iOS Simulator Skill

Build, test, and automate iOS applications using accessibility-driven navigation and structured data instead of pixel coordinates.

Quick Start

1. Check environment

bash scripts/sim_health_check.sh

2. Launch app

python scripts/app_launcher.py --launch com.example.app

3. Map screen to see elements

python scripts/screen_mapper.py

4. Tap button

python scripts/navigator.py --find-text "Login" --tap

5. Enter text

python scripts/navigator.py --find-type TextField --enter-text "user@example.com"

All scripts support --help for detailed options and --json for machine-readable output.

21 Production Scripts Build & Development (2 scripts)

build_and_test.py - Build Xcode projects, run tests, parse results with progressive disclosure

Build with live result streaming Parse errors and warnings from xcresult bundles Retrieve detailed build logs on demand Options: --project, --scheme, --clean, --test, --verbose, --json

log_monitor.py - Real-time log monitoring with intelligent filtering

Stream logs or capture by duration Filter by severity (error/warning/info/debug) Deduplicate repeated messages Options: --app, --severity, --follow, --duration, --output, --json Navigation & Interaction (5 scripts)

screen_mapper.py - Analyze current screen and list interactive elements

Element type breakdown Interactive button list Text field status Options: --verbose, --hints, --json

navigator.py - Find and interact with elements semantically

Find by text (fuzzy matching) Find by element type Find by accessibility ID Enter text or tap elements Options: --find-text, --find-type, --find-id, --tap, --enter-text, --json

gesture.py - Perform swipes, scrolls, pinches, and complex gestures

Directional swipes (up/down/left/right) Multi-swipe scrolling Pinch zoom Long press Pull to refresh Options: --swipe, --scroll, --pinch, --long-press, --refresh, --json

keyboard.py - Text input and hardware button control

Type text (fast or slow) Special keys (return, delete, tab, space, arrows) Hardware buttons (home, lock, volume, screenshot) Key combinations Options: --type, --key, --button, --slow, --clear, --dismiss, --json

app_launcher.py - App lifecycle management

Launch apps by bundle ID Terminate apps Install/uninstall from .app bundles Deep link navigation List installed apps Check app state Options: --launch, --terminate, --install, --uninstall, --open-url, --list, --state, --json Testing & Analysis (5 scripts)

accessibility_audit.py - Check WCAG compliance on current screen

Critical issues (missing labels, empty buttons, no alt text) Warnings (missing hints, small touch targets) Info (missing IDs, deep nesting) Options: --verbose, --output, --json

visual_diff.py - Compare two screenshots for visual changes

Pixel-by-pixel comparison Threshold-based pass/fail Generate diff images Options: --threshold, --output, --details, --json

test_recorder.py - Automatically document test execution

Capture screenshots and accessibility trees per step Generate markdown reports with timing data Options: --test-name, --output, --verbose, --json

app_state_capture.py - Create comprehensive debugging snapshots

Screenshot, UI hierarchy, app logs, device info Markdown summary for bug reports Options: --app-bundle-id, --output, --log-lines, --json

sim_health_check.sh - Verify environment is properly configured

Check macOS, Xcode, simctl, IDB, Python List available and booted simulators Verify Python packages (Pillow) Advanced Testing & Permissions (4 scripts)

clipboard.py - Manage simulator clipboard for paste testing

Copy text to clipboard Test paste flows without manual entry Options: --copy, --test-name, --expected, --json

status_bar.py - Override simulator status bar appearance

Presets: clean (9:41, 100% battery), testing (11:11, 50%), low-battery (20%), airplane (offline) Custom time, network, battery, WiFi settings Options: --preset, --time, --data-network, --battery-level, --clear, --json

push_notification.py - Send simulated push notifications

Simple mode (title + body + badge) Custom JSON payloads Test notification handling and deep links Options: --bundle-id, --title, --body, --badge, --payload, --json

privacy_manager.py - Grant, revoke, and reset app permissions

13 supported services (camera, microphone, location, contacts, photos, calendar, health, etc.) Batch operations (comma-separated services) Audit trail with test scenario tracking Options: --bundle-id, --grant, --revoke, --reset, --list, --json Device Lifecycle Management (5 scripts)

simctl_boot.py - Boot simulators with optional readiness verification

Boot by UDID or device name Wait for device ready with timeout Batch boot operations (--all, --type) Performance timing Options: --udid, --name, --wait-ready, --timeout, --all, --type, --json

simctl_shutdown.py - Gracefully shutdown simulators

Shutdown by UDID or device name Optional verification of shutdown completion Batch shutdown operations Options: --udid, --name, --verify, --timeout, --all, --type, --json

simctl_create.py - Create simulators dynamically

Create by device type and iOS version List available device types and runtimes Custom device naming Returns UDID for CI/CD integration Options: --device, --runtime, --name, --list-devices, --list-runtimes, --json

simctl_delete.py - Permanently delete simulators

Delete by UDID or device name Safety confirmation by default (skip with --yes) Batch delete operations Smart deletion (--old N to keep N per device type) Options: --udid, --name, --yes, --all, --type, --old, --json

simctl_erase.py - Factory reset simulators without deletion

Preserve device UUID (faster than delete+create) Erase all, by type, or booted simulators Optional verification Options: --udid, --name, --verify, --timeout, --all, --type, --booted, --json Common Patterns

Auto-UDID Detection: Most scripts auto-detect the booted simulator if --udid is not provided.

Device Name Resolution: Use device names (e.g., "iPhone 16 Pro") instead of UDIDs - scripts resolve automatically.

Batch Operations: Many scripts support --all for all simulators or --type iPhone for device type filtering.

Output Formats: Default is concise human-readable output. Use --json for machine-readable output in CI/CD.

Help: All scripts support --help for detailed options and examples.

Typical Workflow Verify environment: bash scripts/sim_health_check.sh Launch app: python scripts/app_launcher.py --launch com.example.app Analyze screen: python scripts/screen_mapper.py Interact: python scripts/navigator.py --find-text "Button" --tap Verify: python scripts/accessibility_audit.py Debug if needed: python scripts/app_state_capture.py --app-bundle-id com.example.app Requirements macOS 12+ Xcode Command Line Tools Python 3 IDB (optional, for interactive features) Documentation SKILL.md (this file) - Script reference and quick start README.md - Installation and examples CLAUDE.md - Architecture and implementation details references/ - Deep documentation on specific topics examples/ - Complete automation workflows Key Design Principles

Semantic Navigation: Find elements by meaning (text, type, ID) not pixel coordinates. Survives UI changes.

Token Efficiency: Concise default output (3-5 lines) with optional verbose and JSON modes for detailed results.

Accessibility-First: Built on standard accessibility APIs for reliability and compatibility.

Zero Configuration: Works immediately on any macOS with Xcode. No setup required.

Structured Data: Scripts output JSON or formatted text, not raw logs. Easy to parse and integrate.

Auto-Learning: Build system remembers your device preference. Configuration stored per-project.

Use these scripts directly or let Claude Code invoke them automatically when your request matches the skill description.