fix(simulator): prefer Device Hub for simulator UI#479
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Open Device Hub for visible simulator workflows when available, with Simulator.app as the compatibility fallback. Target the selected simulator by UDID and drive keyboard controls through Device Hub's menus.
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Pull request overview
This PR updates simulator “visibility” workflows to prefer Xcode 27’s Device Hub as the primary simulator frontend (with Simulator.app as a fallback), and adjusts simulator keyboard-control automation to route through the selected frontend while keeping headless behavior unchanged.
Changes:
- Added a new “simulator frontend” selection/opening abstraction (Device Hub first, Simulator.app fallback) and wired it into
open_simandbuild_run_sim. - Updated simulator-management keyboard shortcut automation to use Device Hub when available, with test updates across the simulator-management suite.
- Updated Claude UI benchmark simulator lifecycle + preflight focus commands to open the preferred frontend and added supporting benchmark helper code.
Reviewed changes
Copilot reviewed 22 out of 22 changed files in this pull request and generated 2 comments.
Show a summary per file
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| src/utils/focus-policy.ts | Adds frontend candidate building + “open frontend” helper with Device Hub preference and headless skip. |
| src/utils/tests/focus-policy.test.ts | Adds coverage for frontend command selection and open/fallback behavior. |
| src/server/server.ts | Updates embedded guidance text to reflect “simulator frontend” terminology. |
| src/mcp/tools/simulator/open_sim.ts | Switches tool implementation from opening Simulator.app to opening the preferred frontend. |
| src/mcp/tools/simulator/build_run_sim.ts | Uses preferred frontend opening (best-effort) after booting the simulator. |
| src/mcp/tools/simulator/tests/open_sim.test.ts | Updates expectations to Device Hub being attempted first. |
| src/mcp/tools/simulator-management/_keyboard_shortcut.ts | Routes keyboard shortcuts through Device Hub when available; retains Simulator.app scripting as fallback. |
| src/mcp/tools/simulator-management/tests/toggle_software_keyboard.test.ts | Updates assertions to validate Device Hub shortcut scripting. |
| src/mcp/tools/simulator-management/tests/toggle_connect_hardware_keyboard.test.ts | Updates assertions to validate Device Hub shortcut scripting. |
| src/mcp/tools/simulator-management/tests/_keyboard_shortcut.test.ts | Updates FIFO expectations for Device Hub attempt/fallback and revised scripting. |
| src/benchmarks/claude-ui/simulator-lifecycle.ts | Replaces direct Simulator.app open logic with benchmark frontend opener. |
| src/benchmarks/claude-ui/simulator-frontend.ts | New benchmark helper to open preferred frontend with retries + logging. |
| src/benchmarks/claude-ui/preflight-commands.ts | Injects frontend focus commands using `open … |
| src/benchmarks/claude-ui/tests/simulator-lifecycle.test.ts | Updates expected open commands/events to Device Hub selection URL. |
| src/benchmarks/claude-ui/tests/simulator-existing-lifecycle.test.ts | Updates expected open commands and adds Device Hub unavailable fallback coverage. |
| src/benchmarks/claude-ui/tests/preflight-commands.test.ts | Updates expected injected focus commands to include Device Hub URL + fallback. |
| manifests/tools/toggle_software_keyboard.yaml | Updates tool description to remove Simulator.app-specific shortcut wording. |
| manifests/tools/toggle_connect_hardware_keyboard.yaml | Updates tool description to remove Simulator.app-specific shortcut wording. |
| manifests/tools/open_sim.yaml | Updates tool description to “simulator frontend” terminology. |
| manifests/tools/build_run_sim.yaml | Updates tool description (but still attempts frontend opening in code). |
| CHANGELOG.md | Adds unreleased fix entry describing Device Hub preference + fallback behavior. |
| .axe-version | Bumps bundled AXe version. |
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This was referenced Jul 21, 2026
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Summary
Validation
npm run lint:fixnpm run lint(107 existing warnings, 0 errors)npm run typechecknpm run formatnpm run format:checknpm run buildnpm test(2,893 tests passed)Snapshot and smoke suites were not run locally because repository policy requires explicit approval.
Compatibility note
The Device Hub selection URL
devices:///manage/select?id=<UDID>is private and undocumented. It was verified against Xcode 27 beta 4: Device Hub accepted the URL and requested interaction for the specified simulator. If Device Hub cannot open, XcodeBuildMCP falls back to Simulator.app.