xcode-project-analyzer

What the source does

• FilesystemNone observedNo reads or writes in the source
• NetworkNone observedNo outbound calls in the source
• ShellNone observedNo commands run in the source
• DependenciesPinnedNothing floats
• SecretsNone foundNo keys in source

Five audit layers

Gates applied: no behavioural pass.

Audit 0.4.1 · source sha cf7e2fea0edf · 26 Oct 2026Report an issue or request a re-scan

• Publisheravdlee GitHub userOwner of the repository this skill is read from
• Source folderavdlee/xcode-build-optimization-agent-skill/skills/xcode-project-analyzerThe exact folder we audited
• LicenceMITAs the repository states it
• Commit pinned for this verdictcf7e2fea0edfA new audit runs when the source changes
• Repository statusNot archivedLast push 41 days ago
• Sandboxed runNot runSkills are read, not executed; layer L4 is skipped

Its description: Audit Xcode project configuration, build settings, scheme behavior, and script phases to find build-time improvements with explicit approval gates. Use when a developer wants project-level build analysis, slow…

---
name: xcode-project-analyzer
description: Audit Xcode project configuration, build settings, scheme behavior, and script phases to find build-time improvements with explicit approval gates. Use when a developer wants project-level build analysis, slow incremental builds, guidance on target dependencies, build settings review, run script phase analysis, parallelization improvements, or module-map and DEFINES_MODULE configuration.
---

# 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](references/build-settings-best-practices.md)
- 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](references/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](references/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
- explicit module dependency settings are consistent for targets that should share modules

## Typical Wins

- skip debug-time scripts that only matter in release
- add missing script guards or dependency-analysis metadata
- remove accidental serial bottlenecks in schemes
- align build settings that cause unnecessary module variants
- fix stale project structure that forces broader rebuilds than necessary
- identify linters or formatters that touch file timestamps without changing content, silently invalidating build inputs and forcing module replanning
- split large asset catalogs into separate resource bundles across targets to parallelize compilation
- use Task Backtraces to pinpoint the exact input change that triggers unnecessary incremental work

## Reporting Format

For each issue, include:

- evidence
- likely scope
- why it affects clean builds, incremental builds, or both
- estimated impact
- approval requirement

If the evidence points to package graph or build plugins, hand off to [`spm-build-analysis`](../spm-build-analysis/SKILL.md) by reading its SKILL.md and applying its workflow to the same project context.

## Additional Resources

- For the detailed audit checklist, see [references/project-audit-checks.md](references/project-audit-checks.md)
- For build settings best practices, see [references/build-settings-best-practices.md](references/build-settings-best-practices.md)
- For the shared recommendation structure, see [references/recommendation-format.md](references/recommendation-format.md)
- For Apple-aligned source summaries, see [references/build-optimization-sources.md](references/build-optimization-sources.md)

Excerpt, first 4,889 characters of SKILL.md, verbatim from the audited commit. It is text from someone else’s repository, quoted so you can judge it before your agent reads it.

git clone https://github.com/avdlee/xcode-build-optimization-agent-skill
git -C xcode-build-optimization-agent-skill checkout cf7e2fea0edf

Works in

1. 2026-10-26
   ✓SAFE B 89 / 100

   first audit · source cf7e2fea0edf

Questions about xcode-project-analyzer

• github.com/avdlee/xcode-build-optimization-agent-skill/tree/main — the audited source at commit cf7e2fea0edf and every finding aboveObserved · 26 Oct 2026

Spotted something wrong? Report a correction · Methodology