XIP Writing Reference

XIP Writing Skill

This skill is the writing reference for XerahS Improvement Proposals (XIPs) that are actionable, well-structured, and aligned with project architecture.

Workflow: GitHub is the source of truth for XIPs; docs/proposals/xip/ is a generated backup. Use this file for structure and writing rules. Use sync-xips for create/edit/sync workflows.

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What is a XIP?

A XIP (XerahS Improvement Proposal) is a design document that:

• Describes a new feature, enhancement, or architectural change
• Provides implementation guidance for developers
• Serves as the single source of truth for the feature scope
• Links to a GitHub issue for tracking

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XIP Structure

Header Template

# XIP0001 Short Descriptive Title

**Status**: Draft | In Review | Ready for Implementation | In Progress | Completed  
**Created**: YYYY-MM-DD  
**Updated**: YYYY-MM-DD  
**Area**: Desktop | Mobile | Core | Uploaders | UI | Architecture  
**Goal**: One-sentence description of what this achieves.

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Naming Convention

Format: XIPXXXX Description

• XIP number padded with leading zeros (4 digits)
• Single space between number and description
• NO square brackets [ ]
• NO colon after XIP number
• NO hyphen/dash between number and description

This format applies to:

• Local backup file names: docs/proposals/xip/XIP0030-mobile-share-feature.md
• GitHub issue titles: XIP0030 Mobile Share Feature
• Headers inside XIP files: # XIP0030 Mobile Share Feature

Required Sections

1. Overview

• What problem does this solve?
• Why is this approach chosen?
• Key principles (reuse, no duplication, platform neutrality, etc.)
• Keep it concise - 2-4 paragraphs maximum

2. Prerequisites (if any)

• SDK versions
• Platform requirements
• Dependencies to install

3. Implementation Phases

Break into logical phases. Each phase should:

• Have a clear objective
• Include code examples where helpful
• Reference existing patterns to follow
• List specific files to create/modify

Example Phase Structure:

### Phase N: Phase Name

Description of what this phase accomplishes.

**Key Files:**
- `src/XerahS.Core/Services/NewService.cs`

**Code Example:**
```csharp
// Include representative code

Rules:

• Specific constraints for this phase
• What NOT to do

#### 4. Non-Negotiable Rules

Explicit constraints that must be followed:
- Do not create duplicate upload pipelines
- Do not call providers directly from platform code
- Do not duplicate TaskSettings cloning logic
- Platform-specific code stays in platform folders
- etc.

#### 5. Deliverables

Numbered list of concrete outputs:
1. New service in XerahS.Core
2. Settings additions
3. Platform implementations
4. UI components
5. Documentation

#### 6. Affected Components

List of projects/files that will change:
- XerahS.Core: Specific classes
- XerahS.App: Platform entry points
- XerahS.Uploaders: Provider changes (if any)
- etc.

#### 7. Architecture Summary (recommended)

ASCII diagram showing data flow:

Component A ↓ Component B ← XerahS.Core ↓ Component C

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## Writing Principles

### 1. Reuse Existing Infrastructure

**Before writing new code, study:**
- WatchFolderManager pattern for file handling
- TaskManager.StartFileTask for upload triggering
- TaskSettings.Clone for settings handling
- UploaderProviderBase for provider patterns
- TaskHelpers for file naming/storage

**Golden Rule:** If XerahS already does something similar, reuse that pattern.

### 2. Platform Neutrality

- Core logic goes in `XerahS.Core` or `XerahS.Common`
- Platform-specific code stays in `Platforms/` folders
- Use abstractions (interfaces) to bridge platform and core
- Core services must not know about Android, iOS, or Avalonia views

### 3. No Duplicate Logic

Explicitly forbid:
- Parallel upload pipelines
- Copy-pasted file handling code
- Reimplemented file naming logic
- Duplicated settings cloning
- Direct provider calls from platform code

### 4. Privacy and Security First

- Prefer explicit user action over automatic monitoring
- Request permissions only when necessary
- Use platform secure storage for credentials
- Document privacy implications

### 5. Clear Separation of Concerns

| Layer | Responsibility |
|-------|---------------|
| Platform Heads | Receive platform data, convert to local files |
| Core Services | Process files, invoke TaskManager |
| TaskManager | Coordinate upload jobs |
| Providers | Execute actual uploads |
| UI | Display results, user interaction |

### 6. Avalonia-Specific Accuracy for UI XIPs

When a XIP touches Avalonia `.axaml` bindings, write rules using Avalonia semantics (not WPF assumptions):

- Treat `#ElementName.Property` as Avalonia binding syntax used by `Binding`/compiled binding paths.
- Do **not** prescribe `{ReflectionBinding #ElementName.Property}`.
- If dynamic reflection binding is truly required, keep it explicit and avoid `#ElementName` path segments.

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## XIP Evolution Process

XIPs often evolve during review. Document significant changes:

```markdown
## Evolution History

| Date | Change | Rationale |
|------|--------|-----------|
| 2026-02-12 | Switched from auto-monitoring to share-based | Battery/privacy concerns |

When rewriting a XIP:

1. Preserve the XIP number
2. Update the "Updated" date
3. Document the rationale for changes
4. Update linked GitHub issue

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GitHub Issue Integration (source of truth)

Every XIP lives as a GitHub issue (label xip). The issue body is the full XIP content. The docs/proposals/xip/ folder is a backup generated by the sync-xips script.

