# Apple Developer Toolkit

> All-in-one Apple developer skill with three integrated tools shipped as a single unified binary. (1) Documentation search across Apple frameworks, symbols, and 1,267 WWDC sessions from 2014-2025. No credentials needed. (2) App Store Connect CLI with 120+ commands covering builds, TestFlight, submissions, signing, subscriptions, IAP, analytics, Xcode Cloud, metadata workflows, release pipeline dashboard, insights, win-back offers, promoted purchases, product pages, nominations, accessibility declarations, pre-orders, pricing, diff, webhooks with local receiver, workflow automation, and more. Requires App Store Connect API key. (3) iOS app builder that generates complete Swift/SwiftUI apps from natural language descriptions with auto-fix and simulator launch. Requires an LLM API key and Xcode. Includes 38 iOS development rules and 12 SwiftUI best practice guides for Liquid Glass, navigation, state management, and modern APIs. All three tools ship as one binary (appledev) with multi-call symlinks for backward co

- Skill: `johnalbertini14-glitch/apple-developer-toolkit` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 95 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add johnalbertini14-glitch/apple-developer-toolkit`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/johnalbertini14-glitch/apple-developer-toolkit/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend
- Author: johnalbertini14-glitch (https://skillmd.com/u/johnalbertini14-glitch)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/johnalbertini14-glitch/apple-developer-toolkit

---


# Apple Developer Toolkit

Three tools in one binary. Each part works independently with different credential requirements.

## Architecture

Ships as a single unified binary `appledev` with multi-call support:

```
appledev build ...    # iOS app builder (SwiftShip)
appledev store ...    # App Store Connect CLI
appledev b ...        # Short alias
appledev s ...        # Short alias
```

Symlinks `appstore` and `swiftship` provide backward compatibility. Same binary, zero duplication.

## Credential Requirements by Feature

| Feature | Credentials Needed | Works Without Setup |
|---------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Documentation Search (Part 1) | None | Yes |
| App Store Connect (Part 2) | App Store Connect API key (.p8) | No |
| iOS App Builder (Part 3) | LLM API key + Xcode | No |

## Setup

### Part 1: Documentation Search (no setup needed)

Works immediately with Node.js:

```bash
node cli.js search "NavigationStack"
```

### Part 2: App Store Connect CLI

Install via Homebrew:

```bash
brew tap Abdullah4AI/tap && brew install appledev
```

Authenticate with your App Store Connect API key:

```bash
appledev store auth login --name "MyApp" --key-id "KEY_ID" --issuer-id "ISSUER_ID" --private-key /path/to/AuthKey.p8
```

Or set environment variables:

```bash
export APPSTORE_KEY_ID="your-key-id"
export APPSTORE_ISSUER_ID="your-issuer-id"
export APPSTORE_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH="/path/to/AuthKey.p8"
```

API keys are created at https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/access/integrations/api

### Part 3: iOS App Builder

Prerequisites: Xcode (with iOS Simulator), XcodeGen, and an LLM API key for code generation.

```bash
appledev build setup    # Checks and installs prerequisites
```

### Build from source

```bash
bash scripts/setup.sh
```

## Part 1: Documentation Search

```bash
node cli.js search "NavigationStack"
node cli.js symbols "UIView"
node cli.js doc "/documentation/swiftui/navigationstack"
node cli.js overview "SwiftUI"
node cli.js samples "SwiftUI"
node cli.js wwdc-search "concurrency"
node cli.js wwdc-year 2025
node cli.js wwdc-topic "swiftui-ui-frameworks"
```

