Xctool

What is Xctool?

Xctool is a command-line tool designed for building Xcode projects. It provides a more robust and flexible way to manage the build process for iOS and macOS applications compared to the standard xcodebuild command. It offers features like parallel execution, improved error reporting, and better integration with CI/CD pipelines.

Key Features and Usage

Xctool simplifies common development tasks. Here are some essential commands:

Building a Single Project

To build a project that does not involve a workspace, use the -project flag followed by your project file and the -scheme flag for the desired scheme.

# Build a single project without any workspace:
xctool -project YourProject.xcodeproj -scheme YourScheme build

Building a Project within a Workspace

If your project is part of an Xcode workspace, use the -workspace flag instead of -project.

# Build a project that is part of a workspace:
xctool -workspace YourWorkspace.xcworkspace -scheme YourScheme build

Cleaning, Building, and Testing

Xctool allows you to perform a full cycle of cleaning, building, and running tests with a single command. This is crucial for ensuring a clean state before each build and for verifying the integrity of your application.

# Clean, build and execute all the tests:
xctool -workspace YourWorkspace.xcworkspace -scheme YourScheme clean build test

Benefits of Using Xctool

Xctool enhances the developer experience by providing:

Faster Builds: Leverages parallel execution for quicker compilation times.
Improved Diagnostics: Offers clearer error messages and build output.
CI/CD Integration: Designed to work seamlessly with continuous integration and continuous deployment systems.
Cross-Platform Support: Facilitates building for both iOS and macOS targets.

Xctool - Build Xcode Projects