macos-spm-app-packaging

SKILL.md

Build, package, and sign SwiftPM-based macOS apps entirely outside Xcode using shell scripts and templates.

Includes a minimal SwiftPM project skeleton in assets/templates/bootstrap/ with Package.swift, Sources structure, and version configuration ready to rename and customize

Provides six core packaging scripts: package_app.sh for .app bundle assembly, compile_and_run.sh for dev iteration, sign-and-notarize.sh for release signing and Apple notarization, and make_appcast.sh for Sparkle update feeds

Covers the full release pipeline from build through code signing, notarization, stapling, and GitHub release publication with validation checkpoints at each stage

Includes troubleshooting guidance for common notarization failures (duplicate submissions, entitlements mismatches, hardened runtime issues) and menu bar app support via MENU_BAR_APP flag

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

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.

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.