AppleDev.Mcp.Server 0.7.4

Apple Developer Tools MCP Server

A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server providing 44 tools for Apple development automation. Enable AI assistants to manage iOS/macOS/tvOS/watchOS/visionOS development environments, certificates, provisioning profiles, simulators, and more.

🚀 Quick Start

Installation

The server is distributed as a .NET tool and can be installed/run in several ways:

Option 1: Install as Global Tool (Recommended)

dotnet tool install -g AppleDev.Mcp.Server

Then use the appledev-mcp command directly in your MCP configuration.

Option 2: Run with dotnet tool run (No Installation)

dotnet tool run --global appledev-mcp

Option 3: Run with dnx (Download and Run in One Shot)

dnx run appledev-mcp

This downloads and runs the tool without installing it globally.

MCP Server Configuration

Add this configuration to your MCP client settings (e.g., Claude Desktop, Cline, etc.):

Using Installed Tool (Recommended)

After installing with dotnet tool install -g AppleDev.Mcp.Server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-dev": {
      "command": "appledev-mcp",
      "env": {
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID": "your-key-id",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID": "your-issuer-id",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_PRIVATE_KEY": "base64-encoded-private-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Using dnx (No Installation Required)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-dev": {
      "command": "dnx",
      "args": ["run", "appledev-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID": "your-key-id",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID": "your-issuer-id",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_PRIVATE_KEY": "base64-encoded-private-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Using Source (Development)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-dev": {
      "command": "dotnet",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--project",
        "/path/to/AppleDev.Tools/AppleDev.Mcp.Server/AppleDev.Mcp.Server.csproj"
      ],
      "env": {
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID": "your-key-id",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID": "your-issuer-id",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_PRIVATE_KEY": "base64-encoded-private-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop Configuration

For Claude Desktop specifically, edit the configuration file:

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Using Installed Tool (Simplest):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-dev": {
      "command": "appledev-mcp",
      "env": {
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID": "ABCD1234",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID": "12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_PRIVATE_KEY": "LS0tLS1CRUdJTi..."
      }
    }
  }
}

Using dnx (No Installation):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-dev": {
      "command": "dnx",
      "args": ["run", "appledev-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID": "ABCD1234",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID": "12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_PRIVATE_KEY": "LS0tLS1CRUdJTi..."
      }
    }
  }
}

Multiple Credential Sets

Support multiple Apple Developer accounts:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apple-dev": {
      "command": "dotnet",
      "args": ["run", "--project", "/path/to/AppleDev.Mcp.Server/AppleDev.Mcp.Server.csproj"],
      "env": {
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID": "default-key",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID": "default-issuer",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_PRIVATE_KEY": "default-key-base64",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID_COMPANY_A": "company-a-key",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID_COMPANY_A": "company-a-issuer",
        "APP_STORE_CONNECT_PRIVATE_KEY_COMPANY_A": "company-a-key-base64"
      }
    }
  }
}

Then use tools with the keyName parameter:

• ListDevices() - uses default credentials
• ListDevices(keyName: "COMPANY_A") - uses Company A credentials

📋 Prerequisites

• .NET 9.0 SDK or later
• macOS (for keychain, simulator, and device tools)
• Xcode (for simulator and device tools)
• App Store Connect API credentials:
  • Key ID
  • Issuer ID (Team ID)
  • Private Key (.p8 file)

Getting App Store Connect API Credentials

1. Go to App Store Connect
2. Navigate to Users and Access → Keys
3. Create a new API key with appropriate access
4. Download the .p8 private key file
5. Note the Key ID and Issuer ID
6. Convert private key to base64:

   base64 -i AuthKey_ABCD1234.p8 | tr -d '\n'
   

🛠️ Available Tools (44 Total)

App Store Connect - Devices (3 tools)

Manage registered development and testing devices.

• ListDevices - List registered devices with filtering

  • Filters: platform, status, name, UDID
  • Returns: Device name, UDID, platform, model, status

• RegisterDevice - Register a new device

  • Input: name, UDID, platform (IOS, MAC_OS, TVOS, VISIONOS)
  • Returns: Registration confirmation with device details

• ModifyDevice - Update device name or status

  • Input: deviceId, new name, enabled status
  • Returns: Update confirmation

App Store Connect - Bundle IDs (4 tools)

Manage app bundle identifiers.

• ListBundleIds - List bundle IDs with filtering

  • Filters: identifier, name, platform
  • Returns: Bundle ID details, identifier, name, platform

• CreateBundleId - Create new bundle ID

  • Input: name, identifier (e.g., com.company.app), platform
  • Returns: Created bundle ID details

• UpdateBundleId - Update bundle ID name

  • Input: bundleId, new name
  • Returns: Update confirmation

• DeleteBundleId - Delete a bundle ID

  • Input: bundleId
  • Returns: Deletion confirmation

App Store Connect - Certificates (3 tools)

Manage signing certificates.

