Install

Requirements

• macOS on Apple Silicon.
• Xcode with the simulator runtimes you want to use.
• Node.js 18 or newer.
• x264 when building from source (brew install x264).
• Optional Android SDK tools for Android emulator support.
• Optional Rust stable when building from source.

Check Xcode selection if you have multiple installs:

xcode-select -p

Install From npm

Use npx for a quick try:

npx simdeck

Install globally for regular use:

npm install -g simdeck@latest
simdeck

The package installs the launcher, browser client, and native binary.

Install The Codex Skill

For Codex workflows, install the SimDeck skill so agents use the stable commands:

npx skills add NativeScript/SimDeck --skill simdeck -a codex -g

Restart Codex after installing the skill.

VS Code

Install the VS Code extension if you want the simulator inside an editor panel:

npm run package:vscode
npm run install:vscode

From the marketplace, use nativescript.simdeck-vscode when available.

Build From Source

git clone https://github.com/NativeScript/SimDeck.git
cd SimDeck
npm install
npm run build
./build/simdeck

Useful build scripts:

Script	What it builds
npm run build	Native CLI and browser client
npm run build:cli	Native CLI only
npm run build:client	Browser client only
npm run build:all	CLI, client, inspectors, and test package
npm run build:docs	Documentation site

Update Or Remove

npm install -g simdeck@latest
npm uninstall -g simdeck

Stop a running daemon before uninstalling:

simdeck daemon stop