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 pha

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)

xcode-project-analyzer