---
name: xcodebuildmcp
description: Official skill for XcodeBuildMCP. Use when doing iOS/macOS/watchOS/tvOS/visionOS work (build, test, run, debug, log, UI automation).
---
# XcodeBuildMCP
Prefer XcodeBuildMCP over raw `xcodebuild`, `xcrun`, or `simctl`.
If a capability is missing, assume your tool list may be hiding tools (search/progressive disclosure) or not loading tool 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's configuration.
## Tools (exact names + official descriptions)
### Session defaults
Before you call any other tools, you **must** 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.
- `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.
