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build_run_ios_sim_id_ws

Build and run an iOS app from a workspace on a specific simulator using its UUID. Provide workspace path, scheme, and simulator ID to execute the process.

Instructions

Builds and runs an iOS app from a workspace on a simulator specified by UUID. IMPORTANT: Requires workspacePath, scheme, and simulatorId. Example: build_run_ios_sim_id_ws({ workspacePath: '/path/to/workspace', 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 handler implementing the tool logic: performs build via _handleIOSSimulatorBuildLogic, then handles simulator boot/install/launch sequence for iOS app from workspace on specified simulator ID.
    async function _handleIOSSimulatorBuildAndRunLogic(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 and run for scheme ${params.scheme} (internal)`); try { // --- Build Step --- const buildResult = await _handleIOSSimulatorBuildLogic(params); if (buildResult.isError) { return buildResult; // Return the build error } // --- Get App Path Step --- // Create the command array for xcodebuild with -showBuildSettings option const command = ['xcodebuild', '-showBuildSettings']; // Add the workspace or project if (params.workspacePath) { command.push('-workspace', params.workspacePath); } else if (params.projectPath) { command.push('-project', params.projectPath); } // Add the scheme and configuration command.push('-scheme', params.scheme); command.push('-configuration', params.configuration); // Handle destination for simulator let destinationString = ''; if (params.simulatorId) { destinationString = `platform=iOS Simulator,id=${params.simulatorId}`; } else if (params.simulatorName) { destinationString = `platform=iOS Simulator,name=${params.simulatorName}${params.useLatestOS ? ',OS=latest' : ''}`; } else { return createTextResponse( 'Either simulatorId or simulatorName must be provided for iOS simulator build', true, ); } command.push('-destination', destinationString); // Add derived data path if provided if (params.derivedDataPath) { command.push('-derivedDataPath', params.derivedDataPath); } // Add extra args if provided if (params.extraArgs && params.extraArgs.length > 0) { command.push(...params.extraArgs); } // Execute the command directly const result = await executeCommand(command, 'Get App Path'); // If there was an error with the command execution, return it if (!result.success) { return createTextResponse( `Build succeeded, but failed to get app path: ${result.error || 'Unknown error'}`, true, ); } // Parse the output to extract the app path const buildSettingsOutput = result.output; // Extract CODESIGNING_FOLDER_PATH from build settings to get app path const appPathMatch = buildSettingsOutput.match(/CODESIGNING_FOLDER_PATH = (.+\.app)/); if (!appPathMatch || !appPathMatch[1]) { return createTextResponse( `Build succeeded, but could not find app path in build settings.`, true, ); } const appBundlePath = appPathMatch[1].trim(); log('info', `App bundle path for run: ${appBundlePath}`); // --- Find/Boot Simulator Step --- let simulatorUuid = params.simulatorId; if (!simulatorUuid && params.simulatorName) { try { log('info', `Finding simulator UUID for name: ${params.simulatorName}`); const simulatorsOutput = execSync('xcrun simctl list devices available --json').toString(); const simulatorsJson = JSON.parse(simulatorsOutput); let foundSimulator = null; // Find the simulator in the available devices list for (const runtime in simulatorsJson.devices) { const devices = simulatorsJson.devices[runtime]; for (const device of devices) { if (device.name === params.simulatorName && device.isAvailable) { foundSimulator = device; break; } } if (foundSimulator) break; } if (foundSimulator) { simulatorUuid = foundSimulator.udid; log('info', `Found simulator for run: ${foundSimulator.name} (${simulatorUuid})`); } else { return createTextResponse( `Build succeeded, but could not find an available simulator named '${params.simulatorName}'. Use list_simulators({}) to check available devices.`, true, ); } } catch (error) { const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error); return createTextResponse( `Build succeeded, but error finding simulator: ${errorMessage}`, true, ); } } if (!simulatorUuid) { return createTextResponse( 'Build succeeded, but no simulator specified and failed to find a suitable one.', true, ); } // Ensure simulator is booted try { log('info', `Checking simulator state for UUID: ${simulatorUuid}`); const simulatorStateOutput = execSync('xcrun simctl list devices').toString(); const simulatorLine = simulatorStateOutput .split('\n') .find((line) => line.includes(simulatorUuid)); const isBooted = simulatorLine ? simulatorLine.includes('(Booted)') : false; if (!simulatorLine) { return createTextResponse( `Build succeeded, but could not find simulator with UUID: ${simulatorUuid}`, true, ); } if (!isBooted) { log('info', `Booting simulator ${simulatorUuid}`); execSync(`xcrun simctl boot "${simulatorUuid}"`); // Wait a moment for the simulator to fully boot await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000)); } else { log('info', `Simulator ${simulatorUuid} is already booted`); } } catch (error) { const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error); log('error', `Error checking/booting simulator: ${errorMessage}`); return createTextResponse( `Build succeeded, but error checking/booting simulator: ${errorMessage}`, true, ); } // --- Open Simulator UI Step --- try { log('info', 'Opening Simulator app'); execSync('open -a Simulator'); // Give the Simulator app time to open await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000)); } catch (error) { const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error); log('warning', `Warning: Could not open Simulator app: ${errorMessage}`); // Don't fail the whole operation for this } // --- Install App Step --- try { log('info', `Installing app at path: ${appBundlePath} to simulator: ${simulatorUuid}`); execSync(`xcrun simctl install "${simulatorUuid}" "${appBundlePath}"`); // Wait a moment for installation to complete await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1000)); } catch (error) { const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error); log('error', `Error installing app: ${errorMessage}`); return createTextResponse( `Build succeeded, but error installing app on simulator: ${errorMessage}`, true, ); } // --- Get Bundle ID Step --- let bundleId; try { log('info', `Extracting bundle ID from app: ${appBundlePath}`); // Try PlistBuddy first (more reliable) try { bundleId = execSync( `/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Print :CFBundleIdentifier" "${appBundlePath}/Info.plist"`, ) .toString() .trim(); } catch (plistError: unknown) { // Fallback to defaults if PlistBuddy fails const errorMessage = plistError instanceof Error ? plistError.message : String(plistError); log('warning', `PlistBuddy failed, trying defaults: ${errorMessage}`); bundleId = execSync(`defaults read "${appBundlePath}/Info" CFBundleIdentifier`) .toString() .trim(); } if (!bundleId) { throw new Error('Could not extract bundle ID from Info.plist'); } log('info', `Bundle ID for run: ${bundleId}`); } catch (error) { const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error); log('error', `Error getting bundle ID: ${errorMessage}`); return createTextResponse( `Build and install succeeded, but error getting bundle ID: ${errorMessage}`, true, ); } // --- Launch App Step --- try { log('info', `Launching app with bundle ID: ${bundleId} on simulator: ${simulatorUuid}`); execSync(`xcrun simctl launch "${simulatorUuid}" "${bundleId}"`); } catch (error) { const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error); log('error', `Error launching app: ${errorMessage}`); return createTextResponse( `Build and install succeeded, but error launching app on simulator: ${errorMessage}`, true, ); } // --- Success --- log('info', '✅ iOS simulator build & run succeeded.'); const target = params.simulatorId ? `simulator UUID ${params.simulatorId}` : `simulator name '${params.simulatorName}'`; return { content: [ { type: 'text', text: `✅ iOS simulator build and run succeeded for scheme ${params.scheme} targeting ${target}. The app (${bundleId}) is now running in the iOS Simulator. If you don't see the simulator window, it may be hidden behind other windows. The Simulator app should be open. Next Steps: - Option 1: Capture structured logs only (app continues running): start_simulator_log_capture({ simulatorUuid: '${simulatorUuid}', bundleId: '${bundleId}' }) - Option 2: Capture both console and structured logs (app will restart): start_simulator_log_capture({ simulatorUuid: '${simulatorUuid}', bundleId: '${bundleId}', captureConsole: true }) - Option 3: Launch app with logs in one step (for a fresh start): launch_app_with_logs_in_simulator({ simulatorUuid: '${simulatorUuid}', bundleId: '${bundleId}' }) When done with any option, use: stop_sim_log_cap({ logSessionId: 'SESSION_ID' })`, }, ], }; } catch (error) { const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error); log('error', `Error in iOS Simulator build and run: ${errorMessage}`); return createTextResponse(`Error in iOS Simulator build and run: ${errorMessage}`, true); } }
  • Direct MCP tool registration for 'build_run_ios_sim_id_ws', including schema, description, and handler wrapper that delegates to core logic.
    registerTool<Params>( server, 'build_run_ios_sim_id_ws', "Builds and runs an iOS app from a workspace on a simulator specified by UUID. IMPORTANT: Requires workspacePath, scheme, and simulatorId. Example: build_run_ios_sim_id_ws({ workspacePath: '/path/to/workspace', 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 _handleIOSSimulatorBuildAndRunLogic({ ...params, configuration: params.configuration ?? 'Debug', useLatestOS: params.useLatestOS ?? true, // May be ignored preferXcodebuild: params.preferXcodebuild ?? false, }); }, );
  • Top-level registration entry that invokes registerIOSSimulatorBuildAndRunByIdWorkspaceTool(server) to register the tool during server initialization.
    { register: registerIOSSimulatorBuildAndRunByIdWorkspaceTool, groups: [ToolGroup.IOS_SIMULATOR_WORKFLOW, ToolGroup.APP_DEPLOYMENT], envVar: 'XCODEBUILDMCP_TOOL_IOS_SIMULATOR_BUILD_AND_RUN_BY_ID_WORKSPACE', },
  • Zod schema definitions for tool parameters: workspacePath, scheme, simulatorId, etc., imported and composed in the tool registration.
    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( 'If true, prefers xcodebuild over the experimental incremental build system, useful for when incremental build system fails.', );
  • Helper function that performs the actual xcodebuild for simulator build, called by the main handler.
    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', ); }

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