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build_ios_dev_ws

Compiles iOS applications for physical devices by specifying a workspace path and scheme. Supports custom build configurations, derived data paths, and additional xcodebuild arguments for tailored setups.

Instructions

Builds an iOS app from a workspace for a physical device. IMPORTANT: Requires workspacePath and scheme. Example: build_ios_dev_ws({ workspacePath: '/path/to/MyProject.xcworkspace', scheme: 'MyScheme' })

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
configurationNoBuild configuration (Debug, Release, etc.)
derivedDataPathNoPath where build products and other derived data will go
extraArgsNoAdditional xcodebuild arguments
preferXcodebuildNoIf true, prefers xcodebuild over the experimental incremental build system, useful for when incremental build system fails.
schemeYesThe scheme to use (Required)
workspacePathYesPath to the .xcworkspace file (Required)

Implementation Reference

  • Direct registration of the 'build_ios_dev_ws' tool, including schema definition and inline handler function.
    export function registerIOSDeviceBuildWorkspaceTool(server: McpServer): void { type Params = BaseWorkspaceParams; registerTool<Params>( server, 'build_ios_dev_ws', "Builds an iOS app from a workspace for a physical device. IMPORTANT: Requires workspacePath and scheme. Example: build_ios_dev_ws({ workspacePath: '/path/to/MyProject.xcworkspace', scheme: 'MyScheme' })", { workspacePath: workspacePathSchema, scheme: schemeSchema, configuration: configurationSchema, derivedDataPath: derivedDataPathSchema, extraArgs: extraArgsSchema, preferXcodebuild: preferXcodebuildSchema, }, async (params: Params) => { const workspaceValidation = validateRequiredParam('workspacePath', params.workspacePath); if (!workspaceValidation.isValid) return workspaceValidation.errorResponse!; const schemeValidation = validateRequiredParam('scheme', params.scheme); if (!schemeValidation.isValid) return schemeValidation.errorResponse!; return executeXcodeBuildCommand( { ...params, configuration: params.configuration ?? 'Debug', // Default config }, { platform: XcodePlatform.iOS, logPrefix: 'iOS Device Build', }, params.preferXcodebuild, 'build', ); }, ); }
  • The handler function for executing the tool: validates required parameters and invokes the shared Xcode build command with iOS device configuration.
    async (params: Params) => { const workspaceValidation = validateRequiredParam('workspacePath', params.workspacePath); if (!workspaceValidation.isValid) return workspaceValidation.errorResponse!; const schemeValidation = validateRequiredParam('scheme', params.scheme); if (!schemeValidation.isValid) return schemeValidation.errorResponse!; return executeXcodeBuildCommand( { ...params, configuration: params.configuration ?? 'Debug', // Default config }, { platform: XcodePlatform.iOS, logPrefix: 'iOS Device Build', }, params.preferXcodebuild, 'build', ); },
  • Top-level tool group registration that enables the iOS device build tools (including build_ios_dev_ws) based on environment variable.
    { register: registerIOSDeviceBuildTools, groups: [ToolGroup.IOS_DEVICE_WORKFLOW], envVar: 'XCODEBUILDMCP_TOOL_IOS_DEVICE_BUILD_TOOLS', },
  • Core helper utility that implements the actual Xcode build logic: constructs the xcodebuild command, supports xcodemake for incremental builds, parses output for warnings/errors, and formats responses.
    export async function executeXcodeBuildCommand( params: SharedBuildParams, platformOptions: PlatformBuildOptions, preferXcodebuild: boolean = false, buildAction: string = 'build', ): Promise<ToolResponse> { // Collect warnings, errors, and stderr messages from the build output const buildMessages: { type: 'text'; text: string }[] = []; function grepWarningsAndErrors(text: string): { type: 'warning' | 'error'; content: string }[] { return text .split('\n') .map((content) => { if (/warning:/i.test(content)) return { type: 'warning', content }; if (/error:/i.test(content)) return { type: 'error', content }; return null; }) .filter(Boolean) as { type: 'warning' | 'error'; content: string }[]; } log('info', `Starting ${platformOptions.logPrefix} ${buildAction} for scheme ${params.scheme}`); // Check if xcodemake is enabled and available const isXcodemakeEnabledFlag = isXcodemakeEnabled(); let xcodemakeAvailableFlag = false; if (isXcodemakeEnabledFlag && buildAction === 'build') { xcodemakeAvailableFlag = await isXcodemakeAvailable(); if (xcodemakeAvailableFlag && preferXcodebuild) { log( 'info', 'xcodemake is enabled but preferXcodebuild is set to true. Falling back to xcodebuild.', ); buildMessages.push({ type: 'text', text: '⚠️ incremental build support is enabled but preferXcodebuild is set to true. Falling back to xcodebuild.', }); } else if (!xcodemakeAvailableFlag) { buildMessages.push({ type: 'text', text: '⚠️ xcodemake is enabled