Editor's Note
macios-xcode-beta-update
Update dotnet/macios to a new Xcode beta and validate it end-to-end. Use this skill when a user asks to bump Xcode beta versions, update macios SDK/version constants, run xtro-sharpie sanitization, and run introspection tests for iOS/tvOS/macOS/Mac Catalyst.
Install
npx skills add https://github.com/dotnet/macios --skill macios-xcode-beta-updatemacios Xcode Beta Update
Run this workflow from the macios repository root.
Inputs
Collect or confirm:
- Target Xcode version (for example
26.4) - Beta number (for example
2) - Xcode URL (for example
https://dl.internalx.com/internal-files/xcodes/Xcode_26.4_beta_2.xip) - Optional prior bump PR to mirror
- Whether to do this in two phases (non-test changes first, tests second)
If a prior PR is provided, mirror its file-touch pattern and intentionally skip/add tests based on user scope.
File update scope
Apply minimal, surgical changes in these files:
-
Make.configNUGET_HARDCODED_PRERELEASE_IDENTIFIER=xcode<major.minor>NUGET_HARDCODED_PRERELEASE_BRANCH=xcode<major.minor>XCODE_VERSION=<major.minor>XCODE_URL=<user-provided-xip-url>XCODE_DEVELOPER_ROOT=/Applications/Xcode_<major.minor>.0-beta<beta>.app/Contents/Developer(for betas)
-
Make.versions- Bump:
IOS_NUGET_OS_VERSIONTVOS_NUGET_OS_VERSIONMACOS_NUGET_OS_VERSIONMACCATALYST_NUGET_OS_VERSION
- Bump:
-
builds/Versions-iOS.plist.in -
builds/Versions-tvOS.plist.in -
builds/Versions-macOS.plist.in -
builds/Versions-MacCatalyst.plist.in- Add the new version to
KnownVersionsandSupportedTargetPlatformVersions - For MacCatalyst also update
MacCatalystVersionMap
- Add the new version to
-
tools/common/SdkVersions.cs- Bump Xcode/platform constants and executable/deployment max versions to the new beta OS version
-
tools/devops/automation/templates/variables/common.yml- Set
xcodeChanneltoBetafor beta/RC builds
- Set
Validation workflow
1) Basic configuration check
Run:
make show-versions
2) Full build validation
Run:
make world
Do not bypass Xcode component checks by default.
If check-system fails because MetalToolchain is missing, install it and rerun:
xcrun xcodebuild -downloadComponent MetalToolchain
make world
If simulator runtimes are missing, provision and rerun:
./system-dependencies.sh --provision-simulators
make world
XTRO workflow (test updates)
Run:
AUTO_SANITIZE=1 make -C tests/xtro-sharpie all
If it fails with unclassified entries, run:
make -C tests/xtro-sharpie unclassified2todo
AUTO_SANITIZE=1 make -C tests/xtro-sharpie all
Capture resulting tests/xtro-sharpie/api-annotations-dotnet/*.todo and *.ignore changes.
Introspection workflow (all platforms)
Use explicit prebuild + run to avoid mobile run target issues.
IMPORTANT: Run platforms sequentially, not in parallel. The shared obj/ directories
(tests/common/Touch.Unit/Touch.Client/dotnet/obj and tests/common/MonoTouch.Dialog/obj)
cause NETSDK1005 errors when concurrent restores overwrite project.assets.json with
different platform TFMs. Clean shared obj dirs before each platform build:
rm -rf tests/common/Touch.Unit/Touch.Client/dotnet/obj tests/common/MonoTouch.Dialog/obj
make -C tests/introspection/dotnet build-ios run-ios
rm -rf tests/common/Touch.Unit/Touch.Client/dotnet/obj tests/common/MonoTouch.Dialog/obj
make -C tests/introspection/dotnet build-tvos run-tvos
rm -rf tests/common/Touch.Unit/Touch.Client/dotnet/obj tests/common/MonoTouch.Dialog/obj
make -C tests/introspection/dotnet build-macOS run-macOS
rm -rf tests/common/Touch.Unit/Touch.Client/dotnet/obj tests/common/MonoTouch.Dialog/obj
make -C tests/introspection/dotnet build-MacCatalyst run-MacCatalyst
Desktop test output: For macOS and Mac Catalyst, make run-macOS/run-MacCatalyst uses
dotnet build -t:Run which launches the app without waiting or capturing stdout. The make
command exits immediately with success even while tests are still running. To get actual test
results, run the executable directly after building:
# Build first
make -C tests/introspection/dotnet build-macOS
# Then run directly to capture output
NUNIT_AUTOSTART=true NUNIT_AUTOEXIT=true \
tests/introspection/dotnet/macOS/bin/Debug/net10.0-macos/osx-arm64/introspection.app/Contents/MacOS/introspection
Same pattern for Mac Catalyst (replace macOS → MacCatalyst, net10.0-macos → net10.0-maccatalyst, osx-arm64 → maccatalyst-arm64).
iOS and tvOS simulator tests capture output correctly via make run-ios/run-tvos.
These runs can take a long time; wait for completion and summarize outcomes per platform.
Completion checklist
Before finishing, confirm all items:
- Non-test version bumps are complete and minimal
make worldsucceeds without ignore flags- XTRO sanitized run succeeds after applying
unclassified2todoif needed - Introspection passes for iOS, tvOS, macOS, and Mac Catalyst
- Final output includes: changed files, key commands run, and pass/fail summary
Output format
When reporting results, use this structure:
- Files changed (group non-test and test changes)
- Validation commands run (with pass/fail)
- Platform test summary:
- iOS
- tvOS
- macOS
- Mac Catalyst
- Any follow-up required