codexkit 1.0.0

package/.codex/skills/core-data-expert/references/saving.md

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+# Saving in Core Data
+
+Saving data efficiently is crucial for app performance and user experience. This guide covers best practices for when, how, and where to save your Core Data changes.
+
+## The Problem with Always Saving
+
+Calling `save()` unconditionally has performance costs:
+
+```swift
+// ❌ Bad: Always saving, even when nothing changed
+func updateUI() {
+    article.lastViewed = Date()
+    try? context.save() // Expensive even if nothing changed!
+}
+```
+
+**Problems:**
+- Writes to disk even when no changes exist
+- Triggers merge notifications unnecessarily
+- Wastes CPU and battery
+- Slows down your app
+
+## Conditional Saving with hasChanges
+
+The first improvement is checking `hasChanges`:
+
+```swift
+// ✅ Better: Only save if there are changes
+if context.hasChanges {
+    try context.save()
+}
+```
+
+**Benefits:**
+- Avoids unnecessary disk writes
+- Faster performance
+- Still simple to use
+
+**Limitation:**
+- `hasChanges` returns `true` for transient properties too
+- Transient changes don't need to be persisted
+
+## Best Practice: hasPersistentChanges
+
+Check for **persistent** changes only, excluding transient properties:
+
+```swift
+extension NSManagedObjectContext {
+    var hasPersistentChanges: Bool {
+        return !insertedObjects.isEmpty || 
+               !deletedObjects.isEmpty || 
+               updatedObjects.contains(where: { $0.hasPersistentChangedValues })
+    }
+    
+    func saveIfNeeded() throws {
+        guard hasPersistentChanges else { return }
+        try save()
+    }
+}
+
+// Usage
+try context.saveIfNeeded()
+```
+
+**Why this is better:**
+- Excludes transient property changes
+- Only saves when data actually needs persisting
+- Most efficient approach
+
+### Understanding hasPersistentChangedValues
+
+```swift
+extension NSManagedObject {
+    var hasPersistentChangedValues: Bool {
+        return !changedValues().isEmpty
+    }
+}
+```
+
+This checks if the object has **any** changed values. For more granular control:
+
+```swift
+extension NSManagedObject {
+    var hasPersistentChangedValues: Bool {
+        let changedKeys = Set(changedValues().keys)
+        let persistentKeys = Set(entity.attributesByName.keys)
+            .union(entity.relationshipsByName.keys)
+            .subtracting(entity.transientAttributeNames)
+        return !changedKeys.intersection(persistentKeys).isEmpty
+    }
+}
+
+extension NSEntityDescription {
+    var transientAttributeNames: Set<String> {
+        return Set(attributesByName.filter { $0.value.isTransient }.map { $0.key })
+    }
+}
+```
+
+## When to Save
+
+### Save on App Lifecycle Events
+
+```swift
+// AppDelegate or SceneDelegate
+func applicationWillTerminate(_ application: UIApplication) {
+    try? CoreDataStack.shared.viewContext.saveIfNeeded()
+}
+
+func sceneDidEnterBackground(_ scene: UIScene) {
+    try? CoreDataStack.shared.viewContext.saveIfNeeded()
+}
+```
+
+### Save After User Actions
+
+```swift
+// After user completes an action
+@IBAction func saveButtonTapped(_ sender: UIButton) {
+    article.name = nameTextField.text
+    article.content = contentTextView.text
+    
+    do {
+        try context.saveIfNeeded()
+        dismiss(animated: true)
+    } catch {
+        // Handle error
+        showError(error)
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### Save Periodically for Long-Running Operations
+
+```swift
+func importLargeDataset() {
+    let context = container.newBackgroundContext()
+    context.perform {
+        for (index, data) in largeDataset.enumerated() {
+            let article = Article(context: context)
+            article.name = data.name
+            
+            // Save every 100 objects
+            if index % 100 == 0 {
+                try? context.saveIfNeeded()
+            }
+        }
+        
+        // Final save
+        try? context.saveIfNeeded()
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### Don't Save Too Frequently
+
+```swift
+// ❌ Bad: Saving on every keystroke
+func textFieldDidChange(_ textField: UITextField) {
+    article.name = textField.text
+    try? context.save() // Too frequent!
+}
+
+// ✅ Better: Save when editing ends
+func textFieldDidEndEditing(_ textField: UITextField) {
+    article.name = textField.text
+    try? context.saveIfNeeded()
+}
+
+// ✅ Best: Use debouncing for auto-save
+private var saveWorkItem: DispatchWorkItem?