• ListCertificates - List certificates with filtering

  • Filters: certificate type, display name
  • Returns: Certificate details, type, expiration, serial number

• CreateCertificate - Create new certificate (auto-generates CSR)

  • Input: certificate type, common name, email
  • Returns: Certificate details and content

• RevokeCertificate - Revoke (delete) a certificate

  • Input: certificateId
  • Returns: Revocation confirmation

App Store Connect - Provisioning Profiles (7 tools)

Manage provisioning profiles.

• ListProvisioningProfiles - List profiles with filtering

  • Filters: profile type, state, name
  • Returns: Profile details, UUID, type, state, expiration

• CreateProvisioningProfile - Create new profile

  • Input: name, profile type, bundle ID, certificate IDs, device IDs
  • Returns: Created profile details

• DeleteProvisioningProfile - Delete a profile

  • Input: profileId
  • Returns: Deletion confirmation

• ListInstalledProvisioningProfiles - List locally installed profiles

  • Returns: Installed profiles with UUID, name, team, expiration

• ParseProvisioningProfile - Parse and display profile contents

  • Input: file path to .mobileprovision or .provisionprofile
  • Returns: Complete profile details, certificates, devices, entitlements

• DownloadProvisioningProfile - Download profile from App Store Connect

  • Input: profileId
  • Returns: Profile metadata and base64-encoded content

• InstallProvisioningProfile - Install profile locally

  • Input: base64Data OR filePath
  • Returns: Installation status, UUID, installation path

Note: To add devices to an existing profile, use the workflow: List devices → Delete old profile → Create new profile with updated device list → Download → Install

Physical Devices (1 tool)

List connected physical devices and simulators.

• ListDevicesAndSimulators - List devices via xcdevice
  • Input: timeout (seconds), devicesOnly flag
  • Returns: Connected devices with UDID, name, OS version, model, interface

Xcode (2 tools)

Manage Xcode installations.

• ListXcode - List all installed Xcode versions

  • Returns: Xcode paths, versions, selected status

• LocateXcode - Find active or best Xcode installation

  • Input: best flag (find highest version vs. currently selected)
  • Returns: Xcode path and version

App Operations (1 tool)

Extract information from app bundles.

• GetAppInfo - Get app bundle information
  • Input: path to .app bundle
  • Returns: Bundle ID, version, build number, platform, SDK info

Simulators (15 tools)

Complete iOS/tvOS/watchOS/visionOS simulator management.

Simulator Lifecycle:

• ListSimulators - List simulators with extensive filtering

  • Filters: booted, available, unavailable, name, UDID, runtime, device type
  • Returns: Simulator details, state, runtime, device type

• CreateSimulator - Create new simulator

  • Input: name, device type, runtime (optional)
  • Returns: Creation confirmation

• DeleteSimulator - Delete simulator(s)

  • Input: target (UDID, name, 'all', or status)
  • Returns: Deletion confirmation

• BootSimulator - Boot a simulator

  • Input: target (UDID or name)
  • Returns: Boot status

• ShutdownSimulator - Shutdown simulator(s)

  • Input: target (default: 'all')
  • Returns: Shutdown confirmation

• EraseSimulator - Erase all content from simulator

  • Input: target (UDID or name)
  • Returns: Erase confirmation

• OpenSimulator - Open Simulator.app

  • Input: UDID (optional - opens specific simulator)
  • Returns: Open status

Simulator Discovery:

• ListSimulatorDeviceTypes - List available device types
  • Returns: Device type names, identifiers, product families

App Management:

• ListSimulatorApps - List installed apps

  • Input: target (UDID or 'booted')
  • Returns: App bundle IDs, names, versions, paths

• InstallSimulatorApp - Install app on simulator

  • Input: target, app bundle path
  • Returns: Installation status

• UninstallSimulatorApp - Uninstall app from simulator

  • Input: target, bundle identifier
  • Returns: Uninstall status

• LaunchSimulatorApp - Launch app on simulator

  • Input: target, bundle identifier
  • Returns: Launch status

• TerminateSimulatorApp - Terminate running app

  • Input: target, bundle identifier
  • Returns: Termination status

Simulator Utilities:

• OpenUrlSimulator - Open URL in simulator

  • Input: target, URL
  • Returns: Status (useful for deep linking)

• ScreenshotSimulator - Capture screenshot

  • Input: target, output file path
  • Returns: Screenshot path

• GetSimulatorLogs - Retrieve simulator logs

  • Input: target, predicate (optional filter), maxLines
  • Returns: Recent log entries (last 5 minutes, up to maxLines)

Keychain (5 tools)

Manage macOS keychains and certificates.

