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argent-ios-simulator-setup

software-mansion/argent

Set up and boot iOS simulators, verify connection, and obtain UDIDs for simulator interaction tasks.

What is argent-ios-simulator-setup?

Configures iOS simulator environments using argent MCP tools. Use this skill when starting a new session, booting a simulator, retrieving device identifiers, or before performing any iOS simulator interactions.

  • List available iOS simulators and filter for booted instances
  • Boot an iOS simulator by UDID if none are currently running
  • Verify simulator connection and auto-start the interaction server
  • Retrieve iOS simulator UDIDs for targeting specific devices
  • Prepare the environment for sub-agent simulator task delegation

How to install argent-ios-simulator-setup

npx skills add https://github.com/software-mansion/argent --skill argent-ios-simulator-setup
Prerequisites
  • argent MCP tools installed and accessible
  • Xcode with iOS simulator support installed
  • MCP permissions configured for any sub-agents that will interact with simulators
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How to use argent-ios-simulator-setup

  1. 1.Call `list-devices` and filter results for `platform: "ios"` entries, excluding `kind: "device"` (physical devices)
  2. 2.If no booted simulator appears in the list, call `boot-device` with the target simulator's UDID
  3. 3.Verify connection by confirming the server auto-starts when you call any interaction tool like `gesture-tap` or `gesture-swipe`
  4. 4.Use the obtained UDID in subsequent simulator interaction commands

Use cases

Good for
  • Initialize a new iOS testing session by booting the first available simulator
  • Obtain a specific simulator's UDID for use in downstream automation tasks
  • Verify simulator connectivity before running gesture or interaction commands
  • Set up MCP permissions for sub-agents that will handle simulator interactions
  • Switch between multiple simulators by listing devices and booting a different UDID
Who it's for
  • iOS developers automating simulator testing
  • QA engineers setting up test environments
  • Agents delegating iOS simulator tasks to sub-agents
  • Mobile app developers needing programmatic simulator control

argent-ios-simulator-setup FAQ

How do I identify a booted simulator in the device list?

Booted simulators appear first in the `list-devices` output with `platform: "ios"`. Exclude any entries with `kind: "device"`, which represent physical iPhones, not simulators.

What if no simulator is currently booted?

Call `boot-device` with the UDID of the simulator you want to start. UDIDs follow the format `A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890`.

Do I need to manually start the interaction server?

No. All interaction tools (`gesture-tap`, `gesture-swipe`, `gesture-custom`, etc.) automatically start the server if it is not already running.

What permissions do sub-agents need to use this skill?

Sub-agents must have MCP permissions configured to access the argent simulator tools if you delegate simulator tasks to them.

Full instructions (SKILL.md)

Source of truth, from software-mansion/argent.


name: argent-ios-simulator-setup description: Set up and connect to an iOS simulator using argent MCP tools. Use when starting a new session, booting an iOS simulator, getting an iOS UDID, or before any iOS simulator interaction task.

1. Setup Steps

If you delegate simulator tasks to sub-agents, make sure they have MCP permissions.

  1. Find a booted simulator Use list-devices. Filter for entries with platform: "ios" and skip any with kind: "device" (a physical iPhone, never a simulator target): booted simulators are listed first. If none are booted, call boot-device with udid: <chosen UDID>.

  2. Verify connection All interaction tools (gesture-tap, gesture-swipe, gesture-custom, etc.) auto-start the server if not already running.

2. Notes

  • UDIDs look like: A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890