# ios-simulator

This skill manages iOS Simulator with xcrun simctl, covering app launches, locations, permissions, logs, screenshots, and boot failure checks.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3000 installs · ★ 1237
- Author: dpearson2699
- License: LicenseRef-Unknown · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/ios-simulator/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-07-31
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/dpearson2699-ios-simulator

## What it does

The skill covers the iOS Simulator device lifecycle: listing devices and runtimes, creating a device, booting, shutting down, erasing, and deleting it. It also describes building with `xcodebuild`, installing a `.app`, launching by bundle ID, passing launch arguments, and locating app containers.

With `xcrun simctl`, an agent can send a push payload, set coordinates or routes, grant and revoke privacy permissions, open deep links, override the status bar, capture screenshots, record video, and stream logs. The main workflow is in `SKILL.md`; extended command tables are in `references/simctl-commands.md`.

Xcode with installed Simulator runtimes and devices is required. The install step expects a `.app` built for the simulator architecture rather than an `.ipa`, so the build destination needs checking before tests run.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill ios-simulator -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/ios-simulator/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/ios-simulator/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill ios-simulator -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/ios-simulator/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill ios-simulator -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/ios-simulator/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills ios-simulator
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/ios-simulator/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill ios-simulator -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --path skills/ios-simulator
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/ios-simulator/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill ios-simulator -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/ios-simulator/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- create and boot an iOS Simulator device
- build and install a simulator `.app`
- test push payloads, locations, and permissions
- capture app screenshots, video, and logs
- diagnose CoreSimulator boot failures

## Example prompts
- Use `ios-simulator` to build `MyApp` with `xcodebuild`, boot a Simulator, and install the resulting `.app`.
- Use `ios-simulator` to send `payload.json` to `com.example.MyApp` and check its notification handling.
- Use `ios-simulator` to set a location, grant `photos` permission, and launch the app with `--console`.

## Similar
- [ios-simulator-skill](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ios-simulator-skill.md) — skill · 2400 installs
- [argent-ios-simulator-setup](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/argent-ios-simulator-setup.md) — skill · 26500 installs
- [ios-simulator-browser](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ios-simulator-browser.md) — skill · 53 installs
- [ios-ettrace-performance](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ios-ettrace-performance.md) — skill · 87 installs
- [ios-development](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ios-development.md) — skill · 821 installs
- [ce-test-xcode](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ce-test-xcode.md) — skill · 2900 installs

## Other versions with the same name
- [ios-simulator · callstack](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ios-simulator.md) — 5200 installs

From the same set: [dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills.md) — 86 cards

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