---
name: macos-spm-app-packaging
description: Scaffold, build, and package SwiftPM-based macOS apps without Xcode project. Use when you need a from-scratch macOS app layout, SwiftPM targets/resources, custom .app bundle assembly, or signing/notarization steps outside Xcode.
---

# macOS SwiftPM App Packaging

## Overview

Bootstrap a complete SwiftPM macOS app, then build, package, and run it without Xcode. This skill covers the full workflow from project scaffolding to release distribution.

## Project Scaffolding

### Basic Structure

```
MyApp/
├── Package.swift
├── Sources/
│   └── MyApp/
│       ├── MyApp.swift          # @main App entry
│       └── ContentView.swift
├── Resources/
│   ├── Assets.xcassets/
│   └── Info.plist
├── Scripts/
│   ├── package_app.sh
│   ├── compile_and_run.sh
│   └── sign-and-notarize.sh
└── version.env
```

### Package.swift

```swift
// swift-tools-version: 5.9
import PackageDescription

let package = Package(
    name: "MyApp",
    platforms: [.macOS(.v14)],
    products: [
        .executable(name: "MyApp", targets: ["MyApp"])
    ],
    targets: [
        .executableTarget(
            name: "MyApp",
            resources: [
                .process("Resources")
            ]
        )
    ]
)
```

### version.env

```bash
APP_NAME="MyApp"
BUNDLE_ID="com.example.myapp"
VERSION="1.0.0"
BUILD_NUMBER="1"
MIN_MACOS="14.0"
# Set to 1 for menu bar apps
MENU_BAR_APP=0
```

## Build and Run

### Build with SwiftPM

```bash
# Debug build
swift build

# Release build
swift build -c release

# Run tests
swift test
```

### Package as .app Bundle

Create `Scripts/package_app.sh`:

```bash
#!/bin/bash
set -e

source version.env

BUILD_DIR=".build/release"
APP_BUNDLE="$BUILD_DIR/$APP_NAME.app"
CONTENTS="$APP_BUNDLE/Contents"
MACOS="$CONTENTS/MacOS"
RESOURCES="$CONTENTS/Resources"

# Build release
swift build -c release

# Create bundle structure
rm -rf "$APP_BUNDLE"
mkdir -p "$MACOS" "$RESOURCES"

# Copy binary
cp "$BUILD_DIR/$APP_NAME" "$MACOS/"

# Copy resources
cp -r Resources/* "$RESOURCES/" 2>/dev/null || true

# Generate Info.plist
cat > "$CONTENTS/Info.plist" << EOF
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>CFBundleExecutable</key>
    <string>$APP_NAME</string>
    <key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
    <string>$BUNDLE_ID</string>
    <key>CFBundleName</key>
    <string>$APP_NAME</string>
    <key>CFBundleVersion</key>
    <string>$BUILD_NUMBER</string>
    <key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
    <string>$VERSION</string>
    <key>LSMinimumSystemVersion</key>
    <string>$MIN_MACOS</string>
    <key>CFBundlePackageType</key>
    <string>APPL</string>
$([ "$MENU_BAR_APP" = "1" ] && echo "    <key>LSUIElement</key>
    <true/>")
</dict>
</plist>
EOF

echo "Created $APP_BUNDLE"
```

### Development Run Script

Create `Scripts/compile_and_run.sh`:

```bash
#!/bin/bash
set -e

source version.env

# Kill existing instance
pkill -x "$APP_NAME" 2>/dev/null || true

# Package
./Scripts/package_app.sh

# Launch
open ".build/release/$APP_NAME.app"
```

## Code Signing

### Development Signing

```bash
# Sign for local development
codesign --force --sign - ".build/release/MyApp.app"

# Or with a specific identity
codesign --force --sign "Developer ID Application: Your Name" ".build/release/MyApp.app"
```

### Create Stable Dev Identity

```bash
# Generate self-signed certificate for consistent dev signing
security create-keychain -p "" dev-signing.keychain
security default-keychain -s dev-signing.keychain
# Follow prompts in Keychain Access to create certificate
```

## Notarization and Release

Create `Scripts/sign-and-notarize.sh`:

```bash
#!/bin/bash
set -e

source version.env

APP_PATH=".build/release/$APP_NAME.app"
ZIP_PATH=".build/release/$APP_NAME-$VERSION.zip"

# Sign with Developer ID
codesign --force --options runtime --sign "Developer ID Application: Your Name" "$APP_PATH"

# Create zip for notarization
ditto -c -k --keepParent "$APP_PATH" "$ZIP_PATH"

# Submit for notarization
xcrun notarytool submit "$ZIP_PATH" \
    --apple-id "your@email.com" \
    --team-id "TEAM_ID" \
    --password "@keychain:AC_PASSWORD" \
    --wait

# Staple the ticket
xcrun stapler staple "$APP_PATH"

# Re-zip with stapled ticket
rm "$ZIP_PATH"
ditto -c -k --keepParent "$APP_PATH" "$ZIP_PATH"

echo "Release ready: $ZIP_PATH"
```

## Sparkle Updates (Optional)

### Generate Appcast Entry

```bash
#!/bin/bash
source version.env

ZIP_PATH=".build/release/$APP_NAME-$VERSION.zip"
SIZE=$(stat -f%z "$ZIP_PATH")
SIGNATURE=$(./bin/sign_update "$ZIP_PATH")
DATE=$(date -R)

cat << EOF
<item>
    <title>Version $VERSION</title>
    <pubDate>$DATE</pubDate>
    <sparkle:version>$BUILD_NUMBER</sparkle:version>
    <sparkle:shortVersionString>$VERSION</sparkle:shortVersionString>
    <enclosure
        url="https://example.com/releases/$APP_NAME-$VERSION.zip"
        length="$SIZE"
        type="application/octet-stream"
        sparkle:edSignature="$SIGNATURE"
    />
</item>
EOF
```

## GitHub Release

```bash
# Create tag
git tag -a "v$VERSION" -m "Release $VERSION"
git push origin "v$VERSION"

# Create GitHub release
gh release create "v$VERSION" \
    ".build/release/$APP_NAME-$VERSION.zip" \
    --title "v$VERSION" \
    --notes "Release notes here"
```

## Checklist

### Scaffolding
- [ ] Package.swift with correct targets and resources
- [ ] version.env with app metadata
- [ ] Info.plist template or generation script
- [ ] Basic app entry point (@main App)

### Build
- [ ] `swift build` succeeds
- [ ] `swift test` passes
- [ ] Resources copied correctly

### Packaging
- [ ] .app bundle structure correct
- [ ] Info.plist generated with correct values
- [ ] App launches from Finder

### Release
- [ ] Code signed with Developer ID
- [ ] Notarized and stapled
- [ ] Zip created for distribution
- [ ] (Optional) Sparkle appcast updated


---
Source attribution: patrickserrano
Original project: https://github.com/patrickserrano/skills
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 Patrick Serrano

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: patrickserrano
Original project: https://github.com/patrickserrano/skills
Attribution basis: Original project named by vendored-folder README

Fields of work: Development & Engineering, Product Management
Roles: Frontend Developer, Mobile Developer, Product Manager
Specialties: Backend
Tools: Swiftpm
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 5d635fa2ddfe61e36ace6458bfd796366cf02646558c5de6c2f51ab8ec51d734
Metadata reviewed: 2026-10-27
This metadata supersedes earlier Mega AI Hub catalog attribution. Original instruction and supporting files are preserved.