Driving Xcode from Claude Code

Working model: Claude Code is the editor; Xcode is an attached build/run/debug/docs service. The user is not editing in Xcode — it's open so its services are reachable. Never assume the Xcode UI state (current file, selection) means anything unless asked about it, and remember some calls mutate state the human also sees (run destination, debugger, simulator).

Per-tool verdicts and nuances: references/tool-reference.md.

Session bootstrap (once per session)

1. XcodeListWindows → parse tabIdentifier from the message text; match on workspacePath if several windows. No workspace open → everything else is unusable; ask the user or open -a Xcode-beta <path>.xcodeproj.
2. Only if you'll build/run: confirm the destination via the activeDestinationDisplayTitle field of XcodeSwitchScheme/…Destination responses — do NOT call XcodeListRunDestinations (15KB) unless you actually need to change OS/device class.