Skip to content
All Skills

Asc Shots Pipeline

Orchestrate iOS screenshot automation with xcodebuild/simctl for build-run, AXe for UI actions, JSON settings and plan files, Koubou-based framing (`asc screenshots frame`), and screenshot upload (`asc screenshots upload`). Use when users ask for automated screenshot capture, AXe-driven simulator flows, frame composition, or screenshot-to-upload pipelines.

Mobile App Development|v1|Updated 7/14/2026|GitHub source
MCP get_skill({ skillId: "asc-screenshots-pipeline-xcodebuild-axe-frame-asc-6e3cf4fd" })

Use this skill with your agent

Create a free account and connect via MCP

Get Started Free
# asc screenshots pipeline (xcodebuild -> AXe -> frame -> asc)

Use this skill for agent-driven screenshot workflows where the app is built and launched with Xcode CLI tools, UI is driven with AXe, and screenshots are uploaded with `asc`.

## Current scope
- Implemented now: build/run, AXe plan capture, frame composition, and upload.
- Device discovery is built-in via `asc screenshots list-frame-devices`.
- Local screenshot automation commands are experimental in asc cli.
- Framing is pinned to Koubou `0.18.1` for deterministic output.
- Feedback/issues: https://github.com/rorkai/App-Store-Connect-CLI/issues/new/choose

## Defaults
- Settings file: `.asc/shots.settings.json`
- Capture plan: `.asc/screenshots.json`
- Raw screenshots dir: `./screenshots/raw`
- Framed screenshots dir: `./screenshots/framed`
- Default frame device: `iphone-air`

## 1) Create settings JSON first

Create or update `.asc/shots.settings.json`:

```json
{
  "version": 1,
  "app": {
    "bundle_id": "com.example.app",
    "project": "MyApp.xcodeproj",
    "scheme": "MyApp",
    "simulator_udid": "booted"
  },
  "paths": {
    "plan": ".asc/screenshots.json",
    "raw_dir": "./screenshots/raw",
    "framed_dir": "./screenshots/framed"
  },
  "pipeline": {
    "frame_enabled": true,
    "upload_enabled": false
  },
  "upload": {
    "version_localization_id": "",
    "device_type": "IPHONE_65",
    "source_dir": "./screenshots/framed"
  }
}
```

If you intentionally skip framing, set:
- `"frame_enabled": false`
- `"upload.source_dir": "./screenshots/raw"`

## 2) Build and run app on simulator

Use Xcode CLI for build/install/launch:

```bash
xcrun simctl boot "$UDID" || true

xcodebuild \
  -project "MyApp.xcodeproj" \
  -scheme "MyApp" \
  -configuration Debug \
  -destination "platform=iOS Simulator,id=$UDID" \
  -derivedDataPath ".build/DerivedData" \
  build

xcrun simctl install "$UDID" ".build/DerivedData/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/MyApp.app"
xcrun simctl launch "$UDID" "com.example.app"
```

Use `xcodebuild -showBuildSettings` if the app bundle path differs from the default location.

## 3) Capture screenshots with AXe (or `asc screenshots run`)

Prefer plan-driven capture:

```bash
asc screenshots run --plan ".asc/screenshots.json" --udid "$UDID" --output json
```

Useful AXe primitives during plan authoring:

```bash
axe describe-ui --udid "$UDID"
axe tap --id "search_field" --udid "$UDID"
axe type "wwdc" --udid "$UDID"
axe screenshot --output "./screenshots/raw/home.png" --udid "$UDID"
```

Minimal `.asc/screenshots.json` example:

```json
{
  "version": 1,
  "app": {
    "bundle_id": "com.example.app",
    "udid": "booted",
    "output_dir": "./screenshots/raw"
  },
  "steps": [
    { "action": "launch" },
    { "action": "wait", "duration_ms": 800 },
    { "action": "screenshot", "name": "home" }
  ]
}
```

## 4) Frame screenshots with `asc screenshots frame`

The asc CLI pins framing to Koubou `0.18.1`.
Install and verify before running framing steps:

```bash
pip install koubou==0.18.1
kou --version  # expect 0.18.1
# If Koubou reports missing device frames, run once with network access:
kou setup-frames
```

List supported frame device values first:

```bash
asc screenshots list-frame-devices --output json
```

Frame one screenshot (defaults to `iphone-air`):

```bash
asc screenshots frame \
  --input "./screenshots/raw/home.png" \
  --output-dir "./screenshots/framed" \
  --device "iphone-air" \
  --output json
```

Supported `--device` values:
- `iphone-air` (default)
- `iphone-17-pro`
- `iphone-17-pro-max`
- `iphone-16e`
- `iphone-17`
- `mac`

## 5) Upload screenshots with asc

Generate and review artifacts before upload:

```bash
asc screenshots review-generate --framed-dir "./screenshots/framed" --output-dir "./screenshots/review"
asc screenshots review-open --output-dir "./screenshots/review"
asc screenshots review-approve --all-ready --output-dir "./screenshots/review"
```

