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idb (iOS Development Bridge)

idb is Meta's MIT-licensed command-line interface for automating iOS simulators and devices, with a macOS companion and a Python client for remote automation, app installs, XCTest runs, accessibility queries and more.

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Introduction

idb, the iOS Development Bridge, is a command-line interface for automating iOS simulators and devices, originally built at Facebook and now under the meta GitHub organisation. Its README lists three principles: remote automation, with a companion that runs on macOS and a Python client that can run anywhere (enabling device labs in a data centre); simple primitives, exposing granular commands that can be sequenced into sophisticated workflows; and exposing functionality that Xcode only offers in its UI, by using private frameworks that Xcode itself uses.

idb is built on the FBSimulatorControl and FBDeviceControl macOS frameworks in the same repository, and is almost entirely Swift. Commands cover booting simulators, installing and launching apps, running XCTest bundles, taking screenshots and recording video, simulating touches and text input, reading accessibility information for UI elements, managing files, logs and crash reports, and more. Both components are installed with a Homebrew formula (brew tap meta/fb), plus pip install fb-idb for the client. Tools such as Maestro have used idb for iOS automation. Version 1.7.8 was released on 1 November 2026.

The source code is at meta/idb on GitHub under the MIT licence, with about 5,400 stars; the most recent commit was on 10 November 2026.

Features

  1. Remote automation: macOS companion with a portable Python client.
  2. Granular commands: Compose complex workflows.
  3. XCTest and app control: Install, launch and run tests.
  4. Accessibility and media: Inspect UI elements, screenshots and video.

Pros

  1. Free to use: Open source under the MIT licence, so the core tool costs nothing to use.
  2. Actively maintained: The repository had commits as recent as 10 November 2026.
  3. Community: About 5,400 GitHub stars.

Cons

  1. macOS required for the companion: Simulators and devices must be attached to a Mac.
  2. Private framework reliance: Xcode updates can require idb updates.
brew tap meta/fb
brew install idb-companion
pip install fb-idb

idb list-targets
idb boot <UDID>
idb install build/Shop.app
idb launch com.example.shop
idb ui describe-all
idb xctest run ui ShopUITests.xctest Shop.app

Resources:

Pricing

idb (iOS Development Bridge) is free and open source under the MIT licence.

  1. iOS teams building device labs or custom automation.
  2. Tool builders needing low-level simulator and device control.

Conclusion

idb is a powerful foundation for iOS automation infrastructure, exposing Xcode capabilities through a scriptable CLI.

Alternatives

Other tools on CheckOps that cover similar ground. Open a page, or compare one with idb (iOS Development Bridge) side by side.