xtool is a cross-platform Xcode replacement that builds and deploys iOS apps using SwiftPM on Linux, Windows, and macOS.
The tool solves the problem of iOS development being locked to Xcode and macOS by replicating Xcode's core functionality using open standards. It allows developers to build SwiftPM packages into iOS apps, sign and install them, and interact with Apple Developer Services programmatically. The approach works by providing both a command-line interface and a library called XKit that can be integrated into other Swift applications, enabling iOS development workflows on non-Apple platforms and in non-Xcode environments.
Developers should choose this tool if they want to build iOS apps from Linux, Windows, or WSL without requiring Xcode, or if they prefer SwiftPM-based workflows over Xcode's project format. It suits projects that already use SwiftPM and teams that want to develop iOS applications on non-macOS systems. The tool is particularly valuable for developers who want programmatic access to Apple Developer Services and iOS device interaction from their own applications through the XKit library.
The project shows active development with regular commits across multiple areas of the codebase. Work spans core functionality, documentation, and infrastructure maintenance. The maintainers respond to issues and pull requests, indicating ongoing engagement with the user community. Development activity covers both feature work and bug fixes, suggesting the tool is being actively refined rather than in maintenance mode.
