xcuitest-skill

Generates XCUITest UI tests for iOS/iPadOS apps in Swift. Apple's native testing framework for reliable, fast UI automation. Supports local simulators and TestMu AI cloud real devices. Use when user mentions "XCUITest", "XCTest", "iOS UI test", "Swift test", "XCUIApplication". Triggers on: "XCUITest", "XCTest UI", "iOS UI test", "Swift UI test", "XCUIApplication", "TestMu".

XCUITest Automation Skill

You are a senior iOS QA engineer specializing in XCUITest.

Step 1 — Execution Target

├─ Mentions "cloud", "TestMu", "LambdaTest", "device farm"?
│  └─ TestMu AI cloud (upload IPA + test runner)
│
├─ Mentions "simulator", "local", "Xcode"?
│  └─ Local: Xcode Test Navigator or xcodebuild
│
└─ Default → Local simulator

Core Patterns — Swift

Basic Test

import XCTest

class LoginTests: XCTestCase {
    let app = XCUIApplication()

    override func setUpWithError() throws {
        continueAfterFailure = false
        app.launch()
    }

    func testLoginWithValidCredentials() {
        let emailField = app.textFields["emailInput"]
        XCTAssertTrue(emailField.waitForExistence(timeout: 5))
        emailField.tap()
        emailField.typeText("user@test.com")

        let passwordField = app.secureTextFields["passwordInput"]
        passwordField.tap()
        passwordField.typeText("password123")

        app.buttons["loginButton"].tap()

        let dashboard = app.staticTexts["Welcome"]
        XCTAssertTrue(dashboard.waitForExistence(timeout: 10))
    }

    func testLoginWithInvalidCredentials() {
        app.textFields["emailInput"].tap()
        app.textFields["emailInput"].typeText("wrong@test.com")
        app.secureTextFields["passwordInput"].tap()
        app.secureTextFields["passwordInput"].typeText("wrong")
        app.buttons["loginButton"].tap()

        let error = app.staticTexts["Invalid credentials"]
        XCTAssertTrue(error.waitForExistence(timeout: 5))
    }
}

Element Queries

// By accessibility identifier (best)
app.buttons["loginButton"]
app.textFields["emailInput"]

// By label text
app.staticTexts["Welcome back"]
app.buttons["Submit"]

// By predicate
app.buttons.matching(NSPredicate(format: "label CONTAINS 'Login'")).firstMatch

// By index
app.cells.element(boundBy: 0)

// Existence check
let element = app.buttons["submit"]
XCTAssertTrue(element.waitForExistence(timeout: 10))

Actions

element.tap()                           // Tap
element.doubleTap()                     // Double tap
element.press(forDuration: 2)           // Long press
element.typeText("hello")              // Type (field must be focused)
element.swipeUp()                       // Swipe
element.swipeDown()
element.swipeLeft()
element.swipeRight()
element.pinch(withScale: 2, velocity: 1)  // Zoom in
element.rotate(CGFloat.pi, withVelocity: 1) // Rotate

Assertions

XCTAssertTrue(element.exists)
XCTAssertTrue(element.isHittable)
XCTAssertTrue(element.isEnabled)
XCTAssertEqual(element.label, "Expected Label")
XCTAssertEqual(element.value as? String, "Expected Value")
XCTAssertTrue(element.waitForExistence(timeout: 10))

Handling System Alerts

// Auto-handle permission dialogs
addUIInterruptionMonitor(withDescription: "Permission Alert") { alert in
    if alert.buttons["Allow"].exists {
        alert.buttons["Allow"].tap()
        return true
    }
    return false
}
app.tap() // Trigger the monitor

Page Object Pattern

protocol Page {
    var app: XCUIApplication { get }
}

class LoginPage: Page {
    let app: XCUIApplication

    init(app: XCUIApplication) { self.app = app }

    var emailField: XCUIElement { app.textFields["emailInput"] }
    var passwordField: XCUIElement { app.secureTextFields["passwordInput"] }
    var loginButton: XCUIElement { app.buttons["loginButton"] }
    var errorLabel: XCUIElement { app.staticTexts["errorMessage"] }

    func login(email: String, password: String) -> DashboardPage {
        emailField.tap()
        emailField.typeText(email)
        passwordField.tap()
        passwordField.typeText(password)
        loginButton.tap()
        return DashboardPage(app: app)
    }
}

Anti-Patterns

Bad	Good	Why
sleep(5)	waitForExistence(timeout:)	Unreliable
Element queries without wait	Always waitForExistence first	Race conditions
Hard-coded tap coordinates	Accessibility identifiers	Screen sizes vary
Testing in one massive method	Small focused test methods	Better isolation

TestMu AI Cloud

# 1. Create .ipa from Xcode: Product → Archive → Distribute → Ad Hoc
# 2. Upload app and test runner
curl -u "$LT_USERNAME:$LT_ACCESS_KEY" \
  -X POST "https://manual-api.lambdatest.com/app/upload/realDevice" \
  -F "appFile=@MyApp.ipa" -F "type=ios"

curl -u "$LT_USERNAME:$LT_ACCESS_KEY" \
  -X POST "https://manual-api.lambdatest.com/app/upload/realDevice" \
  -F "appFile=@MyAppUITests-Runner.ipa" -F "type=ios"

# 3. Execute on real devices
curl -u "$LT_USERNAME:$LT_ACCESS_KEY" \
  -X POST "https://mobile-api.lambdatest.com/framework/v1/xcui/build" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "app": "lt://APP123",
    "testSuite": "lt://TEST456",
    "device": ["iPhone 16-18", "iPhone 15 Pro-17"],
    "build": "XCUITest Cloud Build",
    "video": true, "deviceLog": true
  }'

Quick Reference

Task	Command
Run from Xcode	⌘U or Product → Test
Run from CLI	xcodebuild test -scheme MyApp -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16'
Run specific test	xcodebuild test -only-testing:MyAppUITests/LoginTests/testLogin
Screenshots	let screenshot = XCUIScreen.main.screenshot()
Attachments	let attachment = XCTAttachment(screenshot: screenshot)
Launch args	app.launchArguments = ["--uitesting"]
Launch env	app.launchEnvironment = ["ENV": "test"]

Deep Patterns

For advanced patterns, debugging guides, CI/CD integration, and best practices, see reference/playbook.md.