git:20260620.2ecafd9 to git:20260711.abb3d31

---

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