+
+func textFieldDidChange(_ textField: UITextField) {
+    article.name = textField.text
+    
+    // Cancel previous save
+    saveWorkItem?.cancel()
+    
+    // Schedule new save after 2 seconds of inactivity
+    let workItem = DispatchWorkItem { [weak self] in
+        try? self?.context.saveIfNeeded()
+    }
+    saveWorkItem = workItem
+    DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 2, execute: workItem)
+}
+```
+
+## Error Handling
+
+### Basic Error Handling
+
+```swift
+do {
+    try context.save()
+} catch {
+    print("Failed to save: \(error)")
+}
+```
+
+### Detailed Error Handling
+
+```swift
+do {
+    try context.save()
+} catch let error as NSError {
+    print("Failed to save context: \(error)")
+    print("User info: \(error.userInfo)")
+    
+    // Check for specific errors
+    if error.domain == NSCocoaErrorDomain {
+        switch error.code {
+        case NSValidationStringTooShortError:
+            print("String too short")
+        case NSValidationStringTooLongError:
+            print("String too long")
+        case NSManagedObjectValidationError:
+            print("Validation error")
+        case NSManagedObjectConstraintValidationError:
+            print("Constraint violation")
+        default:
+            print("Other error: \(error.code)")
+        }
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### User-Friendly Error Messages
+
+```swift
+extension NSError {
+    var userFriendlyMessage: String {
+        guard domain == NSCocoaErrorDomain else {
+            return localizedDescription
+        }
+        
+        switch code {
+        case NSValidationStringTooShortError:
+            return "The text is too short. Please enter at least 3 characters."
+        case NSValidationStringTooLongError:
+            return "The text is too long. Please keep it under 100 characters."
+        case NSManagedObjectConstraintValidationError:
+            return "This item already exists. Please use a different name."
+        case NSManagedObjectValidationError:
+            return "Please check your input and try again."
+        default:
+            return "Failed to save: \(localizedDescription)"
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// Usage
+do {
+    try context.save()
+} catch let error as NSError {
+    showAlert(message: error.userFriendlyMessage)
+}
+```
+
+## Saving in Different Contexts
+
+### View Context (Main Thread)
+
+```swift
+// Always on main thread
+let context = container.viewContext
+
+// Simple save
+try? context.saveIfNeeded()
+
+// With error handling
+do {
+    try context.saveIfNeeded()
+} catch {
+    print("Failed to save: \(error)")
+}
+```
+
+### Background Context
+
+```swift
+let context = container.newBackgroundContext()
+context.perform {
+    // Make changes
+    let article = Article(context: context)
+    article.name = "New Article"
+    
+    // Save within perform block
+    do {
+        try context.saveIfNeeded()
+    } catch {
+        print("Failed to save: \(error)")
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### Nested Contexts (Advanced)
+
+```swift
+// Parent context (view context)
+let parentContext = container.viewContext
+
+// Child context for editing
+let childContext = NSManagedObjectContext(concurrencyType: .mainQueueConcurrencyType)
+childContext.parent = parentContext
+
+// Make changes in child
+let article = childContext.object(with: articleID) as! Article
+article.name = "Updated"
+
+// Save child (pushes to parent, not to disk)
+try? childContext.save()
+
+// Save parent to persist to disk
+try? parentContext.save()
+```
+
+**Use nested contexts for:**
+- Cancellable editing (discard child without saving parent)
+- Temporary changes
+- Complex forms
+
+## Saving with Validation
+
+Core Data validates objects before saving. Handle validation errors appropriately:
+
+```swift
+do {
+    try context.save()
+} catch let error as NSError {
+    if error.code == NSValidationMultipleErrorsError {
+        // Multiple validation errors
+        if let errors = error.userInfo[NSDetailedErrorsKey] as? [NSError] {
+            for validationError in errors {
+                print("Validation error: \(validationError.localizedDescription)")
+                
+                // Get the object that failed validation
+                if let object = validationError.userInfo[NSValidationObjectErrorKey] as? NSManagedObject {
+                    print("Failed object: \(object)")
+                }
+                
+                // Get the property that failed
+                if let key = validationError.userInfo[NSValidationKeyErrorKey] as? String {
+                    print("Failed property: \(key)")
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+```
+
+## Optimizing Save Performance
+
+### Batch Saves During Import
+
+```swift
+func importArticles(_ articles: [ArticleData]) {
+    let context = container.newBackgroundContext()
+    context.perform {
+        for (index, data) in articles.enumerated() {
+            let article = Article(context: context)
+            article.name = data.name
+            article.content = data.content
+            
+            // Save every 100 objects to avoid memory buildup
+            if index % 100 == 0 && context.hasChanges {
+                try? context.save()
+                context.reset() // Clear memory
+            }
+        }
+        
+        // Final save
+        try? context.save()
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### Avoid Saving in Loops
+
+```swift
+// ❌ Bad: Saving inside loop
+for data in dataArray {
+    let article = Article(context: context)
+    article.name = data.name
+    try? context.save() // Very slow!
