Building Apple Platform Products
Build, test, archive, deploy, and automate Swift packages and Xcode projects for Apple platforms.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Build an iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, or visionOS app
- Build a Swift package
- Run unit tests or UI tests
- Create an archive for distribution
- Discover project structure (schemes, targets, configurations)
- Manage simulators (create, boot, configure, install apps)
- Deploy to physical devices
- Automate simulator testing (permissions, push notifications, screenshots, location)
- Sign, notarize, or distribute apps
- Inspect binaries or debug symbols
- Profile app performance
- Resolve xcrun tool paths or switch Xcode versions
xcrun Tool Resolution
xcrun resolves and executes Xcode developer tools without hardcoded paths. All tools in this skill are accessed through xcrun (e.g., xcrun simctl, xcrun devicectl, xcrun xctrace).
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| Find tool path | xcrun --find <tool> |
| Show SDK path | xcrun --sdk iphoneos --show-sdk-path |
| Switch Xcode (per-command) | DEVELOPER_DIR=/path/to/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer xcrun <tool> |
| Switch Xcode (system) | sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer |
| Clear cache after upgrade | xcrun --kill-cache |
For tool resolution priority, toolchain selection, or debugging, see xcrun-basics.md.
Tool Selection
| Project Type | Primary Tool | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
Standalone Package.swift | swift build | Libraries, CLI tools, cross-platform Swift (no .xcodeproj) |
.xcworkspace | xcodebuild -workspace | CocoaPods or multi-project setups |
.xcodeproj | xcodebuild | Standard Xcode projects (including those with SPM dependencies) |
Important: The swift build / swift test commands only work for standalone Swift packages. If a Swift package is embedded as a submodule within an Xcode project, you must use xcodebuild with the appropriate scheme—the Swift CLI cannot orchestrate builds in that context.
Project Discovery
Before building, discover the project structure:
# Find what project files exist
ls Package.swift *.xcworkspace *.xcodeproj 2>/dev/null
# List schemes and targets (auto-detects project)
xcodebuild -list
# Describe package (standalone SPM only)
swift package describe
Note: When an Xcode project references a local Swift package, each package target gets its own scheme (named after the target, not the package). Use these schemes to build individual targets without building the entire app.
For mixed projects, shared schemes, or detailed output parsing, see project-discovery.md.
Swift Package Manager Commands
Important: These commands only work for standalone Swift packages, not Swift Package Manager submodules in Xcode projects.
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| Build (debug) | swift build |
| Build (release) | swift build -c release |
| Run executable | swift run [<target>] |
| Run tests | swift test |
| Run specific test | swift test --filter <TestClass.testMethod> |
| Show binary path | swift build --show-bin-path |
| Clean | swift package clean |
| Initialize | swift package init [--type library|executable] |
For cross-compilation, Package.swift syntax, or dependency management, see swift-package-manager.md.
xcodebuild Commands
Command structure: xcodebuild [action] -scheme <name> [-workspace|-project] [options] [BUILD_SETTING=value]
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| List schemes | xcodebuild -list |
| Build | xcodebuild build -scheme <name> |
| Test | xcodebuild test -scheme <name> -destination '<spec>' |
| Build for testing | xcodebuild build-for-testing -scheme <name> -destination '<spec>' |
| Test without build | xcodebuild test-without-building -scheme <name> -destination '<spec>' |
| Archive | xcodebuild archive -scheme <name> -archivePath <path>.xcarchive |
| Clean | xcodebuild clean -scheme <name> |
Required: -scheme is always required. Add -workspace or -project when multiple exist.
For tests: -destination is required for iOS/tvOS/watchOS/visionOS targets.
For build settings, SDK selection, or CI configuration, see xcodebuild-basics.md.
Common Destinations
| Platform | Destination Specifier |
|---|---|
| macOS | 'platform=macOS' |
| iOS Simulator | 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 17' |
| iOS Device | 'platform=iOS,id=<UDID>' |
| tvOS Simulator | 'platform=tvOS Simulator,name=Apple TV' |
| watchOS Simulator | 'platform=watchOS Simulator,name=Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm)' |
| visionOS Simulator | 'platform=visionOS Simulator,name=Apple Vision Pro' |
| Generic (build only) | 'generic/platform=iOS' |
Note: Simulator names change with each Xcode release. Always verify available simulators:
xcrun simctl list devices available
For all platforms, multiple destinations, or troubleshooting destination errors, see destinations.md.
Simulator Management (simctl)
xcrun simctl manages the full simulator lifecycle and enables test automation without launching Xcode.
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| List available simulators | xcrun simctl list devices available |
| Create simulator | xcrun simctl create "<name>" "<type>" "<runtime>" |
| Boot / shutdown | xcrun simctl boot <UDID> / xcrun simctl shutdown <UDID> |
| Install app | xcrun simctl install booted <path.app> |
| Launch app | xcrun simctl launch booted <bundle-id> |
| Grant permissions | xcrun simctl privacy booted grant all <bundle-id> |
| Push notification | xcrun simctl push booted <bundle-id> <file.apns> |
| Set appearance | xcrun simctl ui booted appearance dark |
| Override status bar | xcrun simctl status_bar booted override --time "9:41" |
| Open URL / deep link | xcrun simctl openurl booted "<url>" |
| Take screenshot | xcrun simctl io booted screenshot <file.png> |
| Record video | xcrun simctl io booted recordVideo <file.mov> |
| Set location | xcrun simctl location booted set <lat>,<lon> |
| Stream logs | xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --predicate '...' |
| Download runtime | xcodebuild -downloadPlatform iOS |
For app lifecycle, environment variables, privacy services, media, diagnostics, and runtime management, see simctl.md.
Physical Device Deployment (devicectl)
xcrun devicectl manages physical devices running iOS 17+. Introduced in Xcode 15.
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| List devices | xcrun devicectl list devices |
| List devices (JSON) | xcrun devicectl list devices --json-output /tmp/devices.json |
| Install app | xcrun devicectl device install app --device <ID> <path> |
| Launch app | xcrun devicectl device process launch --device <ID> <bundle-id> |
| Copy file from device | xcrun devicectl device copy from --device <ID> ... |
| List installed apps | xcrun devicectl device info apps --device <ID> |
Important: Requires iOS 17+, Developer Mode enabled, and valid code signing. JSON output is the only stable scripting interface.
For file transfer, process management, device pairing, limitations, and troubleshooting, see devicectl.md.
Code Signing
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| List signing identities | security find-identity -v -p codesigning |
| Disable signing (build) | CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO |
| Auto provisioning | -allowProvisioningUpdates |
| Verify signature | codesign --verify --verbose=4 MyApp.app |
For CI keychain setup, manual vs automatic signing, and build settings, see code-signing.md.
Reference Files
| Topic | File | When to Read |
|---|