--- title: "CLI Workflow" description: "Build, run, test, and deploy iOS apps entirely from the terminal." type: skill canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/cli-workflow source: "Claudary" difficulty: intermediate author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack" date: 2026-07-10T11:14:02.013Z license: CC-BY-4.0 attribution: "CLI Workflow — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/cli-workflow)" --- # CLI Workflow Build, run, test, and deploy iOS apps entirely from the terminal. ## Overview # CLI Workflow Build, run, test, and deploy iOS apps entirely from the terminal. ## Prerequisites ```bash # Ensure Xcode is installed and selected xcode-select -p # Should show: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer # If not, run: sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer # Install XcodeGen for project creation brew install xcodegen # Optional: prettier build output brew install xcbeautify # Optional: device deployment brew install ios-deploy ``` ## Create Project (XcodeGen) Create a new iOS project entirely from CLI: ```bash # Create directory structure mkdir MyApp && cd MyApp mkdir -p MyApp/{App,Models,Views,Services,Resources} MyAppTests MyAppUITests # Create project.yml (Claude generates this - see project-scaffolding.md for full template) cat > project.yml << 'EOF' name: MyApp options: bundleIdPrefix: com.yourcompany deploymentTarget: iOS: "18.0" targets: MyApp: type: application platform: iOS sources: [MyApp] settings: PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER: com.yourcompany.myapp DEVELOPMENT_TEAM: YOURTEAMID EOF # Create app entry point cat > MyApp/App/MyApp.swift << 'EOF' import SwiftUI @main struct MyApp: App { var body: some Scene { WindowGroup { Text("Hello, World!") } } } EOF # Generate .xcodeproj xcodegen generate # Verify xcodebuild -list -project MyApp.xcodeproj # Build xcodebuild -project MyApp.xcodeproj -scheme MyApp -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16' build ``` See [project-scaffolding.md](project-scaffolding.md) for complete project.yml templates. ## Building ### Basic Build ```bash # Build for simulator xcodebuild -project MyApp.xcodeproj \\ -scheme MyApp \\ -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16' \\ build # Build for device xcodebuild -project MyApp.xcodeproj \\ -scheme MyApp \\ -destination 'generic/platform=iOS' \\ build ``` ### Clean Build ```bash xcodebuild -project MyApp.xcodeproj \\ -scheme MyApp \\ clean build ``` ### Build with Specific SDK ```bash # List available SDKs xcodebuild -showsdks # Build with specific SDK xcodebuild -project MyApp.xcodeproj \\ -scheme MyApp \\ -sdk iphonesimulator17.0 \\ build ``` ## Running on Simulator ### Boot and Launch ```bash # List available simulators xcrun simctl list devices # Boot simulator xcrun simctl boot "iPhone 16" # Open Simulator app open -a Simulator # Install app xcrun simctl install booted ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/MyApp-xxx/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/MyApp.app # Launch app xcrun simctl launch booted com.yourcompany.MyApp # Or install and launch in one step xcrun simctl install booted MyApp.app && xcrun simctl launch booted com.yourcompany.MyApp ``` ### Simulator Management ```bash # Create simulator xcrun simctl create "My iPhone 16" "iPhone 16" iOS17.0 # Delete simulator xcrun simctl delete "My iPhone 16" # Reset simulator xcrun simctl erase booted # Screenshot xcrun simctl io booted screenshot ~/Desktop/screenshot.png # Record video xcrun simctl io booted recordVideo ~/Desktop/recording.mov ``` ### Simulate Conditions ```bash # Set location xcrun simctl location booted set 37.7749,-122.4194 # Send push notification xcrun simctl push booted com.yourcompany.MyApp notification.apns # Set status bar (time, battery, etc.) xcrun simctl status_bar booted override --time "9:41" --batteryLevel 100 ``` ## Running on Device ### List Connected Devices ```bash # List devices xcrun xctrace list devices # Or using ios-deploy ios-deploy --detect ``` ### Deploy to Device ```bash # Install ios-deploy brew install ios-deploy # Deploy and run ios-deploy --bundle MyApp.app --debug # Just install without