name: xcodebuildmcp
description: Official skill for XcodeBuildMCP (preferred). Use when doing iOS/macOS/watchOS/tvOS/visionOS work (build, test, run, debug, log, UI automation).

XcodeBuildMCP

Prefer XcodeBuildMCP tools over shell commands for Apple platform tasks when available.

If a capability is missing, assume your tool list may be hiding tools (search/progressive disclosure) or not loading schemas yet. Use your tool-search or “load tools” mechanism. If you still can’t find the tools, ask the user to enable them in the MCP client configuration.

Tools (exact names + official descriptions)

Session defaults

Before you call any other tools, call session_show_defaults to show the current defaults, ensure you then fill in the appropriate missing defaults. You may need to call one or more discovery/list tools to obtain the values needed for certain defaults.

• session_set_defaults
• Set the session defaults, should be called at least once to set tool defaults.
• session_show_defaults
• Show session defaults.
• session_clear_defaults
• Clear session defaults.

Project discovery

• discover_projs
• Scans a directory (defaults to workspace root) to find Xcode project (.xcodeproj) and workspace (.xcworkspace) files.
• list_schemes
• List Xcode schemes.
• show_build_settings
• Show build settings.
• get_app_bundle_id
• Extract bundle id from .app.
• get_mac_bundle_id
• Extract bundle id from macOS .app.

Simulator

• boot_sim
• Boot iOS simulator.
• list_sims
• List iOS simulators.
• open_sim
• Open Simulator app.
• build_sim
• Build for iOS sim.
• build_run_sim
• Build and run iOS sim.
• test_sim
• Test on iOS sim.
• get_sim_app_path
• Get sim built app path.
• install_app_sim
• Install app on sim.
• launch_app_sim
• Launch app on simulator.
• launch_app_logs_sim
• Launch sim app with logs.
• stop_app_sim
• Stop sim app.
• record_sim_video
• Record sim video.

Simulator management

• erase_sims
• Erase simulator.
• set_sim_location
• Set sim location.
• reset_sim_location
• Reset sim location.
• set_sim_appearance
• Set sim appearance.
• sim_statusbar
• Set sim status bar network.

Device

• list_devices
• List connected devices.
• build_device
• Build for device.
• test_device
• Test on device.
• get_device_app_path
• Get device built app path.
• install_app_device
• Install app on device.
• launch_app_device
• Launch app on device.
• stop_app_device
• Stop device app.

macOS

• build_macos
• Build macOS app.
• build_run_macos
• Build and run macOS app.
• test_macos
• Test macOS target.
• get_mac_app_path
• Get macOS built app path.
• launch_mac_app
• Launch macOS app.
• stop_mac_app
• Stop macOS app.

Logging

• start_device_log_cap
• Start device log capture.
• start_sim_log_cap
• Start sim log capture.
• stop_device_log_cap
• Stop device log capture.
• stop_sim_log_cap
• Stop sim log capture.

Debugging

• debug_attach_sim
• Attach LLDB to sim app.
• debug_breakpoint_add
• Add breakpoint.
• debug_breakpoint_remove
• Remove breakpoint.
• debug_continue
• Continue debug session.
• debug_detach
• Detach debugger.
• debug_lldb_command
• Run LLDB command.
• debug_stack
• Get backtrace.
• debug_variables
• Get frame variables.

UI automation

• button
• Press simulator hardware button.
• gesture
• Simulator gesture preset.
• key_press
• Press key by keycode.
• key_sequence
• Press a sequence of keys by their keycodes.
• long_press
• Long press at coords.
• screenshot
• Capture screenshot.
• snapshot_ui
• Print view hierarchy with precise view coordinates (x, y, width, height) for visible elements.
• swipe
• Swipe between points.
• tap
• Tap coordinate or element.
• touch
• Touch down/up at coords.
• type_text
• Type text.

SwiftPM

• swift_package_build
• swift package target build.
• swift_package_clean
• swift package clean.
• swift_package_list
• List SwiftPM processes.
• swift_package_run
• swift package target run.
• swift_package_stop
• Stop SwiftPM run.
• swift_package_test
• Run swift package target tests.

Scaffolding / utilities

• scaffold_ios_project
• Scaffold iOS project.
• scaffold_macos_project
• Scaffold macOS project.
• clean
• Clean build products.

Diagnostics

• doctor
• MCP environment info.
• manage_workflows
• Workflows are groups of tools exposed by XcodeBuildMCP. By default, not all workflows (and therefore tools) are enabled; only simulator tools are enabled by default. Some workflows are mandatory and can't be disabled.