Xcode command-line tool reference

Use command-line tools that require you to install Xcode and set the app as the active developer directory.

Overview

Xcode includes a set of command-line tools that only ship with the app, such as devicectl, simctl, and xcodebuild. You must install and set Xcode as the active developer directory before you can invoke these commands in Terminal.

Automate build and version numbers

agvtool: Manage build and version numbers. To learn more about this command, enter man agvtool in Terminal.

Build a project

xcodebuild: Build Xcode projects and workspaces. To learn more about this command, enter man xcodebuild in Terminal.

Debug a project

devicectl: Manage and interact with devices connected to a host. To learn more about this command, enter xcrun devicectl help in Terminal.
xcdebug: Start a debugging session in Xcode. To learn more about this command, enter xcdebug --help in Terminal.

Edit files

xed: Open files in the Xcode app. To learn more about this command, enter man xed in Terminal.

Identify and merge changes

opendiff: Use FileMerge to graphically compare or merge files or directories. To learn more about this command, enter man opendiff in Terminal.

Inspect result bundles

xcresulttool: Read result bundles. To learn more about this command, enter man xcresulttool in Terminal.

Manage Instruments files

xctrace: Record, import, export and symbolicate Instruments .trace files. To learn more about this command, enter man xctrace in Terminal.

Manage scripting definition

desdp: Generate scripting definition (“sdef”). To learn more about this command, enter man desdp in Terminal.
sdef: Extract scripting definition (“sdef”). To learn more about this command, enter man sdef in Terminal.
sdp: Process scripting definition (“sdef”). To learn more about this command, enter man sdp in Terminal.

Manage the interface

actool: Compile, print, update, and verify asset catalogs. To learn more about this command, enter man actool in Terminal.
ibtool: Compile, print, update, and verify Interface Builder documents. To learn more about this command, enter man ibtool in Terminal.
xcstringstool: Generate string tables from source code. To learn more about this command, enter xcrun xcstringstool help in Terminal.

Manage the Simulator

simctl: Control the Simulator. To learn more about this command, enter xcrun simctl help in Terminal.