# xcode-build-orchestrator

Runs Xcode build optimization in two phases: benchmark and plan first, apply approved fixes second, then re-measure.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3600 installs · ★ 1264
- Author: AvdLee
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill/tree/HEAD/skills/xcode-build-orchestrator/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-14
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/xcode-build-orchestrator

## What it does

This skill is the recommend-first entrypoint for cutting Xcode build time. It starts by collecting the build context: workspace or project, scheme, configuration, destination, and the pain point you actually feel — clean builds, incremental builds, or both. Then it runs `xcode-build-benchmark` for a baseline and checks that `timing_summary_categories` in the artifact is not empty.

From there it pulls in the specialist skills — `xcode-compilation-analyzer`, `xcode-project-analyzer`, and `spm-build-analysis` — and merges their findings into one prioritized plan. The report lands in `.build-benchmark/optimization-plan.md` with an approval checklist. Nothing gets edited until you tick the items you want: approved work is handed to `xcode-build-fixer`, which applies each change, verifies compilation, and re-benchmarks.

Wall-clock time is the metric that matters, so the skill separates what blocks progress from what merely runs in parallel. If the sum of timing categories is 2x or more the wall-clock median, compile hotspot fixes probably will not shorten your wait. It also insists on a fresh benchmark and flags high variance: when the spread between min and max tops 20% of the median, conclusions are premature. On Xcode 16.4+ it suggests turning on Task Backtraces for incremental builds.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill --skill xcode-build-orchestrator -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill --skill xcode-build-orchestrator -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill --skill xcode-build-orchestrator -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill xcode-build-orchestrator
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/xcode-build-orchestrator/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill --skill xcode-build-orchestrator -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill --path skills/xcode-build-orchestrator
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill --skill xcode-build-orchestrator -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/AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill/tree/HEAD/skills/xcode-build-orchestrator/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- benchmark Xcode build time before touching anything
- tell what blocks the build apart from what runs in parallel
- merge compilation, project settings and SPM findings into one plan
- apply fixes only after the checklist is approved
- compare before and after medians to see the real delta

## Example prompts
- run a full Xcode build audit and show me the optimization plan
- why is my incremental build so slow — benchmark it and break down the causes
- apply the approved items from `.build-benchmark/optimization-plan.md` and re-benchmark

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 3c9bbbc2ec878754.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 3c9bbbc2ec878754
```text
---
name: xcode-build-orchestrator
description: Orchestrate Xcode build optimization by benchmarking first, running the specialist analysis skills, prioritizing findings, requesting explicit approval, delegating approved fixes to xcode-build-fixer, and re-benchmarking after changes. Use when a developer wants an end-to-end build optimization workflow, asks to speed up Xcode builds, wants a full build audit, or needs a recommend-first optimization pass covering compilation, project settings, and packages.
---

# Xcode Build Orchestrator

Use this skill as the recommend-first entrypoint for end-to-end Xcode build optimization work.

## Non-Negotiable Rules

- Wall-clock build time (how long the developer waits) is the primary success metric. Every recommendation must state its expected impact on the developer's actual wait time.
- Start in recommendation mode.
- Benchmark before making changes.
- Do not modify project files, source files, packages, or scripts without explicit developer approval.
- Preserve the evidence trail for every recommendation.
- Re-benchmark after approved changes and report the wall-clock delta.

## Two-Phase Workflow

The orchestration is designed as two distinct phases separated by developer review.

### Phase 1 -- Analyze (recommend-only)

Run this phase in agent mode because the agent needs to execute builds, run benchmark scripts, write benchmark artifacts, and generate the optimization report. However, treat Phase 1 as **recommend-only**: do not modify any project files, source files, packages, or build settings. The only files the agent creates during this phase are benchmark artifacts and the optimization plan inside `.build-benchmark/`.

1. Collect the build target context: workspace or project, scheme, configuration, destination, and current pain point. When both `.xcworkspace` and `.xcodeproj` exist, prefer `.xcodeproj` unless the workspace contains sub-projects required for the build. Workspaces that reference external projects may fail if those projects are not checked out.
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 3c9bbbc2ec878754

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First 2044 of 11513 bytes. © AvdLee · MIT · https://github.com/AvdLee/Xcode-Build-Optimization-Agent-Skill/tree/HEAD/skills/xcode-build-orchestrator/SKILL.md

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