# XcodeBuildMCP [Health: Active]

**Category:** 💻 Developer Tools  
**Repository:** https://github.com/cameroncooke/XcodeBuildMCP  
**GitHub Stars:** 6552  
**npm Downloads (last month):** 8986  
**Views:** 8  
**Installs:** 0  
**Upvotes:** 0  
**Directory Page:** https://allmcps.com/mcp/xcodebuildmcp

## Description
XcodeBuildMCP provides tools for Xcode project management, simulator management, and app utilities.

## Claude Desktop Quick Installation
Install path detected from listing signals. Uses `npx` (confidence: high):

```json
"mcpServers": {
  "xcodebuildmcp": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": ["-y","mobilebuildmcp@latest"]
  }
}
```

## Documentation

## What XcodeBuildMCP MCP server does

XcodeBuildMCP MCP server connects MCP-compatible coding agents with workflows for iOS and macOS projects. Its capabilities cover Xcode project management, simulator management, application utilities, and build and test operations. The package also includes a command-line interface, so the same project workflows can be used directly from a terminal instead of through an agent.

The repository describes support for simulator builds, prepared test products, simulator tests, debugging-related state, log capture, and device operations. Device-related workflows depend on code signing being configured in Xcode.

## How it works

The package provides two operating modes: an MCP mode for AI coding clients and a CLI mode for direct terminal use. Running `mobilebuildmcp mcp` starts the MCP server. Other subcommands expose direct commands, including commands to list tools, build an app for a simulator, prepare test products, and run those products later.

CLI stateful operations use a daemon scoped to the workspace. The daemon starts automatically when needed and supports operations such as log capture and debugging. For builds involving Swift Macros, the package asks `xcodebuild` to skip macro validation to avoid related build errors.

## Setup and configuration

XcodeBuildMCP MCP server requires macOS 14.5 or newer and Xcode 16.x or newer. Node.js 18.x or later is needed for npm installation and use, but the Homebrew installation does not require a separate Node.js installation.

Install with Homebrew:

```bash
brew tap getsentry/xcodebuildmcp
brew install mobilebuildmcp
```

Or install globally with npm:

```bash
npm install -g mobilebuildmcp@latest
```

You can verify the installation with `mobilebuildmcp --help`. MCP clients can also start the package without a global installation by running `npx -y mobilebuildmcp@latest mcp`. The project provides client configuration examples for Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex.

Optional agent skills can be initialized with `mobilebuildmcp init` or the equivalent `npx` command. The MCP skill provides usage guidance for the server tools, while the CLI skill provides guidance for using the command-line interface.

## Tools and capabilities

The available workflows include:

- Listing the available tools from the CLI.
- Building an Xcode project for a simulator.
- Building test products without immediately running tests.
- Running previously prepared test products on a simulator.
- Managing simulators and using app utilities.
- Supporting device operations when signing is configured.
- Capturing logs and supporting debugging through the workspace daemon.
- Checking for updates and upgrading the installed package.

For example, a simulator build can specify a scheme and project path. Test preparation can additionally specify a simulator name, build-for-testing mode, and test-products path.

## Limitations and notes

XcodeBuildMCP MCP server is intended for macOS environments with the required Xcode version; it is not described as a cross-platform server. Device tools require code signing configured in Xcode. The package uses Sentry for internal runtime error telemetry, with opt-out information provided in the project documentation.

The README identifies the project as MIT licensed. Third-party and npm package attribution notices are provided separately in the repository.

_Full upstream README: https://allmcps.com/mcp/xcodebuildmcp/readme_