but not available. Falling back to xcodebuild.', }); log('info', 'xcodemake is enabled but not available. Falling back to xcodebuild.'); } else { log('info', 'xcodemake is enabled and available, using it for incremental builds.'); buildMessages.push({ type: 'text', text: 'ℹ️ xcodemake is enabled and available, using it for incremental builds.', }); } } try { const command = ['xcodebuild']; let projectDir = ''; if (params.workspacePath) { projectDir = path.dirname(params.workspacePath); command.push('-workspace', params.workspacePath); } else if (params.projectPath) { projectDir = path.dirname(params.projectPath); command.push('-project', params.projectPath); } command.push('-scheme', params.scheme); command.push('-configuration', params.configuration); command.push('-skipMacroValidation'); // Construct destination string based on platform let destinationString: string; const isSimulatorPlatform = [ XcodePlatform.iOSSimulator, XcodePlatform.watchOSSimulator, XcodePlatform.tvOSSimulator, XcodePlatform.visionOSSimulator, ].includes(platformOptions.platform); if (isSimulatorPlatform) { if (platformOptions.simulatorId) { destinationString = constructDestinationString( platformOptions.platform, undefined, platformOptions.simulatorId, ); } else if (platformOptions.simulatorName) { destinationString = constructDestinationString( platformOptions.platform, platformOptions.simulatorName, undefined, platformOptions.useLatestOS, ); } else { return createTextResponse( `For ${platformOptions.platform} platform, either simulatorId or simulatorName must be provided`, true, ); } } else if (platformOptions.platform === XcodePlatform.macOS) { destinationString = constructDestinationString( platformOptions.platform, undefined, undefined, false, platformOptions.arch, ); } else if (platformOptions.platform === XcodePlatform.iOS) { destinationString = 'generic/platform=iOS'; } else if (platformOptions.platform === XcodePlatform.watchOS) { destinationString = 'generic/platform=watchOS'; } else if (platformOptions.platform === XcodePlatform.tvOS) { destinationString = 'generic/platform=tvOS'; } else if (platformOptions.platform === XcodePlatform.visionOS) { destinationString = 'generic/platform=visionOS'; } else { return createTextResponse(`Unsupported platform: ${platformOptions.platform}`, true); } command.push('-destination', destinationString); if (params.derivedDataPath) { command.push('-derivedDataPath', params.derivedDataPath); } if (params.extraArgs && params.extraArgs.length > 0) { command.push(...params.extraArgs); } command.push(buildAction); // Execute the command using xcodemake or xcodebuild let result; if ( isXcodemakeEnabledFlag && xcodemakeAvailableFlag && buildAction === 'build' && !preferXcodebuild ) { // Check if Makefile already exists const makefileExists = doesMakefileExist(projectDir); log('debug', 'Makefile exists: ' + makefileExists); // Check if Makefile log already exists const makeLogFileExists = doesMakeLogFileExist(projectDir, command); log('debug', 'Makefile log exists: ' + makeLogFileExists); if (makefileExists && makeLogFileExists) { // Use make for incremental builds buildMessages.push({ type: 'text', text: 'ℹ️ Using make for incremental build', }); result = await executeMakeCommand(projectDir, platformOptions.logPrefix); } else { // Generate Makefile using xcodemake buildMessages.push({ type: 'text', text: 'ℹ️ Generating Makefile with xcodemake (first build may take longer)', }); // Remove 'xcodebuild' from the command array before passing to executeXcodemakeCommand result = await executeXcodemakeCommand( projectDir, command.slice(1), platformOptions.logPrefix, ); } } else { // Use standard xcodebuild result = await executeCommand(command, platformOptions.logPrefix); } // Grep warnings and errors from stdout (build output) const warningOrErrorLines = grepWarningsAndErrors(result.output); warningOrErrorLines.forEach(({ type, content }) => { buildMessages.push({ type: 'text', text: type === 'warning' ? `⚠️ Warning: ${content}` : `❌ Error: ${content}`, }); }); // Include all stderr lines as errors if (result.error) { result.error.split('\n').forEach((content) => { if (content.trim()) { buildMessages.push({ type: 'text', text: `❌ [stderr] ${content}` }); } }); } if (!result.success) { log('error', `${platformOptions.logPrefix} ${buildAction} failed: ${result.error}`); // Create concise error response with warnings/errors included const errorResponse = createTextResponse( `❌ ${platformOptions.logPrefix} ${buildAction} failed for scheme ${params.scheme}.`, true, ); if (buildMessages.length > 0 && errorResponse.content) { errorResponse.content.unshift(...buildMessages); } // If using xcodemake and build failed but no compiling errors, suggest using xcodebuild if ( warningOrErrorLines.length == 0 && isXcodemakeEnabledFlag && xcodemakeAvailableFlag && buildAction === 'build' && !preferXcodebuild ) { errorResponse.content.push({ type: 'text', text: `💡 Incremental build using xcodemake failed, suggest using preferXcodebuild option to try build again using slower xcodebuild command.