ABOUTME: XcodeBuildMCP integration for building, running, and debugging iOS apps via CLI
ABOUTME: Simulator control, UI interaction, log capture, screenshot automation
iOS Debugger
When to Invoke
- Build/run iOS apps without Xcode UI
- Automate simulator interactions
- Capture app logs programmatically
- UI testing via CLI
- CI/CD iOS workflows
Capabilities
- Build and run on booted simulator
- Interact with simulator UI (tap, type, gestures)
- Capture and filter app logs
- Take screenshots
- Install/uninstall apps
Prerequisites
# Ensure XcodeBuildMCP is available
# Check if simulator is booted
xcrun simctl list devices | grep Booted
# Boot simulator if needed
xcrun simctl boot "iPhone 16 Pro"
Build and Run
# Build for simulator
xcodebuild -workspace MyApp.xcworkspace \
-scheme MyApp \
-sdk iphonesimulator \
-destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16 Pro' \
build
# Install app on simulator
xcrun simctl install booted path/to/MyApp.app
# Launch app
xcrun simctl launch booted com.example.myapp
UI Interaction
# Tap at coordinates
xcrun simctl io booted tap 200 400
# Type text
xcrun simctl io booted type "Hello World"
# Swipe gesture (x1 y1 x2 y2 duration)
xcrun simctl io booted swipe 200 600 200 200 0.5
# Take screenshot
xcrun simctl io booted screenshot screenshot.png
Log Capture
# Stream all logs from booted simulator
xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --predicate 'processImagePath CONTAINS "MyApp"'
# Filter by subsystem
xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --predicate 'subsystem == "com.example.myapp"'
# Capture logs to file
xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream \
--predicate 'processImagePath CONTAINS "MyApp"' \
> app.log &
Common Workflows
Reset Simulator
# Erase all data
xcrun simctl erase "iPhone 16 Pro"
# Shutdown and boot
xcrun simctl shutdown "iPhone 16 Pro"
xcrun simctl boot "iPhone 16 Pro"
Tips
- Always check simulator is booted before commands
- Use
log stream predicates to filter noise - Coordinate-based taps are fragile (prefer accessibility IDs in XCTest)
- Capture screenshots for visual regression tests
- Use
xcrun simctl openurl to test deep links
Integration with Tests
# Run XCTests on simulator
xcodebuild test \
-workspace App.xcworkspace \
-scheme App \
-destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16 Pro' \
-resultBundlePath TestResults.xcresult
