macOS SwiftPM App Packaging (No Xcode)

Overview

Bootstrap a complete SwiftPM macOS app folder, then build, package, and run it without Xcode. Use assets/templates/bootstrap/ for the starter layout and references/packaging.md + references/release.md for packaging and release details.

Two-Step Workflow

1. Bootstrap the project folder

   • Copy assets/templates/bootstrap/ into a new repo.
   • Rename MyApp in Package.swift, Sources/MyApp/, and version.env.
   • Customize APP_NAME, BUNDLE_ID, and versions.

2. Build, package, and run the bootstrapped app

   • Copy scripts from assets/templates/ into your repo (for example, Scripts/).
   • Build/tests: swift build and swift test.
   • Package: Scripts/package_app.sh.
   • Run: Scripts/compile_and_run.sh (preferred) or Scripts/launch.sh.
   • Release (optional): Scripts/sign-and-notarize.sh and Scripts/make_appcast.sh.
   • Tag + GitHub release (optional): create a git tag, upload the zip/appcast to the GitHub release, and publish.

Minimum End-to-End Example

Shortest path from bootstrap to a running app:

# 1. Copy and rename the skeleton
cp -R assets/templates/bootstrap/ ~/Projects/MyApp
cd ~/Projects/MyApp
sed -i '' 's/MyApp/HelloApp/g' Package.swift version.env

# 2. Copy scripts
cp assets/templates/package_app.sh Scripts/
cp assets/templates/compile_and_run.sh Scripts/
chmod +x Scripts/*.sh

# 3. Build and launch
swift build
Scripts/compile_and_run.sh

Validation Checkpoints

Run these after key steps to catch failures early before proceeding to the next stage.

After packaging (Scripts/package_app.sh):

# Confirm .app bundle structure is intact
ls -R build/HelloApp.app/Contents

# Check that the binary is present and executable
file build/HelloApp.app/Contents/MacOS/HelloApp