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.