Build and run your Xcode project from a floating window — never open Xcode, never switch windows
简体中文 | English
In the vibe-coding era, more and more of your code is written by AI, and Xcode is left doing exactly one job for you: Run.
Yet that single step still costs you a trip to Xcode — switch apps, wait for it to respond, click the run button, switch back. Dozens of times a day, and every one of them breaks your flow.
XcodeControl moves that step into a floating window that is always within reach: press ⌥⌘R and it builds, installs, and launches. Keep coding with your AI while your app lands on the device, without your attention ever leaving the editor.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| 🪟 Always-there floating window | Sits above your code: pick a project and a destination, then build, install, launch, stop, or cancel — no need to bring up Xcode |
| ⌨️ Global shortcut | ⌥ + ⌘ + R by default, works from any app, and can be changed |
| 📱 iOS and macOS | Run on iOS simulators, connected physical devices, or straight to This Mac |
| 🗂️ Multi-project management | Drag in an .xcodeproj / .xcworkspace to add it, then switch between projects at any time |
| 🧾 Build results at a glance | A readable error summary when a build fails, plus the full build log on demand |
| 🔒 Entirely local | No accounts, analytics, or telemetry — projects and build output stay on your Mac |
Settings window: manage the project list and configure general, build, behavior, and location preferences.
- Download the latest notarized DMG from GitHub Releases.
- Open the DMG, drag
XcodeControl.apptoApplications, and launch it. - Open or drag in an
.xcodeprojor.xcworkspace, then choose a scheme and destination. - Press ⌥ + ⌘ + R to build and run.
XcodeControl is a menu bar app and does not show a Dock icon. macOS may ask for notification permission only when build notifications are enabled. Global shortcuts use the system hot-key API and do not require Accessibility permission.
- macOS 26 or later
- A full Xcode installation
- Working Xcode command-line tools selected with
xcode-select
Command Line Tools alone are not sufficient. XcodeControl calls the local
xcodebuild, xcrun simctl, and xcrun devicectl tools.
No accounts, no analytics, no advertising, no telemetry. Your projects, preferences, and build output never leave your Mac.
This repository is used for product information, downloads, and release history. The XcodeControl source code is not published here.
Official builds are signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple. XcodeControl is not distributed through the Mac App Store because it calls the local Xcode command-line tools directly, which requires App Sandbox to be disabled.
Please use GitHub Issues for bug reports and support requests.