SimDeck CLI
An agent in an IDE or CLI runs iOS simulators and Android emulators, reads the screen, profiles and runs tests.
- 161 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Broad access
Why this level
- The tool controls simulators and emulators and injects taps and gestures.
- It uses private iOS accessibility APIs and streams the device screen.
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add cli/simdeckDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewBroad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.
- The tool controls simulators and emulators and injects taps and gestures.
- It uses private iOS accessibility APIs and streams the device screen.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
SimDeck drives iOS simulators and Android emulators from an IDE and the command line. It streams the screen over H.264, describes the interface with the `describe` command from the accessibility tree in an agent-friendly compact form and controls the device through private iOS accessibility APIs and Android UIAutomator. iOS needs the macOS build while Android emulators are also supported on Windows and Linux through a software OpenH264 encoder. Profiling is built in: CPU, memory, disk writes, network, hangs and stack sampling. There is iOS camera simulation, inspector plugins for NativeScript, React Native, Flutter, UIKit and SwiftUI and `simdeck/test` for fast JavaScript tests. The skill installs with `npx skills add NativeScript/SimDeck --skill simdeck -g` and a VS Code extension exists.
Who it is for. Mobile app developers who ask an agent to run the app on a simulator and check the interface.
Good fit when
- An agent taps simulator screen elements and reads the accessibility tree.
- You need to measure app CPU and memory during a scenario.
- A JavaScript test checks accessibility state and drives the simulator.
- A simulator is brought up in a pull request through GitHub Actions.
Not a fit when
- You need a physical phone: the tool works with simulators and emulators.
- You work on Linux or Windows with iOS: the iOS simulator exists only on macOS.
- Private iOS APIs are unacceptable.
Example request
Open the iPhone 17 Pro Max simulator, describe the screen with the describe command and tap the sign-in button.Limitations
iOS control relies on private accessibility APIs, so Xcode updates may break it. iOS needs macOS and on Windows and Linux only Android emulators are available. The browser UI listens on loopback, the port is set with `-p` and login autostart is turned on with `-a`. The npm package installs globally with `npm i -g simdeck@latest`. Controlling iOS needs Xcode with simulators installed and Android needs the SDK with emulators. The VS Code extension and the GitHub Actions integration install separately per the simdeck.sh docs. MIT license, last commit in November 2026.
How to disable. Remove the package with `npm uninstall -g simdeck`, the skill from the agent skills directory and the VS Code extension.
FAQ
How do I try it without installing?
Run `npx simdeck`: open the printed URL in your IDE browser, for example the built-in Codex browser.
How do I pick a simulator?
Pass a name or UDID as the only argument, for example `simdeck "iPhone 17 Pro Max"`. The `--open` flag opens the browser itself.
What can profiling do?
It shows CPU, memory, disk writes, network throughput, hang signals and stack sampling.
Which frameworks does the inspector support?
NativeScript, React Native, Flutter, UIKit and SwiftUI: plugins show the app view hierarchy live.
Is there an editor extension?
Yes, `nativescript.simdeck-vscode` opens the simulator view inside VS Code.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimDeck (this card) | no | 161 | ||
| sim-use | no | 1,541 | a CLI with a compact screen element list; SimDeck adds H.264 streaming, profiling and framework inspectors | |
| tapflow MCP Server | yes | key is optional | 1,975 | an MCP server of CI scenarios on Mac; SimDeck also runs Android on Windows and Linux and provides simdeck/test |
README in short
The README presents a tool for mobile development with agents: `npx simdeck` launch, CLI and skill install, a VS Code extension, a feature list, docs at simdeck.sh and GitHub Actions integration. MIT licensed.