+}
+
+// ✅ Good: Save once after loop
+for data in dataArray {
+    let article = Article(context: context)
+    article.name = data.name
+}
+try? context.save() // Much faster!
+```
+
+### Use Batch Operations for Bulk Changes
+
+For large-scale operations, use batch requests instead of saving individual objects:
+
+```swift
+// Instead of:
+for article in articles {
+    article.isRead = true
+}
+try? context.save()
+
+// Use batch update:
+let batchUpdate = NSBatchUpdateRequest(entityName: "Article")
+batchUpdate.predicate = NSPredicate(format: "isRead == NO")
+batchUpdate.propertiesToUpdate = ["isRead": true]
+try? context.execute(batchUpdate)
+```
+
+See `batch-operations.md` for more details.
+
+## Checking for Unsaved Changes
+
+### Before Dismissing a View
+
+```swift
+func dismiss() {
+    if context.hasChanges {
+        let alert = UIAlertController(
+            title: "Unsaved Changes",
+            message: "Do you want to save your changes?",
+            preferredStyle: .alert
+        )
+        
+        alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Save", style: .default) { _ in
+            try? self.context.save()
+            self.dismissView()
+        })
+        
+        alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Discard", style: .destructive) { _ in
+            self.context.rollback()
+            self.dismissView()
+        })
+        
+        alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Cancel", style: .cancel))
+        
+        present(alert, animated: true)
+    } else {
+        dismissView()
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### Rollback Unsaved Changes
+
+```swift
+// Discard all unsaved changes
+context.rollback()
+
+// Refresh a specific object to discard its changes
+context.refresh(article, mergeChanges: false)
+```
+
+## Save Notifications
+
+Observe save notifications to respond to changes:
+
+```swift
+NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+    self,
+    selector: #selector(contextDidSave),
+    name: .NSManagedObjectContextDidSave,
+    object: context
+)
+
+@objc func contextDidSave(_ notification: Notification) {
+    guard let userInfo = notification.userInfo else { return }
+    
+    if let inserts = userInfo[NSInsertedObjectsKey] as? Set<NSManagedObject> {
+        print("Inserted: \(inserts.count) objects")
+    }
+    
+    if let updates = userInfo[NSUpdatedObjectsKey] as? Set<NSManagedObject> {
+        print("Updated: \(updates.count) objects")
+    }
+    
+    if let deletes = userInfo[NSDeletedObjectsKey] as? Set<NSManagedObject> {
+        print("Deleted: \(deletes.count) objects")
+    }
+}
+```
+
+## Testing Saves
+
+### In Unit Tests
+
+```swift
+func testSaveArticle() throws {
+    let context = testContainer.viewContext
+    
+    let article = Article(context: context)
+    article.name = "Test Article"
+    
+    XCTAssertTrue(context.hasChanges)
+    
+    try context.save()
+    
+    XCTAssertFalse(context.hasChanges)
+    
+    // Verify saved
+    let fetchRequest = Article.fetchRequest()
+    let results = try context.fetch(fetchRequest)
+    XCTAssertEqual(results.count, 1)
+    XCTAssertEqual(results.first?.name, "Test Article")
+}
+```
+
+## Common Pitfalls
+
+### ❌ Not Checking for Changes
+
+```swift
+// Wastes resources
+try? context.save()
+```
+
+### ❌ Saving Too Frequently
+
+```swift
+// In a loop - very slow
+for item in items {
+    item.processed = true
+    try? context.save()
+}
+```
+
+### ❌ Ignoring Errors
+
+```swift
+// Silent failures
+try? context.save()
+```
+
+### ❌ Saving on Wrong Thread
+
+```swift
+// Crash! Background context on main thread
+let context = container.newBackgroundContext()
+try? context.save() // Not in perform block!
+```
+
+### ✅ Correct Approach
+
+```swift
+// Check for changes
+guard context.hasPersistentChanges else { return }
+
+// Handle errors
+do {
+    try context.save()
+} catch {
+    print("Save failed: \(error)")
+    // Handle appropriately
+}
+
+// Use correct thread
+context.perform {
+    try? context.save()
+}
+```
+
+## Summary
+
+1. **Use `saveIfNeeded()` with `hasPersistentChanges`** - Most efficient approach
+2. **Save at appropriate times** - App lifecycle events, after user actions, periodically
+3. **Don't save too frequently** - Debounce auto-saves, avoid saving in loops
+4. **Handle errors properly** - Don't ignore save failures
+5. **Use correct context type** - View context for UI, background for heavy work
+6. **Always use `perform` with background contexts** - Thread safety
+7. **Consider batch operations** - For large-scale updates
+8. **Test your saves** - Verify data persists correctly