`, }); } return errorResponse; } log('info', `✅ ${platformOptions.logPrefix} ${buildAction} succeeded.`); // Create additional info based on platform and action let additionalInfo = ''; // Add xcodemake info if relevant if ( isXcodemakeEnabledFlag && xcodemakeAvailableFlag && buildAction === 'build' && !preferXcodebuild ) { additionalInfo += `xcodemake: Using faster incremental builds with xcodemake. Future builds will use the generated Makefile for improved performance. `; } // Only show next steps for 'build' action if (buildAction === 'build') { if (platformOptions.platform === XcodePlatform.macOS) { additionalInfo = `Next Steps: 1. Get App Path: get_macos_app_path_${params.workspacePath ? 'workspace' : 'project'} 2. Get Bundle ID: get_macos_bundle_id 3. Launch App: launch_macos_app`; } else if (platformOptions.platform === XcodePlatform.iOS) { additionalInfo = `Next Steps: 1. Get App Path: get_ios_device_app_path_${params.workspacePath ? 'workspace' : 'project'} 2. Get Bundle ID: get_ios_bundle_id`; } else if (isSimulatorPlatform) { const idOrName = platformOptions.simulatorId ? 'id' : 'name'; const simIdParam = platformOptions.simulatorId ? 'simulatorId' : 'simulatorName'; const simIdValue = platformOptions.simulatorId || platformOptions.simulatorName; additionalInfo = `Next Steps: 1. Get App Path: get_simulator_app_path_by_${idOrName}_${params.workspacePath ? 'workspace' : 'project'}({ ${simIdParam}: '${simIdValue}', scheme: '${params.scheme}' }) 2. Get Bundle ID: get_ios_bundle_id({ appPath: 'APP_PATH_FROM_STEP_1' }) 3. Choose one of the following options: - Option 1: Launch app normally: launch_app_in_simulator({ simulatorUuid: 'SIMULATOR_UUID', bundleId: 'APP_BUNDLE_ID' }) - Option 2: Launch app with logs (captures both console and structured logs): launch_app_with_logs_in_simulator({ simulatorUuid: 'SIMULATOR_UUID', bundleId: 'APP_BUNDLE_ID' }) - Option 3: Launch app normally, then capture structured logs only: launch_app_in_simulator({ simulatorUuid: 'SIMULATOR_UUID', bundleId: 'APP_BUNDLE_ID' }) start_simulator_log_capture({ simulatorUuid: 'SIMULATOR_UUID', bundleId: 'APP_BUNDLE_ID' }) - Option 4: Launch app normally, then capture all logs (will restart app): launch_app_in_simulator({ simulatorUuid: 'SIMULATOR_UUID', bundleId: 'APP_BUNDLE_ID' }) start_simulator_log_capture({ simulatorUuid: 'SIMULATOR_UUID', bundleId: 'APP_BUNDLE_ID', captureConsole: true }) When done capturing logs, use: stop_and_get_simulator_log({ logSessionId: 'SESSION_ID' })`; } } const successResponse: ToolResponse = { content: [ ...buildMessages, { type: 'text', text: `✅ ${platformOptions.logPrefix} ${buildAction} succeeded for scheme ${params.scheme}.`, }, ], }; // Only add additional info if we have any if (additionalInfo) { successResponse.content.push({ type: 'text', text: additionalInfo, }); } return successResponse; } catch (error) { const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error); log('error', `Error during ${platformOptions.logPrefix} ${buildAction}: ${errorMessage}`); return createTextResponse( `Error during ${platformOptions.logPrefix} ${buildAction}: ${errorMessage}`, true, ); } }
  • Zod schema definitions for common parameters used in the build_ios_dev_ws tool schema.
    export const workspacePathSchema = z.string().describe('Path to the .xcworkspace file (Required)'); export const projectPathSchema = z.string().describe('Path to the .xcodeproj file (Required)'); export const schemeSchema = z.string().describe('The scheme to use (Required)'); export const configurationSchema = z .string() .optional() .describe('Build configuration (Debug, Release, etc.)'); export const derivedDataPathSchema = z .string() .optional() .describe('Path where build products and other derived data will go'); export const extraArgsSchema = z .array(z.string()) .optional() .describe('Additional xcodebuild arguments'); export const simulatorNameSchema = z .string() .describe("Name of the simulator to use (e.g., 'iPhone 16') (Required)"); export const simulatorIdSchema = z .string() .describe('UUID of the simulator to use (obtained from listSimulators) (Required)'); export const useLatestOSSchema = z .boolean() .optional() .describe('Whether to use the latest OS version for the named simulator'); export const appPathSchema = z .string() .describe('Path to the .app bundle (full path to the .app directory)'); export const bundleIdSchema = z .string() .describe("Bundle identifier of the app (e.g., 'com.example.MyApp')"); export const launchArgsSchema = z .array(z.string()) .optional() .describe('Additional arguments to pass to the app'); export const preferXcodebuildSchema = z .boolean() .optional() .describe(

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