Xcode MCP Server Overview

Title

Xcode MCP Server – A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for seamless Xcode integration with AI assistants, enabling project management, file operations, build/testing, CocoaPods & Swift Package Manager support, and iOS simulator control.

How to Use

Installation

Prerequisites

• macOS with Xcode 14.0+
• Node.js 16+ & npm/yarn
• Swift 5.5+ (for Swift Package Manager)
• CocoaPods (optional, for CocoaPods integration)

Setup Options

1. Automated Setup (Recommended)

   • Run setup.sh to verify dependencies, install packages, and configure settings.
   • Supports Claude Desktop integration.

2. Manual Setup

   • Clone the repo, install dependencies (npm install), and configure .env.
   • Best for custom environments or CI/CD pipelines.

Starting the Server

• Production: npm start
• Development (auto-restart): npm run dev

Configuration

• Environment variables (.env file) or command-line arguments.
• Key settings:
  • PROJECTS_BASE_DIR (required)
  • PORT (default: 3000)
  • DEBUG (logging)

Connecting to AI Assistants

1. Launch the server.
2. Configure AI tools to use http://localhost:3000.
3. Access all Xcode functionalities via MCP.

---

Key Features

Project Management

• Create projects (iOS/macOS/watchOS/tvOS), manage schemes, and parse workspaces.

File Operations

• Read/write files (text/binary), search content, and manage directories.

Build & Testing

• Build projects, run tests, analyze code, clean builds, and archive for distribution.

CocoaPods & Swift Package Manager

• Initialize, add/remove dependencies, update pods, and generate Swift documentation.

iOS Simulator Tools

• List, boot, and manage simulators; install apps, take screenshots, and record videos.

Xcode Utilities

• Execute xcrun commands, compile assets, generate app icons, and switch Xcode versions.

---

Use Cases

1. AI-Assisted Development – Let AI assistants interact with Xcode projects, automate repetitive tasks.
2. Automated Testing – Run tests, analyze failures, and generate reports.
3. Dependency Management – Handle CocoaPods & Swift Package Manager via AI commands.
4. Simulator Automation – Control simulators for app testing and debugging.
5. CI/CD Integration – Script project builds, archiving, and validation for pipelines.

---

The Xcode MCP Server bridges AI and Xcode, streamlining iOS/macOS development with powerful automation and integration capabilities. 🚀