Install

Requirements

• macOS on Apple Silicon.
• Xcode with the simulator runtimes you want to use.
• Node.js 18 or newer.

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 agent skill

Install the SimDeck skill so agents use the stable commands:

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

Restart your agent after installing the skill.

VS Code

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

Build from source

Source builds also need Rust stable and x264:

brew install x264

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

Android emulator support

Install the Android SDK command-line tools if you want SimDeck to manage Android emulators too.

Update or remove

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

Stop a running service before uninstalling:

simdeck service stop