## Part 2: App Store Connect

Full reference: [references/app-store-connect.md](references/app-store-connect.md)

| Task | Command |
|------|---------|
| List apps | `appledev store apps` |
| Upload build | `appledev store builds upload --app "APP_ID" --ipa "app.ipa" --wait` |
| Publish TestFlight | `appledev store publish testflight --app "APP_ID" --ipa "app.ipa" --group "Beta" --wait` |
| Submit App Store | `appledev store publish appstore --app "APP_ID" --ipa "app.ipa" --submit --confirm --wait` |
| List certificates | `appledev store certificates list` |
| Reviews | `appledev store reviews --app "APP_ID" --output table` |
| Sales report | `appledev store analytics sales --vendor "VENDOR" --type SALES --subtype SUMMARY --frequency DAILY --date "2024-01-20"` |
| Xcode Cloud | `appledev store xcode-cloud run --app "APP_ID" --workflow "CI" --branch "main" --wait` |
| Notarize | `appledev store notarization submit --file ./MyApp.zip --wait` |
| Validate | `appledev store validate --app "APP_ID" --version-id "VERSION_ID" --strict` |
| Status dashboard | `appledev store status --app "APP_ID" --output table` |
| Weekly insights | `appledev store insights weekly --app "APP_ID" --source analytics` |
| Metadata pull | `appledev store metadata pull --app "APP_ID" --version "1.2.3" --dir ./metadata` |
| Release notes | `appledev store release-notes generate --since-tag "v1.2.2"` |
| Diff localizations | `appledev store diff localizations --app "APP_ID" --path ./metadata` |
| Nominations | `appledev store nominations create --app "APP_ID" --name "Launch"` |

### Environment Variables

All environment variables are optional. They override flags when set.

| Variable | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `APPSTORE_KEY_ID` | API Key ID |
| `APPSTORE_ISSUER_ID` | API Issuer ID |
| `APPSTORE_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH` | Path to .p8 key file |
| `APPSTORE_PRIVATE_KEY` | Raw private key string |
| `APPSTORE_PRIVATE_KEY_B64` | Base64-encoded private key |
| `APPSTORE_APP_ID` | Default app ID |
| `APPSTORE_PROFILE` | Default auth profile |
| `APPSTORE_DEBUG` | Enable debug output |
| `APPSTORE_TIMEOUT` | Request timeout |
| `APPSTORE_BYPASS_KEYCHAIN` | Skip system keychain |

## Part 3: iOS App Builder

```bash
appledev build                     # Interactive mode
appledev build setup               # Install prerequisites
appledev build fix                 # Auto-fix build errors
appledev build run                 # Build and launch in simulator
appledev build info                # Show project status
appledev build usage               # Token usage and cost
```

### How it works

```
describe > analyze > plan > build > fix > run
```

1. **Analyze** - Extracts app name, features, core flow from description
2. **Plan** - Produces file-level build plan: data models, navigation, design
3. **Build** - Generates Swift source files, project.yml, asset catalog
4. **Fix** - Compiles and auto-repairs until build succeeds
5. **Run** - Boots iOS Simulator and launches the app

### Interactive commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/run` | Build and launch in simulator |
| `/fix` | Auto-fix compilation errors |
| `/open` | Open project in Xcode |
| `/model [name]` | Switch model (sonnet, opus, haiku) |
| `/info` | Show project info |
| `/usage` | Token usage and cost |

## References

| Reference | Content |
|-----------|---------|
| [references/app-store-connect.md](references/app-store-connect.md) | Complete App Store Connect CLI commands |
| [references/ios-rules/](references/ios-rules/) | 38 iOS development rules |
| [references/swiftui-guides/](references/swiftui-guides/) | 12 SwiftUI best practice guides |
| [references/ios-app-builder-prompts.md](references/ios-app-builder-prompts.md) | System prompts for app building |

### iOS Rules (38 files)

accessibility, app_clips, app_review, apple_translation, biometrics, camera, charts, color_contrast, components, dark_mode, design-system, feedback_states, file-structure, forbidden-patterns, foundation_models, gestures, haptics, healthkit, live_activities, localization, maps, mvvm-architecture, navigation-patterns, notification_service, notifications, safari_extension, share_extension, siri_intents, spacing_layout, speech, storage-patterns, swift-conventions, timers, typography, view-composition, view_complexity, website_links, widgets

### SwiftUI Guides (12 files)

animations, forms-and-input, layout, liquid-glass, list-patterns, media, modern-apis, navigation, performance, scroll-patterns, state-management, text-formatting