Objective-C custom XIB-based UIView stub

CWView.h

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>


@interface CWView : UIView

// for child class to override and change the behavior (if needed)
@property (nonatomic, readonly) BOOL useNib;

@end

CWView.m

#import "CWView.h"
#import <objc/runtime.h>


@implementation CWView

- (id)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame { // designated
    if (!(self = [super initWithFrame:frame]))
        return self; // init error
    
    if (!self.useNib)
        return self; // doesn't use nib, so we're done.
    
    // load the nib and return the object inside instead
    const char *className = class_getName([self class]);
    NSString *nibName = [NSString stringWithCString:className encoding:NSASCIIStringEncoding];        
    NSArray *objects = [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:nibName owner:nil options:nil];
    if (!objects)
        return self = nil;
    
    id realSelf = [objects objectAtIndex:0];
    if (!realSelf)
        return realSelf;
    
    [self release];
    self = realSelf;
    [self setFrame:frame];
    return [self retain];
}


- (BOOL)useNib {
    // default to having a nib
    return YES;
}

@end