SimDeck

Appearance

CLI ​

simdeck is the main entrypoint for opening the browser UI, managing the local service, and scripting simulator actions.

Common use ​

sh
simdeck
simdeck "iPhone 17 Pro Max"
simdeck --open
simdeck -p 4311
simdeck -a

With no subcommand, SimDeck starts or reuses the background service and prints browser URLs. A single simulator name or UDID selects that device in the UI.

Command shape ​

sh
simdeck [SIMULATOR_NAME_OR_UDID]
simdeck [-p <port>] [--open] [--autostart]
simdeck [--server-url <url>] <command> [options]

Use simdeck use <udid> once per project directory to make that simulator the default for later device commands. Most commands accept [<udid>]; --device, SIMDECK_DEVICE, and SIMDECK_UDID override the saved project default when a one-off target is needed.

Use --server-url or SIMDECK_SERVER_URL when a script should target a specific service:

sh
SIMDECK_SERVER_URL=http://127.0.0.1:4310 simdeck list

Most-used commands ​

sh
simdeck list
simdeck use <udid>
simdeck boot <udid>
simdeck install /path/to/App.app
simdeck install /path/to/App.ipa
simdeck launch com.example.App
simdeck open-url https://example.com
simdeck camera start com.example.App --file /absolute/path/to/feed.mov
simdeck camera stop
simdeck tap --label "Continue" --wait-timeout-ms 5000
simdeck tap --id com.apple.settings.screenTime --expect-id BackButton
simdeck tap "Continue"
simdeck back
simdeck describe --format agent --max-depth 3 --interactive
simdeck press @e3
simdeck snapshot --format agent --max-depth 3 -i
simdeck screenshot --output screen.png
simdeck screenshot --with-bezel --output screen-bezel.png
simdeck record --seconds 5 --output screen-recording.mp4
simdeck logs --seconds 30 --limit 200
simdeck stats
simdeck sample --seconds 3

The explicit form still works, for example simdeck launch <udid> com.example.App. snapshot, press, and wait are aliases for describe, tap, and wait-for. Agent snapshots include refs like @e3 that can be reused by tap/press. Use tap --expect-* to fold a post-tap wait into the action, and back for app-owned back navigation.

Most successful commands print JSON so they can be piped into tools such as jq.

Help ​

sh
simdeck --help
simdeck tap --help
simdeck service status

Next ​