Xcode MCP Server

What does “Xcode” MCP Server do?

The Xcode MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server is a specialized tool designed to bridge AI assistants with the Xcode development environment. By exposing a broad suite of Xcode-related operations through a standardized protocol, it enables AI agents to manage Xcode projects, automate file operations, control iOS simulators, and interact with various project dependencies and build tools. This deep integration streamlines development workflows, allowing tasks such as building, testing, code analysis, dependency management (CocoaPods and Swift Package Manager), and simulator control to be performed programmatically or via intelligent assistants. The server is particularly valuable for automating repetitive tasks, improving code quality, and accelerating iOS/macOS project development by making powerful Xcode features accessible through natural language or AI-driven interfaces.

List of Prompts

No prompt templates are mentioned in the available repository files or documentation.

List of Resources

No explicit resources (as defined by MCP) are listed in the available repository files or documentation.

List of Tools

• Project Management Tools

  • Set active projects and retrieve project information.
  • Create new Xcode projects from templates (e.g., iOS, macOS).
  • Add files to projects with target/group specification.
  • Parse workspace documents and list schemes.

• File Operations

  • Read and write files (with encoding support).
  • Handle binary files via base64.
  • Search for text using patterns/regex.
  • Check file existence and metadata.
  • Automatically create directories.

• Build & Testing

  • Build projects with custom options.
  • Run tests and report failures.
  • Analyze code for issues.
  • Clean build directories.
  • Archive projects for distribution.

• CocoaPods Integration

  • Initialize, install, update, and manage pods.
  • Add/remove pod dependencies.
  • Run arbitrary pod commands.

• Swift Package Manager

  • Manage Swift packages and dependencies.
  • Update/resolve packages.
  • Generate documentation.
  • Build and test packages.

• iOS Simulator Tools

  • List, boot, shut down simulators.
  • Install and launch apps.
  • Take screenshots/record videos.
  • Manage simulator settings.

• Xcode Utilities

  • Execute Xcode commands via xcrun.
  • Compile asset catalogs.
  • Generate app icon sets.
  • Trace app performance.
  • Export/validate archives for App Store.
  • Switch between Xcode versions.

Use Cases of this MCP Server

• Automated Project Setup
  AI agents can rapidly create and configure new Xcode projects, set up dependency managers like CocoaPods or Swift Package Manager, and prepare the directory structure, significantly reducing the manual effort required during project initialization.

• Continuous Integration and Testing
  Automate build, test, and analysis workflows for iOS/macOS projects. AI-driven routines can trigger builds, run tests, and report failures or code issues, facilitating robust CI/CD pipelines directly from chat or script interfaces.

• Simulator Management and Testing
  Programmatically control iOS simulators for automated UI testing, app installation, and screenshot/video capture, enhancing the testing coverage and reliability for mobile apps.

• Dependency Management
  Streamline the addition, removal, and updating of third-party libraries using CocoaPods or Swift Package Manager, ensuring projects stay up-to-date and compatible with minimal manual intervention.

• Asset and Build Utilities
  Automate asset compilation, icon generation, and build artifact management (including archiving and export for App Store submission), improving efficiency and reducing the risk of manual errors.

How to set it up

Windsurf

1. Ensure you have macOS, Xcode (14.0+), Node.js (16+), and npm installed.
2. Download or clone the xcode-mcp-server repository.
3. Run the setup script:

   chmod +x setup.sh
   ./setup.sh
   

4. Edit the Windsurf configuration file to add the MCP server:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "xcode-mcp": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["@xcode/mcp-server@latest"]
       }
     }
   }
   

5. Save the configuration and restart Windsurf. Verify by checking Xcode MCP tools availability.

Claude

1. Install prerequisites (macOS, Xcode, Node.js, npm).
2. Clone the repo and run the setup script as above.
3. Locate Claude’s MCP configuration file.
4. Add the Xcode MCP server:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "xcode-mcp": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["@xcode/mcp-server@latest"]
       }
     }
   }
   

5. Save and restart Claude. Confirm setup via tool listing.

Cursor

1. Ensure all dependencies are installed.
2. Clone the repository and execute the setup script.
3. Open Cursor’s MCP configuration file.
4. Add the following under mcpServers:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "xcode-mcp": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["@xcode/mcp-server@latest"]
       }
     }
   }
   

5. Save and restart Cursor, then verify the server is active.

Cline

1. Set up prerequisites and run the setup script.
2. Edit the Cline MCP server configuration file.
3. Insert the Xcode MCP server entry:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "xcode-mcp": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["@xcode/mcp-server@latest"]
       }
     }
   }
   

4. Save changes and restart Cline.
5. Confirm Xcode MCP server is operational within Cline.

Securing API Keys Using Environment Variables

• Place sensitive data (API keys, tokens) in a .env file.
• Example .env usage:

  XCODE_MCP_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
  

• Reference environment variables in your config:

  {
    "mcpServers": {
      "xcode-mcp": {
        "command": "npx",
        "args": ["@xcode/mcp-server@latest"],
        "env": {
          "XCODE_MCP_API_KEY": "${XCODE_MCP_API_KEY}"
        },
        "inputs": {
          "projectBaseDir": "/Users/yourname/Projects"
        }
      }
    }
  }
  

How to use this MCP inside flows

Using MCP in FlowHunt

To integrate MCP servers into your FlowHunt workflow, start by adding the MCP component to your flow and connecting it to your AI agent:

Click on the MCP component to open the configuration panel. In the system MCP configuration section, insert your MCP server details using this JSON format:

{
  "xcode-mcp": {
    "transport": "streamable_http",
    "url": "https://yourmcpserver.example/pathtothemcp/url"
  }
}

Once configured, the AI agent is now able to use this MCP as a tool with access to all its functions and capabilities. Remember to change “MCP-name” to whatever the actual name of your MCP server is (e.g., “xcode-mcp”) and replace the URL with your own MCP server URL.

Overview

Based on the information above, the Xcode MCP Server is highly functional for Xcode automation, but lacks documentation on prompt templates, explicit MCP resource support, and sampling/roots features. Strong project/build tools and clear setup instructions are a plus.

MCP Score

Overall, I would rate this MCP server a 7 out of 10.
It provides comprehensive Xcode integration and automation tools, has good documentation for setup, and a clear license. However, it lacks information on prompt templates, explicit MCP resources, roots and sampling support, which are important for full MCP compliance and advanced workflows.