Xcode Project Analyzer

Xcode Project Analyzer

Use this skill for project- and target-level build inefficiencies that are unlikely to be solved by source edits alone.

Core Rules

• Recommendation-first by default.
• Require explicit approval before changing project files, schemes, or build settings.
• Prefer measured findings tied to timing summaries, build logs, or project configuration evidence.
• Distinguish debug-only pain from release-only pain.

What To Review

• scheme build order and target dependencies
• debug vs release build settings against the build settings best practices
• run script phases and dependency-analysis settings
• derived-data churn or obviously invalidating custom steps
• opportunities for parallelization
• explicit module dependency settings and module-map readiness
• "Planning Swift module" time in the Build Timing Summary -- if it dominates incremental builds, suspect unexpected input modification or macro-related invalidation
• asset catalog compilation time, especially in targets with large or numerous catalogs
• ExtractAppIntentsMetadata time in the Build Timing Summary -- if this phase consumes significant time, record it as xcode-behavior (report the cost and impact, but do not suggest a repo-local optimization unless there is explicit Apple guidance)
• zero-change build overhead -- if a no-op rebuild exceeds a few seconds, investigate fixed-cost phases (script execution, codesign, validation, CopySwiftLibs)
• CocoaPods usage -- if a Podfile or Pods.xcodeproj exists, CocoaPods is deprecated; recommend migrating to SPM and do not attempt CocoaPods-specific optimizations (see project-audit-checks.md)
• Task Backtraces (Xcode 16.4+: Scheme Editor > Build > Build Debugging) to diagnose why tasks re-run unexpectedly in incremental builds

Build Settings Best Practices Audit

Every project audit should include a build settings checklist comparing the project's Debug and Release configurations against the recommended values in build-settings-best-practices.md. Present results using checkmark/cross indicators ([x]/[ ]). The scope is strictly build performance -- do not flag language-migration settings like SWIFT_STRICT_CONCURRENCY or SWIFT_UPCOMING_FEATURE_*.

Apple-Derived Checks

Review these items in every audit:

• target dependencies are accurate and not missing or inflated
• schemes build in Dependency Order
• run scripts declare inputs and outputs
• .xcfilelist files are used when scripts have many inputs or outputs
• DEFINES_MODULE is enabled where custom frameworks or libraries should expose module maps
• headers are self-contained enough for module-map use