# Install watch-sim with Homebrew Command-line WatchKit application launcher. Version 1.0.0 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:watch-sim ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install watch-sim ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:watch-sim - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.0.0 - **Source summary:** Command-line WatchKit application launcher - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - watch-sim (cli) - watch-sim (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.0.0 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/alloy/watch-sim - Upstream latest detected: 1.0.0 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage watch-sim is a small command-line launcher for WatchKit applications in the iOS Simulator. It belongs to the early Apple Watch development era, when running a WatchKit app from scripts or outside Xcode required knowing how the paired iPhone and watch simulator pieces fit together. ### Project history The upstream README describes watch-sim as a command-line WatchKit application launcher for the iOS Simulator and says it required an Xcode version with WatchKit support. At the time it was written, the tool had been used successfully with Xcode 6.2 beta 5 and Xcode 6.3 beta 1. That places watch-sim in the 2015 WatchKit beta window. Apple released WatchKit with the iOS 8.2 and Xcode 6.2 betas in November 2014, and developers were still working through simulator and launch workflow issues during the Xcode 6.2 beta cycle. ### Adoption history Public adoption evidence is thin, so watch-sim should be understood as a niche utility rather than a broad ecosystem tool. Its value was practical: early WatchKit developers wanted a command-line way to launch watch apps, especially for scripting, CI experiments, or avoiding repetitive Xcode simulator steps. As Xcode and watchOS tooling matured, the need for a standalone WatchKit launcher narrowed. Apple's later watchOS transition documentation describes Xcode automatically creating schemes and launching separate Apple Watch and iOS simulators for watch app debugging, which reduced the space for one-off launcher helpers. ### How it is used The tool is used from the command line to launch a WatchKit app in the simulator after building it with an appropriate Xcode version. It is most relevant to old WatchKit projects and historical automation around Xcode 6-era simulator behavior. For modern watchOS projects, developers normally use Xcode schemes, xcodebuild, and simctl-era workflows rather than watch-sim. ### Why package nerds care watch-sim is package-nerd significant mostly as a fossil from early Apple Watch tooling. It shows how package managers often preserve tiny developer workflow tools long after platform vendors fold the same workflow into official IDE or simulator commands. ### Timeline - 2014-11: Apple released WatchKit with iOS 8.2 and Xcode 6.2 beta tooling for developers. - 2015: watch-sim documented successful use with Xcode 6.2 beta 5 and Xcode 6.3 beta 1. - Later watchOS tooling: Xcode gained more integrated watch app build, run, and debug behavior, making watch-sim a legacy niche utility. ### Related projects - ios-sim is a related command-line launcher for iOS Simulator applications. - xcrun simctl and Xcode schemes are the modern Apple-provided tooling around simulator installation and launch workflows. - WatchKit and watchOS app targets are the Apple platform context for the tool. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** watch-sim - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Requirements:** macos, xcode - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [licenseplist](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/licenseplist/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: apple, cli, developer-tools, xcode. - [mmix](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mmix/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, simulator. - [configen](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/configen/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, xcode. - [ios-sim](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ios-sim/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, simulator, xcode. - [kin](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/kin/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, xcode. - [nef](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nef/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, xcode. - [objc-codegenutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/objc-codegenutils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, xcode. - [periphery](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/periphery/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, xcode. - [xcodes](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xcodes/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: apple, cli, command-line, developer, developer-tools. - [ios-sim](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/npm/ios-sim/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, ios, line. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/watch-sim.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/watch-sim.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - cross-ecosystem install command graph