# elstar

> A single compiled CLI for iOS simulator development: drive a live app, inspect its UI and network traffic, hot-reload Swift without rebuilding, and evaluate code in the running process — from a shell, CI, or an AI agent over MCP. No SDK to embed, no proxy certificates, no GUI app.

Version: 1.1.0. macOS 15+ and Xcode 27.1 or later. Commercial: seven-day free trial (no signup, no card), then $69/year for one developer on two machines.

- [Home](https://elstar.dev): product overview and pricing
- [Command reference](https://elstar.dev/docs/): full generated reference
- [GitHub](https://github.com/elstar-dev/elstar): releases, issue tracker

## Agent integration

- `elstar mcp install` registers the MCP server (stdio JSON-RPC).
- `elstar skills install` installs agent skills; `elstar hook install` adds Claude Code post-edit hooks (hot reload, a11y audit).
- `elstar state` returns app info + screen size + elements + screenshot in one JSON call; `elements --compact` minimizes tokens; all commands take `--json`.

## Commands

### Touch
- `elstar tap`: Tap an element by label, identifier, or coordinates.
- `elstar swipe`: Swipe from one screen coordinate to another.
- `elstar drag`: Drag from one coordinate to another with an optional press-hold.
- `elstar button`: Press a hardware button (home, lock, siri).
- `elstar key`: Press a keyboard key by HID usage code.
- `elstar type`: Type text into the focused field of the foreground app, after the

### Inspect
- `elstar elements`: List tappable elements on the current screen.
- `elstar state`: Snapshot app + screen + elements + screenshot in one JSON call.
- `elstar ax`: Dump the accessibility tree (or hit-test a point).
- `elstar screenshot`: Capture a PNG screenshot of the simulator.
- `elstar screens`: List the device's displays and show which one holds the app.
- `elstar uitest`: Generate XCUITest queries or a test file from the live AX tree.
- `elstar preview`: Render the initial state of a SwiftUI/UIKit #Preview to PNG (does not
- `elstar diff`: Visual screenshot diff against a baseline.

### Simulator
- `elstar boot`: Boot a simulator by name or UDID.
- `elstar shutdown`: Shutdown the booted simulator.
- `elstar devices`: List available simulators.
- `elstar appearance`: Get or set appearance (dark|light).
- `elstar statusbar`: Override or clear the simulator status bar.

### Apps
- `elstar install`: Install an .app bundle on the simulator.
- `elstar launch`: Launch an installed app by bundle ID.
- `elstar terminate`: Terminate a running app.
- `elstar uninstall`: Uninstall an app.
- `elstar apps`: List installed apps.
- `elstar container`: Get container path for an app.

### Debug
- `elstar net`: Capture HTTP traffic from an iOS app.
- `elstar mock`: Inject HTTP mocks into a running iOS app.
- `elstar ivar`: Inspect instance variables of a class in a running app.
- `elstar vh`: Dump the UIKit view hierarchy of a running app.
- `elstar responders`: Dump the responder chain of the key window.
- `elstar eval`: Evaluate a Swift or ObjC expression in a running app.
- `elstar break`: Set a breakpoint and stream hits until SIGINT or timeout.
- `elstar hot`: Hot-reload a Swift file into the running simulator app.

### Notifications
- `elstar push`: Manage push notification permissions.
- `elstar notifications`: List the notifications currently posted, with their title and body.

### Privacy
- `elstar privacy`: Grant, revoke, or reset privacy permissions.

### Automation
- `elstar wait`: Wait for an element to appear on screen.
- `elstar assert`: Assert that an element is present (or absent).
- `elstar location`: Set or clear simulator location.

### License
- `elstar license`: Manage your license.
- `elstar update`: Check for and install the latest elstar release.

### System
- `elstar mcp`: MCP server (run, install, remove, status).
- `elstar hook`: Manage native coding-agent hooks.
- `elstar skills`: Manage bundled Claude skills.
- `elstar diagnose`: Dump environment + state for bug triage.
- `elstar feedback`: Send a bug report or idea to the elstar team.
- `elstar capabilities`: List the commands this build supports and their simulator/device

### Developer
- `elstar doctor`: Environment check: Xcode, simulators, private frameworks, PATH.
- `elstar completions`: Generate shell completions.