XcodeBuildMCP
@cameroncooke
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and CLI that provides tools for agent use when working on iOS and macOS projects.
Overview
What is XcodeBuildMCP?
XcodeBuildMCP is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and CLI that provides tools for AI coding agents working on iOS and macOS projects.
How to use XcodeBuildMCP?
Install via Homebrew (brew tap getsentry/xcodebuildmcp && brew install xcodebuildmcp) or npm (npm install -g xcodebuildmcp@latest). Start the MCP server with xcodebuildmcp mcp for integration with MCP clients like Cursor or Claude Code, or use CLI commands such as xcodebuildmcp tools and xcodebuildmcp simulator build --scheme MyApp directly.
Key features of XcodeBuildMCP
- MCP server for AI coding agent integration
- CLI for direct terminal use in iOS/macOS builds
- Optional agent skills (MCP and CLI) to prime agents
- Automatic skip of Swift Macro validation to reduce errors
- Per‑workspace daemon for stateful operations (log capture, debugging)
- Device tools requiring Xcode code signing configuration
Use cases of XcodeBuildMCP
- Build and test iOS/macOS projects from within an AI coding agent
- Automate simulator builds using CLI commands without Xcode GUI
- Manage build operations and troubleshooting with agent assistance
- Integrate with MCP‑compatible IDEs for streamlined development
FAQ from XcodeBuildMCP
What are the system requirements?
macOS 14.5 or later, Xcode 16.x or later, and Node.js 18.x or later (Node.js not required when installing via Homebrew).
How can I install XcodeBuildMCP?
Two methods: Homebrew (brew tap getsentry/xcodebuildmcp && brew install xcodebuildmcp) or npm global install (npm install -g xcodebuildmcp@latest). You can also run it on demand with npx -y xcodebuildmcp@latest mcp.
How does XcodeBuildMCP handle Swift Macros?
It requests xcodebuild to skip macro validation to avoid errors when building projects that use Swift Macros.
Do I need code signing for device builds?
Yes, device tools require code signing to be configured in Xcode. See the official documentation for details.
What telemetry does XcodeBuildMCP collect?
It uses Sentry for internal runtime error telemetry only. Opt‑out instructions are available in the Privacy & Telemetry documentation.
