macos-xcode

Purpose

This skill equips the AI to handle Xcode-related tasks on macOS, focusing on building, testing, and deploying iOS/macOS applications using command-line tools. It covers core functionalities like code signing, simulator management, and profiling to automate development workflows.

When to Use

Use this skill for tasks involving iOS app compilation, simulator testing, or provisioning profile management. Apply it in CI/CD pipelines for macOS builds, when debugging with Instruments, or for automating xcodebuild processes. Avoid it for non-Apple platforms or GUI-only Xcode interactions.

Key Capabilities

• Execute xcodebuild commands for building, archiving, and testing projects.

• Manage simulators via xcrun simctl, including booting devices and installing apps.

• Handle code signing with security commands, provisioning profiles, and certificates.

• Profile applications using Instruments for performance analysis.

• Query Xcode installations with xcrun to locate tools and SDKs.

• Automate workflows for iOS/macOS apps, including scheme selection and configuration management.

• Integrate with macOS keychain for secure handling of signing identities.

Usage Patterns

Always run commands in a macOS environment with Xcode installed. Prefix xcodebuild/xcrun calls with checks for Xcode availability, e.g., verify $xcode-select -p outputs a valid path. Use in AI responses by generating bash scripts that wrap these commands, ensuring error redirection (e.g., > output.log 2>&1 ). For automation, embed in Python scripts via subprocess: import subprocess and call subprocess.run(['xcodebuild', '-list']) . Handle paths dynamically, using environment variables like $DEVELOPER_DIR to point to Xcode installations.

Common Commands/API

• Build a project: xcodebuild -project MyApp.xcodeproj -scheme MyScheme -configuration Release build

• List schemes: xcodebuild -list (use output to parse available schemes in scripts).

• Boot simulator: xcrun simctl boot "iPhone 15" ; followed by xcrun simctl install booted MyApp.ipa

• Code signing: xcodebuild -exportArchive -archivePath MyApp.xcarchive -exportPath output.ipa -exportOptionsPlist ExportOptions.plist (create ExportOptions.plist with {"method": "app-store"}).

• Run Instruments: instruments -w "iPhone 15" -t Time Profiler MyApp

• Query tools: xcrun --find xcodebuild to get the path; use in code: path = subprocess.check_output(['xcrun', '--find', 'xcodebuild']).decode().strip()

• Provisioning profiles: Use security find-identity -v -p codesigning to list certificates, then specify in xcodebuild via -signingIdentity "iPhone Developer: Name (ID)" .

Integration Notes

Integrate by setting up environment variables for sensitive data, e.g., use $XCODE_SIGNING_IDENTITY for code signing identities. For CI/CD, ensure Xcode is installed via xcode-select --install and set $DEVELOPER_DIR=/Applications/Xcode.app . When combining with other skills, pipe outputs (e.g., from macos-core for file ops). For API-like interactions, wrap xcrun/xcodebuild in RESTful services, but use env vars like $APPLE_DEVELOPER_KEY if accessing Apple services. Always check for Xcode version compatibility, e.g., require >=14.0 for certain simctl features.

Error Handling

Check for common errors like "Code Sign error: No matching provisioning profile found" by verifying profiles with security cms -D -i profile.mobileprovision ; fix by running xcodebuild -fixit or updating ExportOptions.plist. For simulator issues (e.g., "Device not booted"), use xcrun simctl list devices to check status and boot via script: if device not booted, run xcrun simctl boot <udid> . Handle xcodebuild failures by parsing exit codes (e.g., code 65 for build errors) and log outputs. Use try-except in scripts: try: subprocess.run([...]) except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e: print(e.output). Always include --verbose flag for detailed logs.

Concrete Usage Examples

Example 1: Build and Archive an iOS App

To build and archive a project, first ensure Xcode is selected: xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app . Then run:

xcodebuild -workspace MyApp.xcworkspace -scheme MyScheme -configuration Release archive -archivePath build/MyApp.xcarchive xcodebuild -exportArchive -archivePath build/MyApp.xcarchive -exportPath output -exportOptionsPlist options.plist

This outputs an IPA file; use in AI responses to automate app packaging for testing.

Example 2: Launch Simulator and Install App

To test on a simulator, boot a device and install an app:

xcrun simctl boot "iPhone 15" xcrun simctl install booted MyApp.ipa xcrun simctl launch booted com.example.MyApp

Monitor via xcrun simctl status booted ; integrate this into AI workflows for automated UI testing.

Graph Relationships

• Connected to: macos (cluster), due to shared macOS dependencies.

• Related to: ios (tag), for overlapping iOS build processes.

• Links with: build (tag), for integration with other build tools.

• Associated with: signing (tag), for certificate management in related skills.

• Overlaps with: xcode (tag), as a core component in macOS development ecosystems.