyond UI: plugins, OTA, deep links, push, offline, native CI/CD, App Store / Play Store submission, Apple preflight, security scan, Cordova migration. Use for "add push notifications", "deep linking", "OTA update", "native build CI", "App Store rejection", "migrate to Capacitor".
Capacitor Platform & Pipeline
The native-runtime and shipping layer for Capacitor apps. enhance-capacitor-ui handles cross-surface layout architecture; this skill handles platform features, native builds, store submission, and migrations.
Distilled from cap-go/capgo-skills (48 skills, MIT). For deep per-task playbooks, install the full pack: npx skills add Cap-go/capgo-skills or claude plugin marketplace add Cap-go/capgo-skills.
Version discipline (do this first)
Read package.json: the Capacitor major (@capacitor/core) drives everything. Match plugin majors to it (Capacitor 8 โ plugin v8).
Check capacitor.config.ts for appId, webDir, server.url (live-reload vs bundled), and plugin config.
Confirm the target platforms present (ios/, android/) before suggesting platform-specific steps.
Pick the right area
Task
Approach
Choose a plugin
Prefer official @capacitor/*; for gaps check Capgo's 80+ plugin catalog. Verify the plugin major matches your Capacitor major and has active maintenance.
Deep / universal links
iOS Associated Domains + apple-app-site-association; Android intent filters + assetlinks.json. Handle cold-start vs warm via appUrlOpen listener. Test both install states.
Cache + queue writes; reconcile on reconnect. Use a real DB plugin (SQLite / Fast SQL), not localStorage, for structured data. Define the conflict-resolution rule explicitly.
Keyboard
@capacitor/keyboard โ resize mode, scroll-into-view on focus, accessory bar. The #1 source of "input hidden behind keyboard" bugs.
Safe area / notch
Use safe-area insets (env vars / plugin), not hardcoded padding. Account for notch, Dynamic Island, home indicator, Android gesture nav. (Pairs with enhance-capacitor-ui.)
Splash screen
Configure via plugin + native assets; hide programmatically after first paint to avoid white flash.
Shipping pipeline
Live / OTA updates (the Capacitor superpower)
Push JS/HTML/CSS instantly without store review (Capgo or equivalent). Native code changes still require a store build.
Gate updates by channel (production / beta), run compatibility checks, and keep a rollback path. Never OTA a bundle that assumes a newer native plugin than the installed binary.
Native build CI/CD
GitHub Actions / GitLab CI / Fastlane for signed iOS + Android artifacts. iOS signing needs certs + provisioning profiles in CI secrets (never commit *.keystore, *.p12, local.properties).
Standard chain: npm ci โ web build โ npx cap sync โ native build (xcodebuild / Gradle) โ sign โ upload (TestFlight / Play internal track).
For Linux/Windows devs: iOS builds run on macOS CI runners, not locally โ declare "ready for CI", never "iOS verified" locally.
Store submission
Apple preflight before every submit: privacy manifest (PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy), ATT prompt if tracking, permission usage strings, no private APIs, account-deletion path if there are accounts. Most rejections are preflightable.
Play Store: target API level current, data-safety form, 16KB page-size alignment for native libs.
Security
Run a Capacitor security scan (Capsec: npx capsec scan --ci) โ catches hardcoded secrets, insecure storage, network security, auth weaknesses. Wire into CI to fail on high/critical.
Migrations
From
To
Notes
Web app / PWA
Capacitor
npx cap init โ add platforms โ wire plugins for native bits โ store-ready.
Cordova / PhoneGap
Capacitor
Map plugins to Capacitor equivalents; many Cordova plugins still work but prefer native Capacitor ones.
CocoaPods
Swift Package Manager
iOS dependency migration; check each plugin supports SPM.
SQLite plugin
Fast SQL
Performance migration for data-heavy apps.
Definition of done (Capacitor)
Plugin majors match the Capacitor major; npx cap sync run after any native dep change.
Feature tested on a real device or emulator for both iOS and Android (or CI for iOS).
Permissions / entitlements / native config present for any native capability used.
Secrets are in CI/Keychain, never in the repo or the JS bundle.
If OTA: the bundle is compatible with the shipped native binary.
