macos-build-run-debug

name	macos-build-run-debug
description	Build, run, and debug macOS apps with shell-first Xcode and Swift workflows. Use when launching apps or diagnosing build, startup, or runtime failures.

Build / Run / Debug

Quick Start

Use this skill to set up one project-local script/build_and_run.sh entrypoint, then use that script as the default build/run path.

Prefer shell-first workflows:

• ./script/build_and_run.sh as the single kill + build + run entrypoint once it exists
• xcodebuild for Xcode workspaces or projects
• swift build plus raw executable launch inside that script for true SwiftPM command-line tools
• swift build plus project-local .app bundle staging and /usr/bin/open -n launch for SwiftPM AppKit/SwiftUI GUI apps
• optional script flags for lldb, log stream, telemetry verification, or post-launch process checks

Do not assume simulators, touch interaction, or mobile-specific tooling.

If an Xcode-aware MCP surface is already available and the user explicitly wants it, use it only where it fits. Keep that usage narrow and honest: prefer it for Xcode-oriented discovery, logging, or debugging support, and do not force simulator-specific workflows onto pure macOS tasks.

Workflow

1. Discover the project shape.

   • Check whether the workspace is already inside a git repo with git rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree.
   • If no git repo is present, run git init at the project/workspace root before building so git-backed features are available. Never run git init inside a nested subdirectory when the current workspace already belongs to a parent repo.
   • Look for .xcworkspace, .xcodeproj, and Package.swift.
   • If more than one candidate exists, explain the default choice and the ambiguity.

2. Resolve the runnable target and process name.

   • For Xcode, list schemes and prefer the app-producing scheme unless the user names another one.
   • For SwiftPM, identify executable products when possible.
   • Split SwiftPM launch handling by product type:
     • use raw executable launch only for true command-line tools,
     • use a generated project-local .app bundle for AppKit/SwiftUI GUI apps.
   • Determine the app/process name to kill before relaunching.

3. Create or update script/build_and_run.sh.

   • Make the script project-specific and executable.
   • It should always:
     1. stop the existing running app/process if present,
     2. build the macOS target,
     3. launch the freshly built app or executable.
   • Add optional flags for debugging/log inspection:
     • --debug to launch under lldb or attach the debugger
     • --logs to stream process logs after launch
     • --telemetry to stream unified logs filtered to the app subsystem/category
     • --verify to launch the app and confirm the process exists with pgrep -x <AppName>
   • Keep the default no-flag path simple: kill, build, run.
   • Prefer writing one script that owns this workflow instead of repeatedly asking the agent to manually run swift build, locate the artifact, then invoke an ad hoc run command.
   • For SwiftPM GUI apps, make the script build the product, create dist/<AppName>.app, copy the binary to Contents/MacOS/<AppName>, generate a minimal Contents/Info.plist with CFBundlePackageType=APPL, CFBundleExecutable, CFBundleIdentifier, CFBundleName, LSMinimumSystemVersion, and NSPrincipalClass=NSApplication, then launch with /usr/bin/open -n <bundle>.
   • For SwiftPM GUI --logs and --telemetry, launch the bundle with /usr/bin/open -n first, then stream unified logs with /usr/bin/log stream --info ....
   • Do not recommend direct SwiftPM executable launch for AppKit/SwiftUI GUI apps.
   • Use references/build-run-script.md as the canonical source for the script shape. Do not fork a second authoritative snippet in another skill or command.
   • Keep the run script outside app source. It belongs in script/build_and_run.sh, not in App/, Views/, Models/, Stores/, Services/, or Support/.

4. Build and run through the script.

   • Default to ./script/build_and_run.sh.
   • Use ./script/build_and_run.sh --debug, --logs, --telemetry, or --verify when the user asks for debugger/log/telemetry/process verification support.

5. Summarize failures correctly.

   • Classify the blocker as compiler, linker, signing, build settings, missing SDK/toolchain, script bug, or runtime launch.
   • Quote the smallest useful error snippet and explain what it means.

6. Debug the right way.

   • Use the script's --logs or --telemetry mode for config, entitlement, sandbox, and action-event verification.
   • For SwiftPM GUI apps, if the app bundle launches but its window still does not come forward, check whether the entrypoint needs NSApp.setActivationPolicy(.regular) and NSApp.activate(ignoringOtherApps: true).
   • Use the script's --debug mode or direct lldb if symbolized crash debugging is needed.
   • If the user needs to instrument and verify specific window, sidebar, menu, or menu bar actions, switch to macos-telemetry.
   • Keep evidence tight and user-facing.

7. Use Xcode-aware MCP tooling only when it helps.

   • If the user explicitly asks for XcodeBuildMCP and it is already available, prefer it over ad hoc setup.
   • Use the MCP for Xcode-aware discovery or debug/logging workflows when the available tool surface clearly matches the task.
   • Fall back to shell commands immediately when the MCP does not provide a clean macOS path.

Preferred Commands

• Project discovery:
  • find . -name '*.xcworkspace' -o -name '*.xcodeproj' -o -name 'Package.swift'
• Scheme discovery:
  • xcodebuild -list -workspace <workspace>
  • xcodebuild -list -project <project>
• Build/run:
  • ./script/build_and_run.sh
  • ./script/build_and_run.sh --debug
  • ./script/build_and_run.sh --logs
  • ./script/build_and_run.sh --telemetry
  • ./script/build_and_run.sh --verify

References

• references/build-run-script.md: canonical build_and_run.sh contract.

Guardrails

• Prefer the narrowest command that proves or disproves the current theory.
• Do not leave the user with a one-off manual command chain once a stable build_and_run.sh script can own the workflow.
• Do not launch a SwiftUI/AppKit SwiftPM GUI app as a raw executable unless the user explicitly wants to diagnose that failure mode: it can produce no Dock icon, no foreground activation, and missing bundle identifier warnings. Keep raw executable launch only for true command-line tools.
• Do not claim UI state you cannot inspect directly.
• Do not describe mobile or simulator workflows as if they apply to macOS.
• If build output is huge, summarize the first real blocker and point to follow-up commands.

Output Expectations

Provide:

• the detected project type
• the script path you configured, if applicable
• the command you ran
• whether build and launch succeeded
• the top blocker if they failed
• the smallest sensible next action