version: "1.0.0" name: ade-ios-simulator description: Use this skill when you need to see an iOS or SwiftUI change actually running on a simulator — launching the app, tapping/dragging/typing in it, screenshotting or streaming the screen, inspecting on-screen elements, or rendering a SwiftUI preview through Preview Lab — via ade ios-sim.

ADE iOS Simulator and Preview Lab

Start here

Use --socket so CLI actions and the desktop drawer share one simulator session (the general rule is in the ade-cli-control-plane skill):

ade --socket ios-sim status --text
ade --socket ios-sim claim --lane <lane-id> --text
ade --socket ios-sim devices --text
ade --socket ios-sim apps --text
ade help ios-sim launch

Launch with a target from apps:

ade --socket ios-sim launch --target <id> --text

launch and claim carry lane/session ownership; see "Owning a drawer surface" in the ade-cli-control-plane skill for when claim is required.

Inspect and interact

Capture current screen/context before acting:

ade --socket ios-sim snapshot --text
ade --socket ios-sim elements --text
ade --socket ios-sim select --x <x> --y <y> --text

Interact with the running app:

ade --socket ios-sim tap --x <x> --y <y> --text
ade --socket ios-sim drag --start-x <x> --start-y <y> --end-x <x> --end-y <y> --text
ade --socket ios-sim type --value "text" --text

Streams

Use stream-status to explain the active Simulator.app live view and blockers:

ade --socket ios-sim window-start --fps 60 --text
ade --socket ios-sim live-start --fps 60 --text
ade --socket ios-sim stream-status --text
ade --socket ios-sim stream-stop --text

window-start and live-start use the same primary path: ADE opens the user's running Simulator.app window, parks it under the owning ADE window, and mirrors it into the drawer. If tap/drag/type/inspect actions fail, check that idb and idb_companion are installed.

Preview Lab

For SwiftUI preview work:

ade --socket ios-sim preview-status --text
ade --socket ios-sim previews --source <swift-file> --text
ade --socket ios-sim preview-match --source <swift-file> --line <n> --text
ade --socket ios-sim preview-ensure --source <swift-file> --line <n> --text
ade --socket ios-sim preview-current --text
ade --socket ios-sim preview-render --source <swift-file> --index <n> --text

To bridge the current simulator screen into Preview Lab, first select a source-backed element (ade --socket ios-sim select --x <x> --y <y> --text) or pass an explicit --source / --line, then run ade --socket ios-sim preview-current --text. That one command resolves the best nearby preview, opens/waits for Xcode when needed, renders through Xcode MCP, and brings the ADE Preview drawer forward.

Use preview-match when you only need the target decision without rendering. The selected simulator element's sourceFile and optional sourceLine bias matching; --label / --component-id are only hints for naming a missing-preview suggestion. Use preview-ensure when Xcode Preview Lab is not ready; it opens this lane's iOS project in Xcode and waits for MCP readiness.

Preview Lab fixtures must not require live sync, keychain, network, push, sockets, or production databases — add or refine a preview only when no useful nearby preview exists.

Gotchas

• apps drives project/scheme detection. If it does not find your app, re-run ade --socket ios-sim apps --text and report the selected project, scheme, and build output rather than working around it with symlink projects, fake schemes, or repo-layout shims.
• preview-current / preview-match returning no-context means nothing on screen is source-backed. Run ade --socket ios-sim snapshot --text and select a source-backed element, or pass an explicit --source / --line.
• When you own the simulator session and the task no longer needs it, run ade --socket ios-sim shutdown --text.