MCP100 Assessment

Editorial verdict

Promising for supervised Xcode build, test, simulator, and debugging workflows on a deliberately scoped Apple-development machine.

Reviewed 2026-08-11 · Next review 2026-09-10

Task Fit

Mapped

Team productivity

Trust

Status warning

tool_contract; install_supply_chain; advisory_freshness

Maintenance

Activity observed

A dated repository or package update is available; editorial maintenance review is still pending.

Popularity

Signals available

Visible usage signals are shown for discovery only, not as proof of safety.

Best for

Giving coding agents structured access to Xcode projects, builds, tests, simulators, devices, logs, and debugging workflows

Not ideal for

Cross-platform development or Apple projects that do not use Xcode and its local toolchain

Avoid if

The agent must not access source code, signing context, simulator or device data, build logs, or make project changes

Trade-offs

Deep Xcode integration can accelerate diagnosis and iteration, but it depends on macOS/Xcode and exposes a broad local development surface.

Evidence scope

Evidence

Current source snapshot

Popularity

6.2k MCP repository stars

511.2k package downloads

Stars observed 2026-08-14T18:46:26.000Z · Downloads observed 2026-08-14T18:46:26.000Z

Exact implementation repository metric.

Exact implementation package metric.

Maintenance

Publisher activity observed 2026-08-12T20:00:35Z

Current source snapshot

Trust review

Source relationship: Community implementation

Reviewed 2026-08-11 · Next review 2026-09-10

GitHub repository ↗Package registry ↗

Evidence-backed setup

Install & Agents

Choose your MCP client. A client connects to the MCP server; the language model is selected inside that client. Only stored, source-backed configurations are shown.

Claude Code

Local stdio

MCP100 logic checked

claude mcp add xcodebuildmcp -- npx "-y" "xcodebuildmcp@latest" "mcp"

The publisher connection details were combined with this client's official MCP transport configuration; installation was not executed by MCP100.

Verify safely: Restart Claude Code, confirm xcodebuildmcp tools are listed, and perform one read-only test with non-sensitive data.

Uninstall and revoke

Remove xcodebuildmcp from Claude Code, restart the client, remove any separately installed package, and revoke dedicated credentials if used.

Evidence & methodology

Publisher-documented setup is not the same as MCP100 execution testing. “MCP100 logic checked” means the stored configuration shape was reviewed, not that third-party MCP software was run.

Evidence checked 2026-08-12

Evidence 1 ↗Evidence 2 ↗

Read additional publisher installation details

From the publisher README

Publisher installation details

Original client setup and configuration retained from the publisher documentation.

View original README ↗

Publisher-documented clients

Claude CodeCodexCursor

These names appear in the publisher's installation documentation. MCP100-verified configurations are shown separately above when available.

Installation

XcodeBuildMCP ships as a single package with two modes: a CLI for direct terminal use and an MCP server for AI coding agents. Either install method gives you both.

Option A — Homebrew

brew tap getsentry/xcodebuildmcp
brew install xcodebuildmcp

Option B — npm (Node.js 18+)

npm install -g xcodebuildmcp@latest

Verify either install:

xcodebuildmcp --help

Loading optional publisher installation details…

Show source-catalog configuration

npx -y xcodebuildmcp@2.7.0

Capability

What it does

XcodeBuildMCP provides tools for Xcode project management, simulator management, and app utilities.

Productivity & CollaborationSoftware & Technology

Representative uses

Giving coding agents structured access to Xcode projects, builds, tests, simulators, devices, logs, and debugging workflows

Important limits

Cross-platform development or Apple projects that do not use Xcode and its local toolchain

ToolsDocumented capabilitiesView tools

Projects & schemes
Discover Xcode projects, workspaces, schemes, and build settings needed to target an Apple build.
Build & test
Build Apple projects and run tests for selected schemes or destinations.
Simulators & devices
Discover, boot, configure, and target simulators or connected Apple devices.
Debugging
Launch, attach to, and inspect debugging sessions for Apple applications built through the Xcode toolchain.
UI automation
Drive supported simulator or device UI interactions for testing and verification.
Logs
Capture and inspect build, simulator, device, or application logs produced during Xcode workflows.

View 1 more capability

IDE bridge
Coordinate operations that depend on Xcode or IDE state and bridge the MCP to the active development environment.

Current manifest/source can define ~82 unique tools across 15 workflows, while a runtime configuration may expose ~45.

Source: Official source

Context Footprint

Varies by configuration

Estimated token footprint of the MCP tool schemas exposed to the agent.

Do not invent a product-level token number.

Reviewed access

Access & risk

Review the exact access boundary before connecting this MCP to accounts, credentials, or sensitive data.

Authentication: Local stdio and on-demand setup are documented without MCP authentication or tokens. Device operations require Xcode code signing.
Permissions: Builds and tests Xcode projects, controls simulators and devices, automates UI, captures screenshots, debugs, and performs related iOS and macOS workflows. Official manifests mark build operations as non-read-only.
Data handling: Processes project paths, build products, logs, simulator and device state, screenshots, and test and debug output. The publisher says Sentry receives internal runtime error telemetry; retention and model-training behavior are not documented.
Cost: The MIT-licensed npm and Homebrew distributions list no MCP fee. macOS, Xcode, devices, client, and model costs are separate.
Risk and cautions: Can build, test, launch, inspect, and automate projects and devices using non-read-only operations and runtime telemetry. Restrict project and device scope and review commands before execution.

Related reviewed MCPs

Other options

Windows-MCP

MCP100 Selected

An MCP Server for computer-use in Windows OS

Choose this instead if

Choose Windows-MCP instead if using an AI client to inspect and operate Windows applications when no safer application API exists.