launching ios-deploy --bundle MyApp.app --no-wifi # Deploy with app data ios-deploy --bundle MyApp.app --bundle_id com.yourcompany.MyApp ``` ### Wireless Debugging 1. Connect device via USB once 2. In Xcode: Window > Devices and Simulators > Connect via network 3. Deploy wirelessly: ```bash ios-deploy --bundle MyApp.app --wifi ``` ## Testing ### Run Unit Tests ```bash xcodebuild test \\ -project MyApp.xcodeproj \\ -scheme MyApp \\ -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16' \\ -resultBundlePath TestResults.xcresult ``` ### Run UI Tests ```bash xcodebuild test \\ -project MyApp.xcodeproj \\ -scheme MyAppUITests \\ -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16' \\ -resultBundlePath UITestResults.xcresult ``` ### Run Specific Tests ```bash # Single test xcodebuild test \\ -project MyApp.xcodeproj \\ -scheme MyApp \\ -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16' \\ -only-testing:MyAppTests/NetworkServiceTests/testFetchItems # Test class xcodebuild test \\ ... \\ -only-testing:MyAppTests/NetworkServiceTests ``` ### View Test Results ```bash # Open results in Xcode open TestResults.xcresult # Export to JSON (for CI) xcrun xcresulttool get --path TestResults.xcresult --format json ``` ## Debugging ### Console Logs ```bash # Stream logs from simulator xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --predicate 'subsystem == "com.yourcompany.MyApp"' # Stream logs from device idevicesyslog | grep MyApp ``` ### LLDB ```bash # Attach to running process lldb -n MyApp # Debug app on launch ios-deploy --bundle MyApp.app --debug ``` ### Crash Logs ```bash # Simulator crash logs ls ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ # Device crash logs (via Xcode) # Window > Devices and Simulators > View Device Logs ``` ## Archiving and Export ### Create Archive ```bash xcodebuild archive \\ -project MyApp.xcodeproj \\ -scheme MyApp \\ -archivePath build/MyApp.xcarchive \\ -destination 'generic/platform=iOS' ``` ### Export IPA Create `ExportOptions.plist`: ```xml method app-store teamID YOUR_TEAM_ID uploadSymbols uploadBitcode ``` Export: ```bash xcodebuild -exportArchive \\ -archivePath build/MyApp.xcarchive \\ -exportOptionsPlist ExportOptions.plist \\ -exportPath build/ ``` ## App Store Connect ### Upload to TestFlight ```bash xcrun altool --upload-app \\ --type ios \\ --file build/MyApp.ipa \\ --apiKey YOUR_KEY_ID \\ --apiIssuer YOUR_ISSUER_ID ``` Or use `xcrun notarytool` for newer workflows: ```bash xcrun notarytool submit build/MyApp.ipa \\ --key ~/.appstoreconnect/AuthKey_XXXXX.p8 \\ --key-id YOUR_KEY_ID \\ --issuer YOUR_ISSUER_ID \\ --wait ``` ### App Store Connect API Key 1. App Store Connect > Users and Access > Keys 2. Generate API Key 3. Download and store securely ## Useful Aliases Add to `.zshrc`: ```bash # iOS development alias ios-build="xcodebuild -project *.xcodeproj -scheme \\$(basename *.xcodeproj .xcodeproj) -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16' build" alias ios-test="xcodebuild test -project *.xcodeproj -scheme \\$(basename *.xcodeproj .xcodeproj) -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16'" alias ios-run="xcrun simctl launch booted" alias ios-log="xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --level debug" alias sim-boot="xcrun simctl boot 'iPhone 16' && open -a Simulator" alias sim-screenshot="xcrun simctl io booted screenshot ~/Desktop/sim-\\$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S).png" ``` ## Troubleshooting ### Build Failures ```bash # Clear derived data rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData # Reset package caches rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/org.swift.swiftpm # Resolve packages xcodebuild -resolvePackageDependencies ``` ### Simulator Issues ```bash # Kill all simulators killall Simulator # Reset all simulators xcrun simctl shutdown all && xcrun simctl erase all ``` ### Code Signing ```bash # List identities security find-identity -v -p codesigning # Check provisioning profiles ls ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning\\ Profiles/ ``` --- Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/cli-workflow) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com