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/ce-test-xcode

Build and test iOS apps on simulator with XcodeBuildMCP.

From plugin
compound-engineering
24k32 skills27 agents1 command
Install
$ npx -y skills add everyinc/compound-engineering-plugin --skill ce-test-xcode --agent claude-code

How it fires

How this skill gets triggered: by you, by Claude, or both.

  • Fires itselfAuto-invocation. Claude auto-loads it when your prompt matches the work.Auto-invocation is when the right skill fires by itself at the right moment, driven by a FLOW.md router and a hook, instead of you invoking it by name. It is the difference between a skill being installed and a skill actually getting used.Read the full definition →
  • You can call itInvoke it directly when you want it.
  • Slash command/ce-test-xcode

Context preview

The summary Claude sees to decide when to auto-load this skill.

Build and test iOS apps on simulator with XcodeBuildMCP.

SKILL.md

ce-test-xcode.SKILL.md
name: ce-test-xcode
description: "Build and test iOS apps on simulator with XcodeBuildMCP."
argument-hint: "[scheme name or 'current' to use default]"
disable-model-invocation: true

Xcode Test Skill

Build, install, and test iOS apps on the simulator using XcodeBuildMCP. Captures screenshots, logs, and verifies app behavior.

Prerequisites

  • Xcode installed with command-line tools
  • XcodeBuildMCP MCP server connected
  • Valid Xcode project or workspace
  • At least one iOS Simulator available

Workflow

0. Verify XcodeBuildMCP is Available

Check that the XcodeBuildMCP MCP server is connected by calling its `list_simulators` tool.

MCP tool names vary by platform:

  • Claude Code: `mcp__xcodebuildmcp__list_simulators`
  • Other platforms: use the equivalent MCP tool call for the `XcodeBuildMCP` server's `list_simulators` method

If the tool is not found or errors, inform the user they need to add the XcodeBuildMCP MCP server:

XcodeBuildMCP not installed

Install via Homebrew:
  brew tap getsentry/xcodebuildmcp && brew install xcodebuildmcp

Or via npx (no global install needed):
  npx -y xcodebuildmcp@latest mcp

Then add "XcodeBuildMCP" as an MCP server in your agent configuration
and restart your agent.

Do NOT proceed until XcodeBuildMCP is confirmed working.

1. Discover Project and Scheme

Call XcodeBuildMCP's `discover_projs` tool to find available projects, then `list_schemes` with the project path to get available schemes.

If an argument was provided, use that scheme name. If "current", use the default/last-used scheme.

2. Boot Simulator

Call `list_simulators` to find available simulators. Boot the preferred simulator (iPhone 15 Pro recommended) using `boot_simulator` with the simulator's UUID.

Wait for the simulator to be ready before proceeding.

3. Build the App

Call `build_ios_sim_app` with the project path and scheme name.

**On failure:**

  • Capture build errors
  • Report to user with specific error details

**On success:**

  • Note the built app path for installation
  • Proceed to step 4

4. Install and Launch

1. Call `install_app_on_simulator` with the built app path and simulator UUID 2. Call `launch_app_on_simulator` with the bundle ID and simulator UUID 3. Call `capture_sim_logs` with the simulator UUID and bundle ID to start log capture

5. Test Key Screens

For each key screen in the app:

**Take screenshot:** Call `take_screenshot` with the simulator UUID and a descriptive filename (e.g., `screen-home.png`).

**Review screenshot for:**

  • UI elements rendered correctly
  • No error messages visible
  • Expected content displayed
  • Layout looks correct

**Check logs for errors:** Call `get_sim_logs` with the simulator UUID. Look for:

  • Crashes
  • Exceptions
  • Error-level log messages
  • Failed network requests

**Known automation limitation — SwiftUI Text links:** Simulated taps (via XcodeBuildMCP or any simulator automation tool) do not trigger gesture recognizers on SwiftUI `Text` views with inline `AttributedString` links. Taps report success but have no effect. This is a platform limitation — inline links are not exposed as separate elements in the accessibility tree. When a tap on a Text link has no visible effect, prompt the user to tap manually in the simulator. If the target URL is known, `xcrun simctl openurl <device> <URL>` can open it directly as a fallback.

6. Human Verification (When Required)

Pause for human input when testing touches flows that require device interaction.

| Flow Type | What to Ask | |-----------|-------------| | Sign in with Apple | "Please complete Sign in with Apple on the simulator" | | Push notifications | "Send a test push and confirm it appears" | | In-app purchases | "Complete a sandbox purchase" | | Camera/Photos | "Grant permissions and verify camera works" | | Location | "Allow location access and verify map updates" | | SwiftUI Text links | "Please tap on [element description] manually — automated taps cannot trigger inline text links" |

Ask the user using the platform's blocking question tool: `AskUserQuestion` in Claude Code (call `ToolSearch` with `select:AskUserQuestion` first if its schema isn't loaded), `request_user_input` in Codex, `ask_question` in Antigravity CLI (`agy`), `ask_user` in Pi (requires the `pi-ask-user` extension). Fall back to numbered options in chat only when no blocking tool exists in the harness or the call errors (e.g., Codex edit modes) — not because a schema load is required. Never silently skip the question:

Human Verification Needed

This test requires [flow type]. Please:
1. [Action to take on simulator]
2. [What to verify]

Did it work correctly?
1. Yes - continue testing
2. No - describe the issue

7. Handle Failures

When a test fails:

1. **Document the failure:**

  • Take screenshot of error state
  • Capture console logs
  • Note reproduction steps

2. **Ask the user how to proceed:**

   Test Failed: [screen/feature]

   Issue: [description]
   Logs: [relevant error messages]

   How to proceed?
   1. Fix now - debug, propose a fix, rebuild and retest
   2. Skip - continue testing other screens

3. **If "Fix now":** investigate, propose a fix, rebuild and retest 4. **If "Skip":** log as skipped, continue

8. Test Summary

After all tests complete, present a summary:

## Xcode Test Results

**Project:** [project name]
**Scheme:** [scheme name]
**Simulator:** [simulator name]

### Build: Success / Failed

### Screens Tested: [count]

| Screen | Status | Notes |
|--------|--------|-------|
| Launch | Pass | |
| Home | Pass | |
| Settings | Fail | Crash on tap |
| Profile | Skip | Requires login |

### Console Errors: [count]
- [List any errors found]

### Human Verifications: [count]
- Sign in with Apple: Confirmed
- Push notifications: Confirmed

### Failures: [count]
- Settings screen - crash on navigation

### Result: [PASS / FAIL / PARTIAL]

9. Cleanup

After testing:

1. Call `stop_lo

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