Xcode
Enables AI assistants to manage Xcode projects by listing targets, reading configurations, and triggering builds via the Model Context Protocol. It facilitates natural language interaction with macOS developer tools to streamline iOS app development
What is Xcode?
Xcode is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to enables ai assistants to manage xcode projects by listing targets, reading configurations, and triggering builds via the model context protocol. it facilitates natural language interaction with macos ...
Enables AI assistants to manage Xcode projects by listing targets, reading configurations, and triggering builds via the Model Context Protocol. It facilitates natural language interaction with macOS developer tools to streamline iOS app development
This server falls under the Coding Agents category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Enables AI assistants to manage Xcode projects by listing ta
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y xcode-mcp-serverManual Installation
npx -y xcode-mcp-serverConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Xcode
The Xcode MCP server enables AI assistants to manage iOS and macOS development projects through natural language by exposing tools for Xcode project creation, file operations, build and test execution, Swift Package Manager integration, CocoaPods dependency management, iOS simulator control, and xcrun utility access. It bridges the gap between AI-driven coding workflows and Apple's native toolchain, allowing developers to trigger builds, run tests, manage project structure, and capture simulator screenshots without leaving their AI client. The server is built with TypeScript, configured via a .env file, and requires a macOS machine with Xcode installed.
Prerequisites
- macOS with Xcode 14.0 or later installed
- Node.js 16 or higher and npm
- Swift 5.5+ (included with Xcode 14+)
- CocoaPods installed if you use CocoaPods dependencies (gem install cocoapods)
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code
Clone the repository
Clone the xcode-mcp-server repository to your local machine.
git clone https://github.com/r-huijts/xcode-mcp-server.git
cd xcode-mcp-serverRun the automated setup script
The included setup.sh script checks your environment, installs npm dependencies, builds the TypeScript project, and can optionally configure Claude Desktop integration.
chmod +x setup.sh && ./setup.shConfigure your environment
Copy the example .env file and edit it to set your projects base directory and any optional settings.
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env and set PROJECTS_BASE_DIR to your Xcode projects folderStart the server
Run the server in production or development mode. In development mode it auto-restarts on file changes.
npm start # production
npm run dev # development with auto-restartAdd to your MCP client
Add the server to your Claude Desktop or other MCP client configuration, pointing at the built index.js file.
Xcode Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration for the Xcode MCP server. Point the command at the built index.js file in the cloned repository, and set PROJECTS_BASE_DIR to your Xcode projects root.
{
"mcpServers": {
"xcode": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/xcode-mcp-server/dist/index.js"],
"env": {
"PROJECTS_BASE_DIR": "/Users/yourname/Developer",
"DEBUG": "false",
"LOG_LEVEL": "info"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example natural language tasks you can give your AI assistant once the Xcode MCP server is connected.
- "Create a new iOS app project called MyWeatherApp using Swift"
- "List all schemes in the MyWeatherApp project"
- "Build the MyWeatherApp scheme and show me any errors"
- "Add the Alamofire Swift package from https://github.com/Alamofire/Alamofire.git version 5.0.0+"
- "Boot an iPhone 15 simulator and install MyWeatherApp"
- "Take a screenshot of the running simulator"Troubleshooting Xcode
Build fails with 'xcode-select: error: tool not found'
Run 'xcode-select --install' to install the Xcode command line tools, or 'sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer' to point to your full Xcode installation.
PROJECTS_BASE_DIR is not set or the server cannot find projects
Ensure PROJECTS_BASE_DIR is set to an absolute path in your .env file or in the env block of your MCP client config. The path must exist and contain your Xcode project folders.
Simulator tools fail or show no available devices
Open Xcode, go to Settings > Platforms, and download at least one iOS simulator runtime. Then run 'xcrun simctl list devices' in Terminal to verify simulators are available.
Frequently Asked Questions about Xcode
What is Xcode?
Xcode is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables ai assistants to manage xcode projects by listing targets, reading configurations, and triggering builds via the model context protocol. it facilitates natural language interaction with macos developer tools to streamline ios app development It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Xcode?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y xcode-mcp-server. Then add the server configuration to your AI client's JSON config file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).
Which AI clients work with Xcode?
Xcode works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Xcode free to use?
Yes, Xcode is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Xcode in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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