use-cases/collections/native-development.md Codex Docs, 2026-03-08 18:10 UTC → 2026-04-20 06:53 UTC

1# Native development

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3Codex works great on Apple platform projects when each pass has a build, run, or simulator loop attached to it.

4These use cases are helpful when you are building new or existing iOS and macOS apps and need to iterate on the UI and debug issues.

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6## Build the app shell

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8Ask Codex to scaffold iOS and macOS apps with repeatable build loops. The Mac shell use case goes deeper on sidebar-detail-inspector layouts, commands, settings, and other desktop-native structure.

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10[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-3.webp)

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12### Build for iOS

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14Use Codex to scaffold iOS SwiftUI projects, keep the build loop CLI-first with `xcodebuild`...

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16iOS Code](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/native-ios-apps)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-3.webp)

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18### Build for macOS

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20Use Codex to build macOS SwiftUI apps, wire a shell-first build-and-run loop, and add...

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22macOS Code](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/native-macos-apps)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-1.webp)

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24### Build a Mac app shell

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26Use Codex and the Build macOS Apps plugin to turn an app idea into a desktop-native...

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28macOS Code](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/macos-sidebar-detail-inspector)

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30## Refactor iOS SwiftUI screens

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32Use Codex to split large SwiftUI views without changing behavior, then move selected iOS flows to Liquid Glass when the app is ready.

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34[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)

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36### Refactor SwiftUI screens

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38Use Codex and the Build iOS Apps plugin to break a long SwiftUI view into dedicated section...

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40iOS Code](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/ios-swiftui-view-refactor)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)

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42### Adopt liquid glass

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44Use Codex and the Build iOS Apps plugin to audit existing iPhone and iPad UI, replace custom...

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46iOS Code](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/ios-liquid-glass)

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48## Expose iOS actions to the system

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50Leverage Codex to identify the actions and entities your app should expose through App Intents, so users can reach app behavior from system surfaces.

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52[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-1.webp)

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54### Add iOS app intents

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56Use Codex and the Build iOS Apps plugin to identify the actions and entities your app should...

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58iOS Code](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/ios-app-intents)

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60## Debug your app

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62Have Codex reproduce bugs in Simulator or add telemetry to your macOS app to help you debug and fix issues.

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64[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)

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66### Debug in iOS simulator

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68Use Codex to discover the right Xcode scheme and simulator, launch the app, inspect the UI...

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70iOS Code](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/ios-simulator-bug-debugging)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)

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72### Add Mac telemetry

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74Use Codex and the Build macOS Apps plugin to add a few high-signal `Logger` events around...

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76macOS Code](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/macos-telemetry-logs)