# Scenekit

Maintain and extend existing SceneKit 3D scenes and visualizations.

- Repository: https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills (1266 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-07-31
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill scenekit -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill scenekit -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill scenekit -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill scenekit -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills`

## Description

Maintain and extend existing SceneKit 3D scenes and visualizations. Use when working with SCNView, SCNScene, SCNNode scene graphs, SceneKit geometry/materials/lights/cameras, SCNAction animation, SCNPhysicsBody physics, SCNParticleSystem effects, .scn/.dae/.abc SceneKit assets, shader modifiers, or SwiftUI SceneView. SceneKit is soft-deprecated and in maintenance mode; route new apps, significant updates, USD/USDZ pipelines, and migration planning toward RealityKit.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# SceneKit

Maintain existing SceneKit scenes only. Apple deprecated SceneKit at WWDC 2025 and limits it to maintenance; route new projects, major modernization, and USD/USDZ pipelines to RealityKit. Existing apps continue to work.

## Contents

- [Scene Setup](#scene-setup)
- [Nodes and Geometry](#nodes-and-geometry)
- [Materials](#materials)
- [Lighting](#lighting)
- [Cameras](#cameras)
- [Animation](#animation)
- [Physics](#physics)
- [Particle Systems](#particle-systems)
- [Loading Models](#loading-models)
- [SwiftUI Integration](#swiftui-integration)
- [Common Mistakes](#common-mistakes)
- [Review Checklist](#review-checklist)
- [References](#references)

## Scene Setup

### SCNView in UIKit

```swift
import SceneKit

let sceneView = SCNView(frame: view.bounds)
sceneView.scene = SCNScene()
sceneView.allowsCameraControl = true
sceneView.autoenablesDefaultLighting = true
sceneView.backgroundColor = .black
view.addSubview(sceneView)
```

`allowsCameraControl` adds built-in orbit, pan, and zoom gestures. Typically
disabled in production where custom camera control is needed.

### Creating an SCNScene

```swift
let scene = SCNScene()                                          // Empty
guard let scene = SCNScene(named: "art.scnassets/ship.scn")     // .scn in .scnassets
    else { fatalError("Missing scene asset") }
let url = Bundle.main.url(forResource: "ship", withExtension: "dae")!
let scene = try SCNScene(url: url, options: [.checkConsistency: true])
```

## Nodes and Geometry

Every scene has a `rootNode`. All content exists as descendant nodes. Nodes
define position, orientation, and scale in their parent's coordinate system.
SceneKit uses a right-handed coordinate system: +X right, +Y up, +Z toward
the camera.

```swift
let parentNode = SCNNode()
scene.rootNode.addChildNode(parentNode)

let childNode = SCNNode()
childNode.position = SCNVector3(0, 1, 0)  // 1 unit above parent
parentNode.addChildNode(childNode)
```

### Transforms

The rest: https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/scenekit/SKILL.md