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Xcode Sync

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steipete
xcode-sync

Xcode fleet sync: signed archives, compatibility, install, selection, first launch.

Overview

Publishersteipete
Repositoryagent-scripts
Skill namexcode-sync
Stars
6.6K
Forks
547
Bundled files
3
LicenseMIT
Links
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • 3 bundled files

    Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.

  • Open source

    Published by steipete on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Xcode Sync AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/steipete/agent-scripts.git /tmp/agent-scripts
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/agent-scripts/skills/xcode-sync .claude/skills/xcode-sync
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Xcode Sync in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Xcode Sync on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Xcode Sync is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Xcode Sync

Synchronize exact Xcode builds across Peter's supported Macs. Use $remote-mac for fleet topology and SSH rules.

Inventory

  1. Read ~/Projects/manager/computers.yaml; use live tailscale status --json for reachability/IPs.
  2. Exclude handed-off and unknown hosts. Verify hostname, user, macOS, architecture, and hardware UUID before writes.
  3. Deduplicate Tailscale nodes by hardware UUID; one Mac may have multiple live node records.
  4. Run scripts/xcode-host-inventory.sh locally or remotely:
bash
skills/xcode-sync/scripts/xcode-host-inventory.sh
ssh -o RequestTTY=no -o RemoteCommand=none HOST 'bash -s' \
  < skills/xcode-sync/scripts/xcode-host-inventory.sh

Treat unreachable hosts as pending, not synchronized. Try live Tailscale IP, Tailscale SSH, then mDNS/LAN only when network topology permits.

Simulator hygiene

Every fleet Mac must pass the simulator-hygiene audit, including worker Macs where the correct result is not-applicable because Xcode and simctl are absent. Apple CoreSimulator's own classifications are authoritative: remove runtime images reported by simctl runtime delete --outdated --dry-run or --unusable --dry-run, plus simulator devices attached to unavailable runtimes. Do not classify a runtime as stale from its version number alone; stable and beta Xcodes can legitimately need different runtime generations on the same Mac.

Run the dependency-light audit locally or stream it to a remote Mac:

bash
skills/xcode-sync/scripts/xcode-simulator-hygiene.sh
ssh -o RequestTTY=no -o RemoteCommand=none HOST 'bash -s' \
  < skills/xcode-sync/scripts/xcode-simulator-hygiene.sh

The audit exits 1 for drift. After verifying the host identity and current Xcode work, repair with --repair; the action deletes unavailable devices and Apple's outdated/unusable runtime candidates, then re-audits. It refuses repair while a simulator device is booted. Do not use age-based runtime deletion, --notUsedSinceDays, or all for routine fleet maintenance.

Inspect source

Prefer the user's downloaded .xip; do not redownload it.

bash
pkgutil --check-signature "$archive"
shasum -a 256 "$archive"
stage=$(mktemp -d /tmp/xcode.XXXXXX)
cleanup() { rm -rf "$stage"; }
trap cleanup EXIT
(cd "$stage" && xip --expand "$archive")
set -- "$stage"/Xcode*.app
[[ $# == 1 && -d "$1" ]]
app=$1
plutil -extract CFBundleShortVersionString raw -o - "$app/Contents/Info.plist"
plutil -extract ProductBuildVersion raw -o - "$app/Contents/version.plist"
plutil -extract LSMinimumSystemVersion raw -o - "$app/Contents/Info.plist"
DEVELOPER_DIR="$app/Contents/Developer" xcodebuild -version
cleanup
trap - EXIT

Require Apple Software signature. Compare ProductBuildVersion, not version label alone: two archives named Xcode 26.6 may contain different builds. Do not use DTXcodeBuild as the sync key; it can differ from the build reported by xcodebuild -version.

Compatibility

  • Require Apple silicon for an Apple-silicon-only archive.
  • Require host macOS >= LSMinimumSystemVersion.
  • Fleet rule: install Xcode 26.6 only on macOS 26 Tahoe, version 26.2 or newer. Skip macOS 27 Golden Gate even if the bundle launches.
  • Apply explicit user exclusions after technical checks.

Never change a host OS to make an Xcode build eligible unless explicitly requested.

Transfer and install

  1. Transfer the signed archive, not an expanded app; preserve resumability:
bash
rsync -a --partial --progress -e 'ssh -o RequestTTY=no -o RemoteCommand=none' \
  "$archive" HOST:Downloads/
  1. Verify the remote SHA-256 and signature before expansion.
  2. Expand on the destination. Use a single-quoted remote script or ssh HOST 'bash -s'; never let the local shell expand remote $variables or $(commands).
  3. Keep this app policy:
    • current stable: /Applications/Xcode.app
    • newest prerelease, beta or RC: /Applications/Xcode-beta.app
    • previous-major stable: /Applications/Xcode-previous.app, only for three months after a new stable major ships unless the user sets another window
  4. Replace same-major point releases and same-channel prereleases; do not preserve them. An RC replaces the beta slot. Validate the staged app, move the old app to a temporary rollback path, install and verify the new app, then delete the rollback copy. Restore the old app on failure.
  5. When stable advances to a new major, rotate transactionally: move any existing Xcode-previous.app to a temporary rollback path, move the former stable to Xcode-previous.app, install and verify the new stable, then delete the older rollback copy. Restore both channel paths on failure. Record the new previous-major removal date in the task report.
  6. Stop on unexpected destination collisions. Never delete an app outside these known channels without explicit confirmation.
  7. Preserve xcode-select unless the user requests a switch. Replacing the app at the already-selected path preserves selection.

Use writable /Applications directly. Otherwise use passwordless sudo -n; if admin approval is required, show a local macOS authorization prompt or report the exact pending step. Do not bypass receipts or license state.

First launch and verification

For every installed app:

bash
DEVELOPER_DIR="$app/Contents/Developer" xcodebuild -version
codesign --verify --deep --strict "$app"
DEVELOPER_DIR="$app/Contents/Developer" xcodebuild -checkFirstLaunchStatus

If first-launch status is nonzero:

bash
sudo env DEVELOPER_DIR="$app/Contents/Developer" xcodebuild -license accept
sudo env DEVELOPER_DIR="$app/Contents/Developer" xcodebuild -runFirstLaunch

Recheck until status 0. If sudo/admin UI is unavailable, the app is installed but not ready; report that distinction.

Finish with a host matrix: macOS, desired version/build, installed path, selected path, signature, first-launch state, simulator-hygiene state, previous-major removal date, and skip/failure reason. Keep source archives unless deletion is explicitly requested.

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Xcode Sync AI skill do?

Xcode fleet sync: signed archives, compatibility, install, selection, first launch.

Why use Xcode Sync on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Xcode Sync is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Xcode Sync in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/steipete/agent-scripts/tree/main/skills/xcode-sync. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Xcode Sync?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Xcode Sync?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Xcode Sync with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Xcode Sync AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by steipete under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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