For reviewed multi-locale sets, prefer the plan/apply flow so existing remote screenshot counts are included before upload:

```bash
asc screenshots plan --app "APP_ID" --version "1.2.3" --review-output-dir "./screenshots/review" --output json
asc screenshots apply --app "APP_ID" --version "1.2.3" --review-output-dir "./screenshots/review" --confirm --output json
```

Upload from the configured source directory (default `./screenshots/framed` when framing is enabled):

```bash
asc screenshots upload \
  --version-localization "LOC_ID" \
  --path "./screenshots/framed" \
  --device-type "IPHONE_65" \
  --output json
```

List or validate before upload when needed:

```bash
asc screenshots sizes --output table
asc screenshots list --version-localization "LOC_ID" --output table
```

## Agent behavior
- Always confirm exact flags with `--help` before running commands.
- Re-check command paths with `asc screenshots --help` because screenshot commands are evolving quickly.
- Keep outputs deterministic: default to JSON for machine steps.
- Prefer `asc screenshots list-frame-devices --output json` before selecting a frame device.
- Ensure screenshot files exist before upload.
- Use explicit long flags (`--app`, `--output`, `--version-localization`, etc.).
- Treat screenshot-local automation as experimental and call it out in user-facing handoff notes.
- Use `asc screenshots plan` / `asc screenshots apply` for reviewed batches when you need append-limit guardrails across existing remote screenshots.
- If framing fails with a version error, re-install pinned Koubou: `pip install koubou==0.18.1`.
- If framing fails because device frames are missing, run `kou setup-frames` once with network access.

## 6) Multi-locale capture (optional)

Do not use `xcrun simctl launch ... -e AppleLanguages` for localization.
`-e` is an environment variable pattern and does not reliably switch app language.

For this pipeline, use simulator-wide locale defaults per UDID. This works with
`asc screenshots capture`, which relaunches the app internally.

```bash
# Map each locale to a dedicated simulator UDID.
# (Create these simulators once with `xcrun simctl create`.)
declare -A LOCALE_UDID=(
  ["en-US"]="UDID_EN_US"
  ["de-DE"]="UDID_DE_DE"
  ["fr-FR"]="UDID_FR_FR"
  ["ja-JP"]="UDID_JA_JP"
)

set_simulator_locale() {
  local UDID="$1"
  local LOCALE="$2"            # e.g. de-DE
  local LANG="${LOCALE%%-*}"   # de
  local APPLE_LOCALE="${LOCALE/-/_}" # de_DE

  xcrun simctl boot "$UDID" || true
  xcrun simctl spawn "$UDID" defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLanguages -array "$LANG"
  xcrun simctl spawn "$UDID" defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLocale -string "$APPLE_LOCALE"
}

for LOCALE in "${!LOCALE_UDID[@]}"; do
  UDID="${LOCALE_UDID[$LOCALE]}"
  echo "Capturing $LOCALE on $UDID..."
  set_simulator_locale "$UDID" "$LOCALE"

  xcrun simctl terminate "$UDID" "com.example.app" || true
  asc screenshots capture \
    --bundle-id "com.example.app" \
    --name "home" \
    --udid "$UDID" \
    --output-dir "./screenshots/raw/$LOCALE" \
    --output json
done
```

If you launch manually (outside `asc screenshots capture`), use app launch arguments:

```bash
xcrun simctl launch "$UDID" "com.example.app" -AppleLanguages "(de)" -AppleLocale "de_DE"
```

## 7) Parallel execution for speed

Run one locale per simulator UDID in parallel:

```bash
#!/bin/bash
# parallel-capture.sh

declare -A LOCALE_UDID=(
  ["en-US"]="UDID_EN_US"
  ["de-DE"]="UDID_DE_DE"
  ["fr-FR"]="UDID_FR_FR"
  ["ja-JP"]="UDID_JA_JP"
)

capture_locale() {
  local LOCALE="$1"
  local UDID="$2"
  local LANG="${LOCALE%%-*}"
  local APPLE_LOCALE="${LOCALE/-/_}"

  echo "Starting $LOCALE on $UDID"
  xcrun simctl boot "$UDID" || true
  xcrun simctl spawn "$UDID" defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLanguages -array "$LANG"
  xcrun simctl spawn "$UDID" defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLocale -string "$APPLE_LOCALE"
  xcrun simctl terminate "$UDID" "com.example.app" || true

  asc screenshots capture \
    --bundle-id "com.example.app" \
    --name "home" \
    --udid "$UDID" \
    --output-dir "./screenshots/raw/$LOCALE" \
    --output json

  echo "Completed $LOCALE"
}

for LOCALE in "${!LOCALE_UDID[@]}"; do
  capture_locale "$LOCALE" "${LOCALE_UDID[$LOCALE]}" &
done

wait
echo "All captures done. Now framing..."
```

