XC-MCP: Intelligent Xcode MCP Server

Problem: MCP clients can't effectively use Xcode CLI tools because the build and simulator listing commands return more than 50,000 tokens, exceeding MCP limits.
Solution: Progressive disclosure with intelligent caching returns 2,000 tokens instead, achieving 96% reduction.
Result: Full Xcode tooling functionality without token overflow, 90% faster workflows.

Quick Start

# Install and run
npm install -g xc-mcp
xc-mcp

# Or use without installation
npx xc-mcp

MCP Configuration (Claude Desktop):

claude mcp add xc-mcp -s user "npx xc-mcp"

Why This Exists

Raw Xcode CLI tools break MCP clients due to massive output:

• simctl list: 57,000+ tokens (exceeds MCP limits)
• xcodebuild logs: 135,000+ tokens (unusable)
• No state memory between operations

XC-MCP solves this with progressive disclosure: return concise summaries first, full data on demand via cache IDs. This maintains complete functionality while respecting MCP token constraints.

Core Features

Progressive Disclosure System

• Concise summaries by default: 96% token reduction for simulator lists
• Full details on demand: Use cache IDs to access complete data
• Smart filtering: Return only relevant information upfront
• Token-efficient responses: Never exceed MCP client limits

Three-Layer Intelligent Cache

• Simulator Cache: 1-hour retention with usage tracking and performance metrics
• Project Cache: Remembers successful build configurations per project
• Response Cache: 30-minute retention for progressive disclosure access

Smart Defaults & Learning

• Build configuration memory: Learns successful settings per project
• Simulator recommendations: Prioritizes recently used and optimal devices
• Performance tracking: Records boot times, build success rates, optimization metrics
• Adaptive intelligence: Improves suggestions based on usage patterns

Usage Examples

Progressive Simulator Management

Get instant simulator summary (2k tokens vs 57k):

{
  "tool": "simctl-list",
  "arguments": {"deviceType": "iPhone"}
}

Returns concise summary with cache ID for detailed access:

{
  "cacheId": "sim-abc123",
  "summary": {
    "totalDevices": 47,
    "availableDevices": 31,
    "bootedDevices": 1
  },
  "quickAccess": {
    "bootedDevices": [{"name": "iPhone 16", "udid": "ABC-123"}],
    "recentlyUsed": [...],
    "recommendedForBuild": [...]
  }
}

Access full details when needed:

{
  "tool": "simctl-get-details",
  "arguments": {
    "cacheId": "sim-abc123",
    "detailType": "available-only",
    "maxDevices": 10
  }
}

Smart Building with Configuration Memory

Build with automatic smart defaults:

{
  "tool": "xcodebuild-build",
  "arguments": {
    "projectPath": "./MyApp.xcworkspace",
    "scheme": "MyApp"
  }
}

Returns build summary with cache ID for full logs:

{
  "buildId": "build-xyz789",
  "success": true,
  "summary": {
    "duration": 7075,
    "errorCount": 0,
    "warningCount": 1
  },
  "nextSteps": [
    "Build completed successfully",
    "Smart defaults used: optimal simulator auto-selected",
    "Use 'xcodebuild-get-details' with buildId for full logs"
  ]
}

Cache Management

Monitor cache performance:

{"tool": "cache-get-stats", "arguments": {}}

Configure cache timeouts:

{
  "tool": "cache-set-config",
  "arguments": {"cacheType": "simulator", "maxAgeMinutes": 30}
}

Installation & Configuration

Prerequisites

• macOS with Xcode command-line tools
• Node.js 18+
• Xcode 15+ recommended

Install Xcode CLI tools:

xcode-select --install

Installation Options

# Global install (recommended)
npm install -g xc-mcp

# Local development
git clone https://github.com/conorluddy/xc-mcp.git
cd xc-mcp && npm install && npm run build

MCP Client Configuration

Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "xc-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["xc-mcp"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/your/ios/project"
    }
  }
}

Tool Reference

Category	Tool	Description	Progressive Disclosure
Project Discovery	xcodebuild-list	List targets, schemes, configurations	✓
	xcodebuild-showsdks	Available SDKs	-
	xcodebuild-version	Xcode version info	-
Build Operations	xcodebuild-build	Build with smart defaults	✓ (via buildId)
	xcodebuild-clean	Clean build artifacts	-
	xcodebuild-get-details	Access cached build logs	-
Simulator Management	simctl-list	Simulator list with 96% token reduction	✓ (via cacheId)
	simctl-get-details	Progressive access to full simulator data	-
	simctl-boot	Boot with performance tracking	-
	simctl-shutdown	Graceful shutdown	-
Cache Management	cache-get-stats	Cache performance metrics	-
	cache-set-config	Configure cache timeouts	-
	cache-clear	Clear cached data	-
	list-cached-responses	View cached build/test results	-

Advanced Features

Performance Optimization

• 90% fewer repeated calls through intelligent caching
• Boot time tracking for simulator performance optimization
• Build trend analysis tracks success rates and timing
• Usage pattern learning improves recommendations over time

Persistent State Management (Optional)

Enable file-based persistence for cache data across server restarts:

{"tool": "persistence-enable", "arguments": {}}

Environment Variables

• XCODE_CLI_MCP_TIMEOUT: Operation timeout (default: 300s)
• XCODE_CLI_MCP_LOG_LEVEL: Logging verbosity
• XCODE_CLI_MCP_CACHE_DIR: Custom cache directory

Development

Build Commands

npm run build      # Compile TypeScript
npm run dev        # Development mode with watch
npm test           # Run test suite (80% coverage required)
npm run lint       # Code linting with auto-fix

Testing

• Jest with ESM support
• 80% coverage threshold enforced
• Pre-commit hooks ensure code quality

License & Support

MIT License. For issues and questions, open a GitHub issue.

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XC-MCP solves MCP token overflow for Xcode tooling through progressive disclosure and intelligent caching.