Suitable for supervised Windows desktop automation in a disposable or tightly scoped session, not for unattended control of a personal workstation.

Compare with XcodeBuildMCP View Windows-MCP details

Notion MCP

MCP100 Selected

Connect AI tools to Notion workspaces through Notion's MCP server.

Choose this instead if

Choose Notion MCP instead if reading and updating explicitly shared Notion pages.

Connect AI tools to Notion workspaces through Notion's MCP server.

Compare with XcodeBuildMCP View Notion MCP details

Atlassian Remote MCP

MCP100 Selected

Connect supported AI clients to Jira and Confluence.

Choose this instead if

Choose Atlassian Remote MCP instead if searching and summarizing Jira and Confluence knowledge.

Connect supported AI clients to Jira and Confluence.

Compare with XcodeBuildMCP View Atlassian Remote MCP details

Read publisher documentation

Publisher documentation

Publisher README

Original product, capability, tool, and usage documentation from the MCP publisher. Installation sections appear under Install & Agents.

View original README ↗

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and CLI that provides tools for agent use when working on iOS and macOS projects.

Requirements

macOS 14.5 or later
Xcode 16.x or later
Node.js 18.x or later (not required for Homebrew installation)

Skills

XcodeBuildMCP now includes two optional agent skills:

MCP Skill: Primes the agent with instructions on how to use the MCP server's tools (optional when using the MCP server).
CLI Skill: Primes the agent with instructions on how to navigate the CLI (recommended when using the CLI).

To install with a global binary:

xcodebuildmcp init

Or install directly via npx without a global install:

npx -y xcodebuildmcp@latest init

For further information on installing skills, see Agent Skills.

Notes

XcodeBuildMCP requests xcodebuild to skip macro validation to avoid errors when building projects that use Swift Macros.
Device tools require code signing to be configured in Xcode. See Device Code Signing.

Privacy

XcodeBuildMCP uses Sentry for internal runtime error telemetry only. For details and opt-out instructions, see Privacy & Telemetry.

CLI

XcodeBuildMCP provides a unified command-line interface. The mcp subcommand starts the MCP server, while all other commands provide direct terminal access to tools:

# Install globally
npm install -g xcodebuildmcp@latest

# Start the MCP server (for MCP clients)
xcodebuildmcp mcp

# List available tools
xcodebuildmcp tools

# Build for simulator
xcodebuildmcp simulator build --scheme MyApp --project-path ./MyApp.xcodeproj

# Prepare portable test products without running tests
xcodebuildmcp simulator build --scheme MyApp --project-path ./MyApp.xcodeproj --simulator-name "iPhone 17" --build-for-testing --test-products-path ./MyApp.xctestproducts

# Run previously prepared test products
xcodebuildmcp simulator test --test-products-path ./MyApp.xctestproducts --simulator-name "iPhone 17"

Check for updates and upgrade in place:

xcodebuildmcp upgrade --check
xcodebuildmcp upgrade --yes

The CLI uses a per-workspace daemon for stateful operations (log capture, debugging, etc.) that auto-starts when needed. See the CLI guide for full documentation.

Documentation

Installation: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/installation
Setup: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/setup
MCP clients: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/clients
CLI usage: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/cli
Configuration and options: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/configuration
Tools reference: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/tools
Troubleshooting: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/troubleshooting
Privacy: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/privacy
Skills: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/skills
Contributing: https://xcodebuildmcp.com/docs/contributing

Licence

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details. For third-party licensing notices see the THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES file for details. For npm package attributions see the THIRD_PARTY_PACKAGE_LICENSES file for details.

Loading optional publisher documentation…

FAQ

What can XcodeBuildMCP do?

MCP100's current stored description says: XcodeBuildMCP provides tools for Xcode project management, simulator management, and app utilities.

Can XcodeBuildMCP build, test, and control iOS simulators?

MCP100's current stored permissions review says: Builds and tests Xcode projects, controls simulators and devices, automates UI, captures screenshots, debugs, and performs related iOS and macOS workflows. Official manifests mark build operations as non-read-only.

Does XcodeBuildMCP work with Codex?

Yes. MCP100 found MCP100 logic checked setup for Codex. The current reviewed evidence also documents setup for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, VS Code, Cursor, and OpenCode. This reflects setup evidence, not an MCP100 execution test or a guarantee that a current client will connect.

What do I need installed to use XcodeBuildMCP?

MCP100's current stored authentication review says: Local stdio and on-demand setup are documented without MCP authentication or tokens. Device operations require Xcode code signing.

What system access does XcodeBuildMCP give an AI coding agent?

MCP100's current stored risk review says: Can build, test, launch, inspect, and automate projects and devices using non-read-only operations and runtime telemetry. Restrict project and device scope and review commands before execution. This MCP is not a security boundary or a general security certification.

Is this an official MCP?

com.xcodebuildmcp is listed as Community implementation in MCP100’s current evidence.

Current implementation resources:

Community implementation source ↗

Promising for supervised Xcode build, test, simulator, and debugging workflows on a deliberately scoped Apple-development machine.

Best for

Not ideal for

Avoid if

Trade-offs

Evidence

Popularity

Maintenance

Trust review

Install & Agents

Claude Code

Publisher installation details

Installation

Option A — Homebrew

Option B — npm (Node.js 18+)

What it does

Representative uses

Important limits

Context Footprint

Access & risk

Other options

Windows-MCP

Notion MCP

Atlassian Remote MCP

Publisher README

Requirements

Skills

Notes

Privacy

CLI

Documentation

Licence

FAQ

Publisher README

Requirements

Skills

Notes

Privacy

CLI

Documentation

Licence

Publisher installation details

Installation

Option A — Homebrew

Option B — npm (Node.js 18+)

Connect your MCP client