What is ios-build-deploy?

This Claude skill automates the iOS development lifecycle by streamlining the build, deployment, and testing process. It provides a comprehensive interface for managing Xcode builds, simulator environments, and app installations, significantly reducing the manual overhead required for debugging and verifying iOS applications.

When should I use ios-build-deploy?

ios-build-deploy is useful in the following scenarios: • Rapid Iteration: Automatically rebuild and redeploy the iOS app to a simulator immediately after code changes to verify UI and logic updates. • Integrated Debugging: Launch applications and monitor real-time system logs or capture screenshots directly through the agent to identify runtime issues. • Environment Management: Efficiently manage simulator states, including booting specific devices, listing available hardware, and cleaning build caches or derived data. • Deployment Verification: Build and install debug versions of applications on both simulators and physical devices to ensure cross-platform compatibility.

name	ios-build-deploy
description	Build and deploy iOS app to simulator or device. Use when testing iOS changes, debugging on simulator, or running the app after code changes. Handles Xcode builds, app installation, and launching.
allowed-tools	Read, Bash

iOS Build & Deploy

Purpose

Quickly build the iOS app and deploy to simulator or connected device for testing.

Prerequisites Check

Before building, verify environment:

# List available simulators
xcrun simctl list devices available

# Check if Xcode command line tools installed
xcode-select -p

# Check connected physical devices
xcrun xctrace list devices

Build Commands

Quick Compile (Check for Errors)

cd apps/ios/ConstructionPro
xcodebuild -scheme ConstructionPro -configuration Debug -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 15' build 2>&1 | head -50

Build for Simulator

cd apps/ios/ConstructionPro
xcodebuild -scheme ConstructionPro \
  -configuration Debug \
  -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 15' \
  -derivedDataPath build \
  build

Build for Device

cd apps/ios/ConstructionPro
xcodebuild -scheme ConstructionPro \
  -configuration Debug \
  -destination 'generic/platform=iOS' \
  build

Deploy to Simulator

Boot Simulator

# List available simulators
xcrun simctl list devices available | grep iPhone

# Boot specific simulator
xcrun simctl boot "iPhone 15"

# Open Simulator app
open -a Simulator

Install App on Simulator

# Find the built app
APP_PATH=$(find apps/ios/ConstructionPro/build -name "*.app" -type d | head -1)

# Install to booted simulator
xcrun simctl install booted "$APP_PATH"

Launch App

xcrun simctl launch booted com.constructionpro.app

Combined: Build, Install, Launch

cd apps/ios/ConstructionPro && \
xcodebuild -scheme ConstructionPro \
  -configuration Debug \
  -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 15' \
  -derivedDataPath build \
  build && \
xcrun simctl install booted build/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/ConstructionPro.app && \
xcrun simctl launch booted com.constructionpro.app

Debugging

View Logs (Filtered to App)

xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --predicate 'subsystem == "com.constructionpro.app"'

View Recent Console Output

xcrun simctl spawn booted log show --last 5m --predicate 'subsystem == "com.constructionpro.app"'

Take Simulator Screenshot

xcrun simctl io booted screenshot screenshot.png

Common Issues

Simulator Not Found

# Reset simulator list
xcrun simctl shutdown all
xcrun simctl erase all

# Create new simulator if needed
xcrun simctl create "iPhone 15" "com.apple.CoreSimulator.SimDeviceType.iPhone-15"

Build Cache Issues

cd apps/ios/ConstructionPro
rm -rf build
rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/ConstructionPro-*
xcodebuild clean -scheme ConstructionPro

Code Signing Issues (Device Only)

# Check signing identity
security find-identity -v -p codesigning

# Build with automatic signing
xcodebuild -scheme ConstructionPro \
  -configuration Debug \
  -allowProvisioningUpdates \
  build

Swift Compile Errors

Check specific errors:

xcodebuild -scheme ConstructionPro build 2>&1 | grep -A 3 "error:"

Quick Reference

Task	Command
List simulators	`xcrun simctl list devices available`
Boot simulator	`xcrun simctl boot "iPhone 15"`
Build for sim	`xcodebuild -scheme ConstructionPro -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 15' build`
Install app	`xcrun simctl install booted <app_path>`
Launch app	`xcrun simctl launch booted com.constructionpro.app`
View logs	`xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream`
Clean build	`xcodebuild clean -scheme ConstructionPro`

Project Paths

Root: apps/ios/ConstructionPro/
Source: apps/ios/ConstructionPro/ConstructionPro/
Models: apps/ios/ConstructionPro/ConstructionPro/Models/
Views: apps/ios/ConstructionPro/ConstructionPro/Views/
Services: apps/ios/ConstructionPro/ConstructionPro/Services/
Build Output: apps/ios/ConstructionPro/build/

ios-build-deploy

When & Why to Use This Skill

Use Cases