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xtool avatar

xtool

Build, sign, and install iOS apps from Linux, Windows, or macOS

  • Developer tools
View on GitHub
Website

What it is

A command-line tool that turns a Swift Package Manager project into an iOS app, signs it, and installs it on a connected device without needing Xcode. It also talks to Apple Developer Services for certificates and provisioning, and ships an XKit library for doing the same from your own code. Developers on Linux or WSL use it to write and ship iPhone apps from editors like VS Code.

Images

Facts

Stars
13,062 GitHub stars.
13,062

Forks
665
Commits
423
Contributors
14
Language
Swift
License
MIT
Last commit
Oct 20, 2026
On GitHub since
November 2024
First release
November 2024
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, CLI, library
Self-hostable
No
Alternative to
Xcode
Tags
  • build-tool
  • deployment
  • sideloading
  • dev-environment

Last synced from GitHub on Oct 20, 2026

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What people are saying

Updated Oct 21, 2026
  • Hacker NewsXTool – Cross-platform Xcode replacementMay 17, 2025 · 195 points · 66 comments (opens Hacker News in a new tab)
  • Hacker NewsBuild an iOS app on Linux or WindowsJun 25, 2025 · 168 points · 56 comments (opens Hacker News in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“here we go Cross-platform Xcode replacement. Build and deploy iOS apps with SwiftPM on Linux, Windows, macOS.”May 17, 2025 · 7 likes · 1 reply (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“Oh hey, what’s this now? xtool.sh”Jun 21, 2026 · 2 likes · 3 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“🦾 xtool: Cross-platform Xcode replacement. Build and deploy iOS apps with SwiftPM on Linux, Windows, macOS #xtool #xcode #crossplatform”May 17, 2025 · 5 likes · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Hacker NewsXtool: Cross-Platform Xcode ReplacementMay 10, 2025 · 4 points · 1 comment (opens Hacker News in a new tab)
  • Hacker NewsXtool: Cross-Platform Xcode ReplacementMay 9, 2025 · 4 points · 1 comment (opens Hacker News in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“You can now build and deploy iOS apps without Xcode. Cross-platform on macOS, Windows, and Linux!”Oct 12, 2026 · 3 likes · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Hacker NewsXtool: A cross-platform Xcode replacementAug 15, 2025 · 3 points · 0 comments (opens Hacker News in a new tab)
  • Hacker NewsXcode replacement – Build and deploy iOS apps on Linux, Windows, macOSOct 12, 2026 · 2 points · 0 comments (opens Hacker News in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“@rexo apps made with stuff like react native can also be built without a mac i'm pretty sure”Aug 25, 2025 · 1 like · 1 reply (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“GitHub - xtool-org/xtool: Cross-platform Xcode replacement. Build and deploy iOS apps with Swift...”May 19, 2025 · 1 like · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“XTool – Cross-platform Xcode replacement View Article | Join the HN Conversation Summary of HN discussion 🧵👇 #hacker-news”May 18, 2025 · 0 likes · 1 reply (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“XTool - Cross-platform Xcode replacement [Discussion]”May 17, 2025 · 1 like · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“Need a cross-platform IDE? XTool works on macOS, Windows & Linux, letting developers build apps without platform constraints. A clean interface keeps you…”May 17, 2025 · 1 like · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“xtool Cross-platform Xcode replacement. Build and deploy iOS apps with SwiftPM on Linux, Windows, and macOS.”May 18, 2025 · 0 likes · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“XTool – Cross-platform Xcode replacement”May 17, 2025 · 0 likes · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“XTool – Cross-platform Xcode replacement (github.com) Discussion | Main Link”May 17, 2025 · 0 likes · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“XTool – Cross-platform Xcode replacement”May 17, 2025 · 0 likes · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)
  • Bluesky“XTool – Cross-platform Xcode replacement (”May 17, 2025 · 0 likes · 0 replies (opens Bluesky in a new tab)