Issue Title Format

XIP0001 Brief Description

Must follow XIP naming convention:

• 4-digit zero-padded number
• Single space separator
• No brackets, no colon, no dash

Example: XIP0030 Implement Share to XerahS on Mobile

Issue Body

• Is the full XIP markdown (Overview, Phases, Deliverables, etc.). No separate “link to file” — the body is the XIP.
• After editing the issue, run the sync script so the docs/proposals/xip/ backup is updated.

Create / Edit / Sync

Use the sync-xips skill to create issues, edit them, and run sync-from-github.ps1 to refresh the docs/proposals/xip/ backup.

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Review Checklist

Before finalizing a XIP:

• Header information complete (Status, Dates, Area, Goal)
• Overview explains the "why"
• Implementation phases are logical and actionable
• Code examples are syntactically correct
• References to existing patterns are accurate
• Non-negotiable rules explicitly stated
• Deliverables are concrete and verifiable
• Affected components listed
• Architecture diagram included (for complex features)
• No duplicate logic implied
• Platform neutrality maintained
• For Avalonia UI XIPs, binding guidance uses Avalonia-native syntax (no WPF-style ReflectionBinding guidance for #ElementName paths)
• GitHub issue created/updated (body = full XIP); sync run if needed

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Common Patterns

Pattern: Share-to-App (Mobile)

When implementing "share" functionality:

1. Platform receives shared content (Intent/Share Extension)
2. Platform copies to local app storage
3. Platform signals/passes paths to Core service
4. Core service processes via TaskManager
5. UI displays results

Pattern: New Upload Provider

When adding an uploader:

1. Extend UploaderProviderBase
2. Add config model
3. Add settings UI (reuse existing patterns)
4. Implement upload logic
5. Register in provider factory
6. No changes to upload pipeline

Pattern: Cross-Platform Service

When creating a service that works everywhere:

1. Define interface in Abstractions
2. Implement platform-specific versions in Platform folders
3. Register in PlatformServices or DI
4. Use from Core via interface only

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Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Don't: Auto-Monitoring on Mobile

Monitor screenshots folder automatically  ← BAD
Let user share files explicitly           ← GOOD

Don't: Platform Code Doing Uploads

Android MainActivity calls S3 directly    ← BAD
Android → ShareImportService → TaskManager ← GOOD

Don't: Duplicate TaskSettings Logic

Create new settings cloning for mobile    ← BAD
Reuse existing TaskSettings.Clone()       ← GOOD

Don't: UI in Core

Show MessageBox from ShareImportService   ← BAD
Return results, let caller display        ← GOOD

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File Locations (backup only)

The docs/proposals/xip/ folder is a backup of GitHub. Sync with .ai/skills/sync-xips/scripts/sync-from-github.ps1. Status is not reflected in paths; all backup files live in docs/proposals/xip/ as XIP####-title-slug.md.

• Backup: docs/proposals/xip/XIPXXXX-descriptive-name.md (single folder)
• Source of truth: GitHub issue https://github.com/ShareX/XerahS/issues/XXX

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Quick Reference: XIP Template

# XIP0001 Title

**Status**: Draft  
**Created**: YYYY-MM-DD  
**Area**: Area  
**Goal**: One sentence.

---

## Overview

Problem and approach.

## Prerequisites

- List

## Implementation Phases

### Phase 1: Name

Description.

**Key Files:**
- Path

**Code:**
```csharp
// Example

Rules:

• Do X
• Don't Y

Non-Negotiable Rules

1. Rule one
2. Rule two

Deliverables

1. Item
2. Item

Affected Components

• Project: Changes

Architecture Summary

Diagram

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## Key Takeaways

1. **Study first** - Understand existing patterns before writing
2. **Reuse always** - No duplicate upload pipelines, no duplicate settings logic
3. **Separate concerns** - Platform code handles platform things, Core handles logic
4. **Be explicit** - Non-negotiable rules, clear deliverables, concrete file paths
5. **Privacy first** - Prefer explicit user action over automatic monitoring
6. **GitHub first** - Create/edit XIP in the issue; run sync-xips to update the `docs/proposals/xip/` backup

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**Remember**: A good XIP is precise, reusable, and respects existing architecture.