VXCode

VXCode is a VS Code extension for building and running iOS Simulator apps with Xcode on macOS.

Requirements

• macOS with Xcode installed and configured.
• VS Code 1.85 or newer.
• An iOS project with a shared application scheme.

Install

npm install
npm run package

Install the generated vxcode-*.vsix file from Extensions → … → Install from VSIX….

Or build and install in one step (requires the code command in your PATH):

npm run install:local

Then run Developer: Reload Window (or Developer: Restart Extension Host) from the Command Palette. VS Code does not prompt for a reload when the reinstalled version number is unchanged, so open windows keep running the old copy until reloaded.

Use

1. Open an iOS project folder in VS Code.
2. Open the VXCode view from the Activity Bar.
3. Select a project, scheme, and simulator.
4. Choose Build & Run, Build only, or Run tests.

Clean build folder runs xcodebuild clean for the selected scheme and simulator. Archive for device builds a generic/platform=iOS archive with the scheme's Archive configuration and saves it under ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Archives, where Xcode's Organizer lists it for distribution. Archiving needs working code signing for the scheme.

The same actions are available from the Command Palette with the VXCode: prefix.

Development

npm test
npm run check

Press F5 (Run VXCode) to compile in watch mode and open an Extension Development Host. After saving changes, press Cmd+R in that window to reload it.

Set VXCode.developerDirectory in VS Code settings if multiple Xcode installations are present.

VXCode is independent of Apple and Microsoft and is MIT licensed.