Generate code

AppCode provides multiple ways to generate common code constructs and recurring elements, which helps you increase productivity. These can be either file templates used when creating a new file, custom or predefined live templates that are applied differently based on the context, various wrappers, or automatic pairing of characters.

Additionally, AppCode provides code completion and Emmet support.

Generate initializers

AppCode allows you to generate initializers for your classes or actors and select initialization parameters.

Generate an initializer for a class

On the Code menu, click Generate Alt+Insert.
In the Generate popup, click Initializer for Swift or initWith for Objective-C for Kotlin.
If the class contains fields, select the fields to be initialized and click OK.

The following code fragment shows the result of generating an initializer for a class:

                    class Product {
                        var name = ""
                        var price = 0

                        init(name: String, price: Int) {
                            self.name = name
                            self.price = price
                        }
                    }
                

                    @implementation Product

                    - (instancetype)initWithPrice:(int)price name:(NSString *)name {
                        self = [super init];
                        if (self) {
                            self.price = price;
                            self.name = name;
                        }
                        return self;
                    }
                    @end
                

Generate code for description and debugDescription

From the Generate menu, you can add code for the description and debugDescription properties. With the caret placed inside the class you want to add these properties to, press Alt+Insert and select description or debugDescription. In the dialog that opens, select properties that should be added to the description. In the Template field, select how the property implementation should look like:

Generate code for isEqual and hash

AppCode can generate overrides for standard equals and hash methods.

Generate equals and hash for a class

From the Code menu, click Generate Alt+Insert.
In the Generate popup, click equals and hashValue (for Swift) or -isEqual: and -hash (for Objective-C) .
Select a velocity template from the Template list.
Click Next.
Select the fields that should be used to determine equality, and click Next.
Select the fields to use for calculating the hash code value. You can choose only from fields that were selected on the previous step (for determining equality). Click Next.

Here is an example of the generated code:

    override var hash: Int {
        return 0
    }

    override func isEqual(_ object: Any?) -> Bool {
        guard let object = object as? ViewController else {
            return false
        }
        if self === object {
            return true
        }
        if type(of: self) != type(of: object) {
            return false
        }

        return true
    }
                

- (BOOL)isEqual:(id)other {
    if (other == self)
        return YES;
    if (!other || ![[other class] isEqual:[self class]])
        return NO;

    return [self isEqualToController:other];
}

- (BOOL)isEqualToController:(ViewController *)controller {
    if (self == controller)
        return YES;
    if (controller == nil)
        return NO;
    return YES;
}

- (NSUInteger)hash {
    return [super hash];
}
                

Override methods of a superclass

You can override any method of a parent class by generating the corresponding method stub in a child class.

Perform the following steps to do this:

Place a caret inside a child class and do one of the following:
- On the Code menu, click Override methods (Ctrl+O).
- On the Code menu, click Generate (Alt+Insert) and select Override methods.
Choose the desired method in the opened dialog.
Implement the created method.

Implement methods of an interface or an abstract class

If a class is declared as implementing an interface or an abstract class, it has to implement the methods of the parent class or the base interface. AppCode creates stubs for implemented methods.

Select Generate from the context menu of a class Alt+Insert and select Implement Methods from the popup or just press Ctrl+I.
In the dialog that opens, select the methods to implement and click OK.

Generate methods and properties from their usages

You can generate an empty stub for a property that you want to use but have not yet defined.

To do this, perform the following steps:

Type a name that references a non-existent property. AppCode highlights the reference.
Press Alt+Enter, choose the Create property '<name>' from the suggestion list, and press Enter.

Generate code with live templates

AppCode provides a number of predefined live templates for many common code constructs. You can also define custom templates to cover use cases specific to your workflow.

You can create code constructs by inserting and expanding live templates as well as wrap fragments of code using surround templates.

Insert a live template

Place the caret at the place where you want the template to expand.
Type the template abbreviation and press the invocation key (Tab by default).
Alternatively, to use code completion, press Ctrl+J or select Insert Live Template from the context menu and select the required template from the suggestion list. To view Quick Documentation for the selected suggestion, press Ctrl+Q.
If the selected template requires user input, the first input field is marked with a red frame. Type your value in this frame and press Enter or Tab to complete input and pass to the next input field. After completing the last input field, the caret moves to the end of the construct, and the editor returns to the regular mode of operation.

Surround a code fragment with a live template

In the editor, select the piece of code to wrap and press Ctrl+Alt+J or select Surround with Live Template from the context menu or the selection.
In the suggestion list, select the desired template.

View the list of available live templates

Press Ctrl+Alt+S to open the IDE settings and select Editor | Live Templates.
The Live Templates page that opens, shows all the configured live templates grouped by languages. For more information, see Create live templates.

Surround with code

AppCode provides standard templates for surrounding code fragments with various constructs based on the language of the source code. For example, you can wrap your code into the if … end or unless … end conditional statements.

To surround a block of code:

Select the desired code fragment.
On the Code menu, click Surround With (Ctrl+Alt+T).
Select the necessary surround statement from the list and press Enter.

Complete paired elements

AppCode can automatically add various closing elements to your code, for example, brackets, quotes, XML and HTML tags.

To enable or disable whether to add closing elements, open the Preferences dialog Ctrl+Alt+S, click General under Editor, and then Smart Keys. For example, you can use the following options:

Insert pair brackets
Insert pair quote

Unwrap and remove statements

AppCode lets you quickly unwrap or extract expressions from enclosing statements.

To unwrap or remove a statement:

Place the caret at the expression you want to extract or unwrap.
Choose Code | Unwrap/Remove from the main menu or press Ctrl+Shift+Delete. AppCode shows a popup with all the actions that are available in the current context.
Click the desired action and press Enter.

Last modified: 01 December 2022