When it comes to iOS development, everyone knows the basics: Xcode, CocoaPods, SwiftLint, and Simulator. But what about those hidden gems—the tools and tricks that quietly boost your productivity, catch sneaky bugs, or automate those tasks you dread doing every week?
In this article, I’m sharing ten lesser-known tools and approaches I’ve discovered (often by accident!) that can transform your iOS development workflow. Some are extensions, some are automation hacks, and some just make life… simpler.
1. XcodeGen
Sick of merge conflicts in your .xcodeproj file?
XcodeGen lets you define your project structure in a simple YAML or JSON file and regenerate the .xcodeproj with a single command. It’s perfect for teams and makes onboarding new members a breeze.
2. Mint
Ever struggled to keep CLI tools (like SwiftFormat, SwiftLint, or SwiftGen) in sync across your team?
Mint is a package manager for Swift command-line tools. Define dependencies in a Mintfile and make sure everyone’s using the same versions, everywhere.
3. Danger
Do you want your pull requests to “self-review” for you?
With Danger, you can automate code review chores: warn about missing tests, check changelogs, spot large PRs, and more. It integrates with GitHub Actions, Bitrise, or Jenkins.
4. Fastlane Match
Not just Fastlane in general—Fastlane Match in particular!
It streamlines certificate and provisioning profile management by storing them in a private Git repo. No more “Who has the right certs?” in Slack at 2 AM.
5. Xcodes (by Robots & Pencils)
Xcode updates are huge and slow.
Xcodes is a CLI tool for managing multiple versions of Xcode. It lets you easily download, install, and switch between Xcode releases—great for testing backwards compatibility.
6. xcbeautify
Tired of Xcode build logs that look like The Matrix?
xcbeautify formats your xcodebuild output into readable, color-coded logs. Integrate it into your CI/CD or use locally for debugging.
7. Simulator Status Magic
Need perfect screenshots for the App Store (with signal, Wi-Fi, and battery at 100%)?
Simulator Status Magic tweaks the simulator status bar for those pixel-perfect marketing images. It’s a tiny detail, but it matters!
8. IBAnimatable
Prototype UI animations without waiting for your designer or writing lots of custom code.
IBAnimatable lets you add animations and custom transitions directly in Interface Builder—no code required. Perfect for “wow” demos.
9. Swift Playgrounds for Prototyping Algorithms
Yes, we all know Playgrounds for learning Swift—but use them for prototyping new algorithms or testing networking code in isolation.
You can even share the code snippets with non-dev colleagues to explain logic.
10. Custom Xcode Source Editor Extensions
Few people use these, but you can write your own Xcode extensions to automate repetitive code manipulations (like inserting headers, reordering imports, etc).
Search for open-source examples or start with Apple’s template—your future self will thank you.
Bonus Tip: Automate with GitHub Actions
Many iOS developers think GitHub Actions is just for web or backend projects. Not true!
Use it to automate builds, run tests on pull requests, or even deploy beta versions to TestFlight. Combine with Danger or xcbeautify for an even more robust pipeline.
Wrapping Up
Trying just one or two of these tools can save you hours (and headaches). The iOS ecosystem is bursting with creative solutions—don’t be afraid to try something new and see what fits your workflow.
If you have your own secret weapons, drop them in the comments below.
Happy coding!