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build_ios_sim_id_ws

Builds an iOS app from a workspace for a specific simulator by UUID. Requires workspace path, scheme, and simulator ID to compile applications for testing.

Instructions

Builds an iOS app from a workspace for a specific simulator by UUID. IMPORTANT: Requires workspacePath, scheme, and simulatorId. Example: build_ios_sim_id_ws({ workspacePath: '/path/to/MyProject.xcworkspace', scheme: 'MyScheme', simulatorId: 'SIMULATOR_UUID' })

Input Schema

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

Implementation Reference

  • Core internal handler function that executes the build logic for iOS simulator tools by invoking executeXcodeBuildCommand with platform-specific options.
    async function _handleIOSSimulatorBuildLogic(params: { workspacePath?: string; projectPath?: string; scheme: string; configuration: string; simulatorName?: string; simulatorId?: string; useLatestOS: boolean; derivedDataPath?: string; extraArgs?: string[]; preferXcodebuild?: boolean; }): Promise<ToolResponse> { log('info', `Starting iOS Simulator build for scheme ${params.scheme} (internal)`); return executeXcodeBuildCommand( { ...params, }, { platform: XcodePlatform.iOSSimulator, simulatorName: params.simulatorName, simulatorId: params.simulatorId, useLatestOS: params.useLatestOS, logPrefix: 'iOS Simulator Build', }, params.preferXcodebuild, 'build', ); }
  • Input schema for the 'build_ios_sim_id_ws' tool parameters, using shared schema definitions from common.js
    workspacePath: workspacePathSchema, scheme: schemeSchema, simulatorId: simulatorIdSchema, configuration: configurationSchema, derivedDataPath: derivedDataPathSchema, extraArgs: extraArgsSchema, useLatestOS: useLatestOSSchema, preferXcodebuild: preferXcodebuildSchema,
  • Registration function that adds the 'build_ios_sim_id_ws' tool to the MCP server using registerTool, specifying name, description, schema, and handler.
    * Registers the iOS Simulator build by ID workspace tool */ export function registerIOSSimulatorBuildByIdWorkspaceTool(server: McpServer): void { type Params = { workspacePath: string; scheme: string; simulatorId: string; configuration?: string; derivedDataPath?: string; extraArgs?: string[]; useLatestOS?: boolean; preferXcodebuild?: boolean; }; registerTool<Params>( server, 'build_ios_sim_id_ws', "Builds an iOS app from a workspace for a specific simulator by UUID. IMPORTANT: Requires workspacePath, scheme, and simulatorId. Example: build_ios_sim_id_ws({ workspacePath: '/path/to/MyProject.xcworkspace', scheme: 'MyScheme', simulatorId: 'SIMULATOR_UUID' })", { workspacePath: workspacePathSchema, scheme: schemeSchema, simulatorId: simulatorIdSchema, configuration: configurationSchema, derivedDataPath: derivedDataPathSchema, extraArgs: extraArgsSchema, useLatestOS: useLatestOSSchema, preferXcodebuild: preferXcodebuildSchema, }, async (params: Params) => { // Validate required parameters const workspaceValidation = validateRequiredParam('workspacePath', params.workspacePath); if (!workspaceValidation.isValid) return workspaceValidation.errorResponse!; const schemeValidation = validateRequiredParam('scheme', params.scheme); if (!schemeValidation.isValid) return schemeValidation.errorResponse!; const simulatorIdValidation = validateRequiredParam('simulatorId', params.simulatorId); if (!simulatorIdValidation.isValid) return simulatorIdValidation.errorResponse!; // Provide defaults return _handleIOSSimulatorBuildLogic({ ...params, configuration: params.configuration ?? 'Debug', useLatestOS: params.useLatestOS ?? true, // May be ignored by xcodebuild preferXcodebuild: params.preferXcodebuild ?? false, }); }, ); }
  • Top-level registration entry that invokes registerIOSSimulatorBuildByIdWorkspaceTool during server tool setup.
    register: registerIOSSimulatorBuildByIdWorkspaceTool, groups: [ToolGroup.IOS_SIMULATOR_WORKFLOW], envVar: 'XCODEBUILDMCP_TOOL_IOS_SIMULATOR_BUILD_BY_ID_WORKSPACE', },
  • Key helper function that implements the actual xcodebuild execution logic, used by the tool handler for building the app.
    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, ); } }

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