• CreateKeychain - Create new keychain

  • Input: name, password
  • Returns: Keychain path

• DeleteKeychain - Delete a keychain

  • Input: name or path
  • Returns: Deletion confirmation

• UnlockKeychain - Unlock a keychain

  • Input: password, name (optional, default: login.keychain-db)
  • Returns: Unlock status

• SetDefaultKeychain - Set default keychain

  • Input: name or path
  • Returns: Status confirmation

• ImportPkcs12Keychain - Import PKCS12/PFX certificate

  • Input: certificate path, passphrase, keychain name, allowAnyAppRead flag
  • Returns: Import status

💡 Usage Examples

Setting Up a Development Environment

AI: "Register my iPhone for development"
→ RegisterDevice(name: "My iPhone 15 Pro", udid: "00008110-...", platform: "IOS")

AI: "Create a bundle ID for my app"
→ CreateBundleId(name: "My App", identifier: "com.mycompany.myapp", platform: "IOS")

AI: "Create a development certificate"
→ CreateCertificate(certificateType: "IOS_DEVELOPMENT", commonName: "My Name", email: "me@company.com")

AI: "Create a development provisioning profile"
→ CreateProvisioningProfile(name: "My App Dev", profileType: "IOS_APP_DEVELOPMENT", ...)

Simulator Testing Workflow

AI: "Show me available iPhone simulators"
→ ListSimulators(deviceType: "iPhone")

AI: "Create an iPhone 15 Pro simulator"
→ CreateSimulator(name: "Test iPhone", deviceType: "iPhone 15 Pro")

AI: "Boot the simulator and install my app"
→ BootSimulator(target: "Test iPhone")
→ InstallSimulatorApp(target: "Test iPhone", appPath: "/path/to/MyApp.app")

AI: "Take a screenshot"
→ ScreenshotSimulator(target: "Test iPhone", outputPath: "/tmp/screenshot.png")

CI/CD Provisioning

AI: "Set up signing for CI"
→ CreateKeychain(name: "ci-keychain", password: "ci-password")
→ UnlockKeychain(password: "ci-password", name: "ci-keychain")
→ ImportPkcs12Keychain(certificatePath: "/tmp/cert.p12", passphrase: "...", keychain: "ci-keychain")
→ DownloadProvisioningProfile(profileId: "...")
→ InstallProvisioningProfile(base64Data: "...")

🏗️ Architecture

Built with:

• ModelContextProtocol SDK (v0.4.0-preview.3) - Official C# MCP SDK
• AppleDev Library - Core Apple tooling wrappers (SimCtl, XCDevice, Keychain, etc.)
• AppStoreConnectClient - App Store Connect API integration
• .NET 9.0 - Modern .NET runtime

Design Principles

• Consistent patterns - All tools follow the same structure
• Robust error handling - Platform validation, parameter checking, exception catching
• Clear output - Human-readable success/failure messages with context
• Platform awareness - macOS-only tools return helpful errors on other platforms
• Credential flexibility - Support for multiple Apple Developer accounts

🔧 Building and Publishing

Development Build

dotnet build AppleDev.Mcp.Server/AppleDev.Mcp.Server.csproj

Run for Testing

# Set environment variables
export APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID="your-key-id"
export APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID="your-issuer-id"
export APP_STORE_CONNECT_PRIVATE_KEY="$(base64 -i AuthKey.p8 | tr -d '\n')"

# Run the server
dotnet run --project AppleDev.Mcp.Server/AppleDev.Mcp.Server.csproj

Production Build

# Self-contained executable (includes .NET runtime)
dotnet publish AppleDev.Mcp.Server/AppleDev.Mcp.Server.csproj \
  -c Release \
  -r osx-arm64 \
  --self-contained true \
  -o ./publish

# Framework-dependent (requires .NET 9.0 installed)
dotnet publish AppleDev.Mcp.Server/AppleDev.Mcp.Server.csproj \
  -c Release \
  -o ./publish

🤝 Integration

Compatible MCP Clients

• Claude Desktop - Official Anthropic desktop app
• Cline - VS Code extension
• Continue - VS Code/JetBrains extension
• Any MCP-compatible client

Capabilities

When connected, AI assistants can:

• ✅ Automate complete iOS/macOS app signing setup
• ✅ Manage devices, certificates, and provisioning profiles
• ✅ Control iOS simulators for testing
• ✅ Extract information from app bundles
• ✅ Set up and tear down CI/CD signing infrastructure
• ✅ Troubleshoot development environment issues
• ✅ Locate and manage Xcode installations

📝 Notes

• macOS Required: Simulator, device, keychain, and Xcode tools only work on macOS
• Xcode Required: Simulator and device tools require Xcode to be installed
• API Limits: App Store Connect API has rate limits; the server doesn't implement throttling
• Security: Private keys are stored in environment variables; use secure credential management in production
• Permissions: Some operations (keychain, simulators) may require macOS permissions

📄 License

Same as parent AppleDev.Tools project.

🙏 Credits

Built on top of:

• AppleDev.Tools by @Redth
• Model Context Protocol by Anthropic

Status: ✅ Production Ready - All 44 tools implemented and tested