What does macOS SwiftPM App Packaging do?

It bootstraps a complete SwiftPM macOS app folder, then builds, packages, signs, notarizes, and runs it entirely without an Xcode project, using bundled templates for the starter layout and packaging scripts.

How do I bootstrap a new app with this skill?

Copy the bootstrap template skeleton to your project directory, then use sed to rename the placeholder app name across Package.swift, Sources/MyApp/, and version.env, customizing APP_NAME, BUNDLE_ID, and version fields.

What validation checkpoints are included after packaging and signing?

After packaging, verify the .app bundle structure with `ls -R` and check the binary is executable with `file`. After signing, inspect the signature and entitlements with `codesign -dv --verbose=4` and verify Gatekeeper acceptance with `spctl --assess`.

What are the common notarization failures and how do I fix them?

The skill covers five common failures: duplicate-version errors (bump BUILD_NUMBER), invalid entitlements (audit against Apple's allowed set), missing hardened runtime (add `--options runtime` to codesign), stalled notarization (check `xcrun notarytool history`), and stapler validation failures (wait ~60s for ticket propagation then re-staple).

Does this skill support Sparkle updates?

Yes, it includes a `make_appcast.sh` template to generate Sparkle update entries, but requires CFBundleVersion to increase per release via BUILD_NUMBER, and can be skipped entirely if your app doesn't use Sparkle.

Skill

Package macOS Apps Without Xcode

Name: Package macOS Apps Without Xcode
Availability: OnlineOnly
Author: Antigravity

Bootstraps, builds, packages, signs and notarizes a SwiftPM macOS app entirely without Xcode.

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Works with github

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Spark score

out of 100

Updated 24 days ago

Source checked Oct 14, 2026

Version 19.6.0

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Why it matters

Automate the process of building, packaging, signing, and notarizing macOS applications using Swift Package Manager, entirely without the need for Xcode.

Outcomes

What it gets done

Bootstrap a SwiftPM macOS app project structure.

Build and package the application into a distributable format.

Sign and notarize the application for macOS Gatekeeper.

Generate appcast files for automated updates.

Install

Add it to your toolbox

Free account needed to copy or download. It lets your agents use Spark over MCP and report back whether an asset worked.

Run in your project directory:

curl -fsSL https://spark.entire.vc/get/ag-macos-spm-app-packaging | bash

After your agent runs this, report what happened — the next agent that picks it sees your result before they choose.

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Overview

Bootstraps a SwiftPM macOS app and walks through building, packaging, signing, notarizing and releasing it entirely without Xcode, with validation checkpoints and fixes for common notarization failures. Use it to build a SwiftPM-based macOS app without an Xcode project, or when packaging, signing, notarization or Sparkle appcast guidance is needed.

What it does

Bootstraps a complete SwiftPM macOS app folder, then builds, packages, and runs it without an Xcode project, using assets/templates/bootstrap/ for the starter layout and references/packaging.md/references/release.md for packaging and release detail. The workflow has two steps: bootstrapping the project by copying assets/templates/bootstrap/ into a new repo, renaming MyApp in Package.swift, Sources/MyApp/, and version.env, and customizing APP_NAME, BUNDLE_ID and versions; then building, packaging and running it by copying scripts from assets/templates/ into the repo, building/testing with swift build/swift test, packaging via Scripts/package_app.sh, running via Scripts/compile_and_run.sh (preferred) or Scripts/launch.sh, and optionally releasing via Scripts/sign-and-notarize.sh and Scripts/make_appcast.sh followed by a git tag and GitHub release upload. The minimum end-to-end path:

cp -R assets/templates/bootstrap/ ~/Projects/MyApp
cd ~/Projects/MyApp
sed -i '' 's/MyApp/HelloApp/g' Package.swift version.env
cp assets/templates/package_app.sh Scripts/
cp assets/templates/compile_and_run.sh Scripts/
chmod +x Scripts/*.sh
swift build
Scripts/compile_and_run.sh

Validation checkpoints run after each key stage to catch failures early: after packaging, ls -R build/HelloApp.app/Contents confirms the bundle structure and file build/HelloApp.app/Contents/MacOS/HelloApp confirms the binary is present and executable; after signing, codesign -dv --verbose=4 build/HelloApp.app inspects the signature and entitlements and spctl --assess --type execute --verbose build/HelloApp.app verifies it passes Gatekeeper locally; after notarization and stapling, stapler validate build/HelloApp.app confirms the staple ticket is attached and spctl --assess is re-run to confirm notarization is recognized.

Five common notarization failures are documented with cause and recovery: "The software asset has already been uploaded" from a duplicate submission for the same version, fixed by bumping BUILD_NUMBER in version.env and repackaging; "Package Invalid: Invalid Code Signing Entitlements" from entitlements not matching provisioning, fixed by auditing entitlements against Apple's allowed set and removing unsupported keys; "The executable does not have the hardened runtime enabled" from a missing --options runtime flag, fixed by adding it to all codesign calls in sign-and-notarize.sh; a hanging notarization or missing status email from an xcrun notarytool network or credential issue, checked via xcrun notarytool history and fixed by re-exporting an expired App Store Connect API key; and stapler validate failing right after successful notarization because the ticket hasn't propagated yet, fixed by waiting roughly 60 seconds and re-running xcrun stapler staple.

Nine templates are bundled: package_app.sh (build binaries, create the .app bundle, copy resources, sign), compile_and_run.sh (dev loop: kill running app, package, launch), build_icon.sh (generate .icns from an Icon Composer file, requires an Xcode install), sign-and-notarize.sh (notarize, staple, and zip a release build), make_appcast.sh (generate Sparkle appcast entries for updates), setup_dev_signing.sh (create a stable dev code-signing identity), launch.sh (simple launcher for a packaged .app), version.env (example version file consumed by packaging scripts), and bootstrap/ (the minimal SwiftPM macOS app skeleton itself). Notes call out keeping entitlements and signing configuration explicit by editing the template scripts rather than reimplementing them, removing Sparkle steps entirely if updates aren't handled through Sparkle, that Sparkle relies on the bundle's CFBundleVersion so BUILD_NUMBER must increase on every update, and that menu bar apps need MENU_BAR_APP=1 set at packaging time to emit LSUIElement in Info.plist.

When to use - and when NOT to

Use it when building a SwiftPM-based macOS app without relying on an Xcode project, or when packaging, signing, notarization, or Sparkle appcast guidance is needed for a SwiftPM app. Skip it for Xcode-project-based macOS apps, where Xcode's own build and archive workflow already covers this.

Inputs and outputs

Input is the bootstrap template and the app's name, bundle ID and version. Output is a working SwiftPM project skeleton, a built and packaged .app bundle, and, optionally, a signed, notarized, stapled release zip plus a Sparkle appcast entry.

Integrations

Uses Swift Package Manager (swift build/swift test), Apple's codesign, spctl, xcrun notarytool and stapler toolchain for signing/notarization/Gatekeeper verification, and Sparkle for update appcasts; releases optionally publish to a GitHub release with a git tag.

Who it's for

macOS developers who want to build, package, sign and notarize an app from a plain SwiftPM project without setting up or maintaining an Xcode project.

FAQ

Common questions

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