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blacktop (@blacktop) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Apple Native Dev by blacktop — Agent Skill

Name: Apple Native Dev
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: blacktop

Apple Native Dev

Build, sign, and deploy iOS/macOS apps using Zed Editor and CLI-only workflows without Xcode UI. Use when: (1) Setting up a new iOS/macOS project with XcodeGen, (2) Configuring secure credential management via xcconfig files, (3) Setting up Zed Editor with Swift LSP, (4) Building/deploying to physical devices via CLI, (5) Creating CI/CD pipelines for Apple apps, (6) Troubleshooting CLI build issues. Covers XcodeGen, xcode-build-server, justfile commands, devicectl, and GitHub Actions scaffolding following 2026 best practices.

blacktop 97af0ab 10 files · 29.9 KB Updated Sep 9, 2026

File contents

Apple Native Development (CLI + Zed)

Build iOS/macOS apps without Xcode UI using XcodeGen, justfile, and Zed Editor.

Core Workflow

1. Project Setup

# Install tools
brew install xcodegen just xcode-build-server

# Generate Xcode project from project.yml
cd Apps/MyApp && xcodegen generate

2. Credential Management

Use xcconfig files to keep Team ID out of git. See references/credentials.md.

Apps/MyApp/Configs/
├── Project.xcconfig           # Committed (loads local + defaults)
├── Project.local.xcconfig     # Gitignored (your Team ID)
└── Project.local.xcconfig.example  # Committed template

Quick setup (auto-detects Team ID from keychain):

just ios::setup-credentials

3. Zed Editor LSP

Generate buildServer.json for code completion. See references/zed-setup.md.

just ios::setup-lsp
# Or manually:
xcode-build-server config -project Apps/MyApp/MyApp.xcodeproj -scheme MyApp

4. Build & Deploy

Simulator:

just ios::build      # Build for simulator
just ios::run        # Build + install + launch

Physical Device (iOS 17+):

just ios::device-deploy  # Build + install + launch on iPhone

See references/justfile.md for all commands.

5. CI/CD

GitHub Actions scaffold at .github/workflows/ios-build.yml.disabled. See references/ci-cd.md.

Key Files

File	Purpose
`project.yml`	XcodeGen project definition
`Configs/Project.xcconfig`	Base build settings (committed)
`Configs/Project.local.xcconfig`	Credentials (gitignored)
`buildServer.json`	LSP configuration (gitignored)
`justfile` or `ios.just`	Build commands

Gitignore Patterns

# Credentials
*.local.xcconfig
!*.local.xcconfig.example

# Editor integration
buildServer.json

# XcodeGen output
*.xcodeproj/

Templates

Copy from assets/templates/ when bootstrapping:

Project.xcconfig - Base xcconfig (committed)
Project.local.xcconfig.example - Credential template (committed)
project.yml - XcodeGen project definition
ios.just - Justfile module for iOS commands
ios-build.yml.disabled - GitHub Actions scaffold

Troubleshooting

"Unable to find module dependency" in CLI builds: Disable hardened runtime during development:

# project.yml
settings:
  base:
    ENABLE_HARDENED_RUNTIME: NO
    ENABLE_ENHANCED_SECURITY: NO

No code completion in Zed: Regenerate after building: just ios::setup-lsp

Device install fails: Ensure device is trusted and connected: just ios::devices

---name: apple-native-devdescription: Build, sign, and deploy iOS/macOS apps using Zed Editor and CLI-only workflows without Xcode UI. Use when: (1) Setting up a new iOS/macOS project with XcodeGen, (2) Configuring secure credential management via xcconfig files, (3) Setting up Zed Editor with Swift LSP, (4) Building/deploying to physical devices via CLI, (5) Creating CI/CD pipelines for Apple apps, (6) Troubleshooting CLI build issues. Covers XcodeGen, xcode-build-server, justfile commands, devicectl, and GitHub Actions scaffolding following 2026 best practices.--- # Apple Native Development (CLI + Zed) Build iOS/macOS apps without Xcode UI using XcodeGen, justfile, and Zed Editor. ## Core Workflow ### 1. Project Setup ```bash # Install tools brew install xcodegen just xcode-build-server # Generate Xcode project from project.yml cd Apps/MyApp && xcodegen generate ``` ### 2. Credential Management Use xcconfig files to keep Team ID out of git. See [references/credentials.md](references/credentials.md). ``` Apps/MyApp/Configs/ ├── Project.xcconfig # Committed (loads local + defaults) ├── Project.local.xcconfig # Gitignored (your Team ID) └── Project.local.xcconfig.example # Committed template ``` **Quick setup** (auto-detects Team ID from keychain): ```bash just ios::setup-credentials ``` ### 3. Zed Editor LSP Generate `buildServer.json` for code completion. See [references/zed-setup.md](references/zed-setup.md). ```bash just ios::setup-lsp # Or manually: xcode-build-server config -project Apps/MyApp/MyApp.xcodeproj -scheme MyApp ``` ### 4. Build & Deploy **Simulator:** ```bash just ios::build # Build for simulator just ios::run # Build + install + launch ``` **Physical Device (iOS 17+):** ```bash just ios::device-deploy # Build + install + launch on iPhone ``` See [references/justfile.md](references/justfile.md) for all commands. ### 5. CI/CD GitHub Actions scaffold at `.github/workflows/ios-build.yml.disabled`. See [references/ci-cd.md](references/ci-cd.md). ## Key Files | File | Purpose | |------|---------| | `project.yml` | XcodeGen project definition | | `Configs/Project.xcconfig` | Base build settings (committed) | | `Configs/Project.local.xcconfig` | Credentials (gitignored) | | `buildServer.json` | LSP configuration (gitignored) | | `justfile` or `ios.just` | Build commands | ## Gitignore Patterns ```gitignore # Credentials *.local.xcconfig !*.local.xcconfig.example # Editor integration buildServer.json # XcodeGen output *.xcodeproj/ ``` ## Templates Copy from `assets/templates/` when bootstrapping: - `Project.xcconfig` - Base xcconfig (committed) - `Project.local.xcconfig.example` - Credential template (committed) - `project.yml` - XcodeGen project definition - `ios.just` - Justfile module for iOS commands - `ios-build.yml.disabled` - GitHub Actions scaffold ## Troubleshooting **"Unable to find module dependency" in CLI builds:** Disable hardened runtime during development: ```yaml # project.yml settings: base: ENABLE_HARDENED_RUNTIME: NO ENABLE_ENHANCED_SECURITY: NO ``` **No code completion in Zed:** Regenerate after building: `just ios::setup-lsp` **Device install fails:** Ensure device is trusted and connected: `just ios::devices`

Frequently asked questions