iosctl

Agent-first CLI and skill for native iOS Simulator build, run, and proof loops.

iosctl is intentionally boring: it wraps first-party Apple command-line tools and a small number of proven adjacent tools behind stable JSON, explicit artifacts, and predictable failures.

Current status: Phase 2 proof and UI spine. The CLI includes environment checks, Simulator inventory, proof-run for build/install/launch/screenshot/receipts, and semantic UI snapshot/find/tap/type/swipe commands backed by idb.

Why

Agents need a reliable way to prove iOS app behavior without depending on long-running MCP helper servers as the source of truth.

Design stance:

• CLI is truth.
• MCP is optional transport later.
• First-party Apple tools first.
• Accessibility tree before screenshot vision.
• Receipts or it did not happen.
• No secret leakage.

Install

After the first npm release:

npm i -g iosctl
iosctl --help

Local:

npm install
npm run build
npm link
iosctl doctor --json

Requirements

• macOS with full Xcode installed.
• Node.js 22+.
• xcodebuild.
• xcrun simctl.
• xcrun xcresulttool.
• Optional but recommended: idb and idb_companion.
• Optional: xcbeautify, Maestro, XcodeBuildMCP.

Commands

Implemented:

iosctl doctor --json
iosctl devices --json
iosctl proof-run --project App.xcodeproj --scheme App --bundle com.example.app --device "iPhone 17 Pro" --json
iosctl proof-run --workspace App.xcworkspace --scheme App --bundle com.example.app --runtime "iOS 26" --json
iosctl ui snapshot --device <UDID> --json
iosctl ui find --text "Book appointment" --json
iosctl ui tap --text "Book appointment" --json
iosctl ui type --text-field "Ask anything..." --value "Can I schedule a visit?" --json
iosctl ui swipe --direction up --json
iosctl contract --json

Planned:

iosctl project inspect --project App.xcodeproj --json
iosctl sim ensure --device "iPhone 17 Pro" --runtime "iOS 26" --json
iosctl build --project App.xcodeproj --scheme App --device "iPhone 17 Pro" --json
iosctl install --app ./App.app --device <UDID> --json
iosctl launch --bundle com.example.app --device <UDID> --env-file .env.local --json

proof-run writes artifacts under .iosctl/runs/<run-id>/ by default:

• receipt.json
• summary.md
• build.log
• app.log
• screenshot-<name>.png
• DerivedData/
• xcodebuild.xcresult

ui snapshot writes raw accessibility evidence under .iosctl/ui/<snapshot-id>/:

• ui-tree.json
• elements.json

Agent Contract

• With --json, stdout is exactly one JSON object.
• Progress and diagnostics go to stderr.
• Exit 0: success.
• Exit 1: operation failed.
• Exit 2: invalid input or missing local capability.
• Exit 3: safety refusal.

See docs/CONTRACT_V1.md.

Skill

iosctl follows the Vercel skills CLI package layout: the installable skill lives at skills/iosctl/SKILL.md, and there is intentionally no root SKILL.md to shadow nested skill discovery.

List the skill:

npx -y skills add danielgwilson/iosctl --list

Install the skill:

npx -y skills add -g danielgwilson/iosctl --skill iosctl

Use the skill without installing:

npx -y skills use danielgwilson/iosctl@iosctl

Canonical skill path: skills/iosctl/SKILL.md.

Release Notes

This package is scaffolded for npm Trusted Publishing from GitHub Actions.

• CI workflow: .github/workflows/ci.yml
• Publish workflow: .github/workflows/publish.yml
• Public-surface lint: npm run lint:public-surface
• Release runbook: docs/PUBLISHING.md