---
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
Most tools require session defaults to be set before they can be used, be sure to set all required defaults before tools. 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.