Or use `xargs` with `locale:udid` pairs:

```bash
printf "%s\n" \
  "en-US:UDID_EN_US" \
  "de-DE:UDID_DE_DE" \
  "fr-FR:UDID_FR_FR" \
  "ja-JP:UDID_JA_JP" | xargs -P 4 -I {} bash -c '
    PAIR="{}"
    LOCALE="${PAIR%%:*}"
    UDID="${PAIR##*:}"
    LANG="${LOCALE%%-*}"
    APPLE_LOCALE="${LOCALE/-/_}"
    xcrun simctl boot "$UDID" || true
    xcrun simctl spawn "$UDID" defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLanguages -array "$LANG"
    xcrun simctl spawn "$UDID" defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLocale -string "$APPLE_LOCALE"
    xcrun simctl terminate "$UDID" "com.example.app" || true
    asc screenshots capture --bundle-id "com.example.app" --name "home" --udid "$UDID" --output-dir "./screenshots/raw/$LOCALE" --output json
  '
```

## 8) Full multi-locale pipeline example

```bash
#!/bin/bash
# full-pipeline-multi-locale.sh

declare -A LOCALE_UDID=(
  ["en-US"]="UDID_EN_US"
  ["de-DE"]="UDID_DE_DE"
  ["fr-FR"]="UDID_FR_FR"
  ["es-ES"]="UDID_ES_ES"
  ["ja-JP"]="UDID_JA_JP"
)

DEVICE="iphone-air"
RAW_DIR="./screenshots/raw"
FRAMED_DIR="./screenshots/framed"

# Step 1: Parallel capture with per-simulator locale defaults
for LOCALE in "${!LOCALE_UDID[@]}"; do
  (
    UDID="${LOCALE_UDID[$LOCALE]}"
    LANG="${LOCALE%%-*}"
    APPLE_LOCALE="${LOCALE/-/_}"

    xcrun simctl boot "$UDID" || true
    xcrun simctl spawn "$UDID" defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLanguages -array "$LANG"
    xcrun simctl spawn "$UDID" defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleLocale -string "$APPLE_LOCALE"
    xcrun simctl terminate "$UDID" "com.example.app" || true

    asc screenshots capture \
      --bundle-id "com.example.app" \
      --name "home" \
      --udid "$UDID" \
      --output-dir "$RAW_DIR/$LOCALE" \
      --output json
    echo "Captured $LOCALE"
  ) &
done
wait

# Step 2: Parallel framing
for LOCALE in "${!LOCALE_UDID[@]}"; do
  (
    asc screenshots frame \
      --input "$RAW_DIR/$LOCALE/home.png" \
      --output-dir "$FRAMED_DIR/$LOCALE" \
      --device "$DEVICE" \
      --output json
    echo "Framed $LOCALE"
  ) &
done
wait

# Step 3: Generate review (single run, aggregates all locales)
asc screenshots review-generate \
  --framed-dir "$FRAMED_DIR" \
  --output-dir "./screenshots/review"

# Step 4: Upload (run per locale if needed)
for LOCALE in "${!LOCALE_UDID[@]}"; do
  asc screenshots upload \
    --version-localization "LOC_ID_FOR_$LOCALE" \
    --path "$FRAMED_DIR/$LOCALE" \
    --device-type "IPHONE_65" \
    --output json
done
```
#rudrankriyam-app-store-connect#ios#app-store#screenshot#automation#pipelinexcodepythonpipaxeasckoubou

Related Skills

More skills in Mobile App Development

Android Design Guidelines

Material Design 3 and Android platform guidelines. Use when building Android apps with Jetpack Compose or XML layouts, implementing Material You, navigation, or accessibility. Triggers on tasks involving Android UI, Compose components, dynamic color, or Material Design compliance.

#work-life#productivityMIT

Android Java Skill

Android Java development with MVVM, ViewBinding, and Espresso testing

#github#externalMIT

Android Kotlin

Android Kotlin development with Coroutines, Jetpack Compose, Hilt, and MockK testing

#claude-bootstrap#bootstrapMIT

Appium Skill

Generates production-grade Appium mobile automation scripts for Android and iOS in Java, Python, or JavaScript. Supports real device and emulator testing locally and on TestMu AI cloud with 100+ real devices. Use when the user asks to automate mobile apps, test on Android/iOS, write Appium tests, or mentions "Appium", "mobile testing", "real device", "app automation". Triggers on: "Appium", "mobile test", "Android test", "iOS test", "real device", "app automation", "UiAutomator", "XCUITest driver", "TestMu", "LambdaTest".

#testing#automationMIT

Apple Appstore Reviewer

Serves as a reviewer of the codebase with instructions on looking for Apple App Store optimizations or rejection reasons.

#github-copilot#appMIT

App Rejection Recovery

When the user's app or update was rejected by Apple App Review or Google Play Review and they need to diagnose why, fix it, and resubmit fast. Use when the user mentions "app rejected", "App Review rejection", "guideline violation", "Apple rejected my app", "Google Play rejected", "Play policy violation", "Resolution Center", "metadata rejection", "binary rejection", "guideline 2.1", "guideline 4.3", "guideline 5.1.1", "Sign in with Apple required", "Apple ID rejection", "Play Store suspension", "appeal", "I need to respond to App Review", or "expedited review". For pre-submission listing health, see aso-audit. For metadata-only fixes, see metadata-optimization.

#work-life#productivityMIT