Replies: 2 comments 1 reply
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You’ve not posted the breakdown of MCP servers but XcodeBuildMCP alone
isn’t reported as using 70k tokens, Claude Code usually reports usage of
around 40k.
BUT and it’s a big but, there is a bug in the reporting which I’ve
previously covered here
https://www.async-let.com/posts/claude-code-mcp-token-reporting/
Also issue:
anthropics/claude-code#16466
By default if all tool workflow groups are enabled then XcodeBuildMCP will
cost around ~10,000 tokens, but you’re able to configure which tools you
need which are grouped by workflow see:
https://github.com/cameroncooke/XcodeBuildMCP/blob/main/docs/CONFIGURATION.md
The benefit of XcodeBuildMCP is that it should use fewer tokens over a long
session than the agent just using bash commands. XcodeBuildMCP optimises
tool calls and output to ensure tool call responses aren’t full of noise.
For example if your agent using xcodebuild directly but doesn’t filter out
all the noise from stdOut and stdErr then all that build info like
CompileSwift…. will be returned as the response of the tool calls to the
LLM which then gets dumped into context. Over a few builds you’ll quickly
find your context filling up. XcodeBuildMCP avoids this by filtering out
noise and only returning high signal info like warnings and errors this
ensures the agent is more deterministic and avoid scenarios where context
could quickly rot over a long session. There are many more advantages but
if you’re happy with your agent making bash calls that’s fine too, YMMV.
Cameron.
…On Mon, 12 Jan 2026 at 06:26, ebreen ***@***.***> wrote:
Anyone else notice that xcodebuildmcp preload uses around 70k worth of
tokens?
/context
⎿
Context Usage
⛁ ⛀ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛀ claude-opus-4-5-20251101 · 156k/200k tokens (78%)
⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁
⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ System prompt: 3.1k tokens (1.5%)
⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ System tools: 15.1k tokens (7.6%)
⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ MCP tools: 80.0k tokens (40.0%)
⛁ ⛁ ⛀ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛁ Memory files: 5.1k tokens (2.5%)
⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛁ Messages: 7.5k tokens (3.8%)
⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛶ Free space: 44k (22.1%)
⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ Autocompact buffer: 45.0k tokens (22.5%)
⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝
Thats insane compared to just using xcodebuild bash commands no?
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Hi Cameron, I just took a look at all the tools and when all enabled/default they total around 47k. xcodebuildmcp tools└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_breakpoint_add: 716 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_breakpoint_remove: 661 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_continue: 606 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_detach: 609 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_lldb_command: 642 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_stack: 685 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_variables: 641 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_device: 660 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__clean: 786 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__discover_projs: 713 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_app_bundle_id: 683 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_device_app_path: 621 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__install_app_device: 616 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__launch_app_device: 621 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__list_devices: 608 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__list_schemes: 575 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__show_build_settings: 577 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__start_device_log_cap: 614 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_app_device: 611 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_device_log_cap: 621 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__test_device: 760 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__doctor: 605 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__start_sim_log_cap: 655 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_sim_log_cap: 620 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_macos: 668 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_run_macos: 672 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_mac_app_path: 638 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_mac_bundle_id: 691 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__launch_mac_app: 706 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_mac_app: 646 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__test_macos: 730 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__scaffold_ios_project: 1.1k tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__scaffold_macos_project: 909 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__session-clear-defaults: 645 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__session-set-defaults: 1.0k tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__session-show-defaults: 574 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__boot_sim: 573 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_run_sim: 682 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_sim: 678 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__describe_ui: 638 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_sim_app_path: 634 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__install_app_sim: 616 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__launch_app_logs_sim: 660 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__launch_app_sim: 654 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__list_sims: 600 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__open_sim: 574 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__record_sim_video: 681 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__screenshot: 590 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_app_sim: 623 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__test_sim: 737 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__erase_sims: 605 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__reset_sim_location: 579 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__set_sim_appearance: 625 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__set_sim_location: 627 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__sim_statusbar: 793 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_build: 714 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_clean: 609 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_list: 576 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_run: 796 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_stop: 613 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_test: 766 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__button: 646 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__gesture: 997 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__key_press: 660 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__key_sequence: 647 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__long_press: 687 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swipe: 812 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__tap: 740 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__touch: 698 tokens └ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__type_text: 612 tokens I appreciate the explanation for xcodebuildmcp over using bash commands. Thanks for the reply. |
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Also if you haven’t already read that blog post/issue as Claude Code over
reports token usage massively for MCPs. The real usage with all tools is
~10-12k.
Cameron.
…On Tue, 13 Jan 2026 at 08:54, ebreen ***@***.***> wrote:
Hi Cameron,
I just took a look at all the tools and when all enabled/default they
total around 47k.
I interpreted it wrong, that is my fault.
xcodebuildmcp tools
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_breakpoint_add: 716 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_breakpoint_remove: 661 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_continue: 606 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_detach: 609 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_lldb_command: 642 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_stack: 685 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__debug_variables: 641 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_device: 660 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__clean: 786 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__discover_projs: 713 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_app_bundle_id: 683 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_device_app_path: 621 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__install_app_device: 616 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__launch_app_device: 621 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__list_devices: 608 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__list_schemes: 575 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__show_build_settings: 577 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__start_device_log_cap: 614 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_app_device: 611 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_device_log_cap: 621 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__test_device: 760 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__doctor: 605 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__start_sim_log_cap: 655 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_sim_log_cap: 620 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_macos: 668 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_run_macos: 672 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_mac_app_path: 638 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_mac_bundle_id: 691 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__launch_mac_app: 706 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_mac_app: 646 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__test_macos: 730 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__scaffold_ios_project: 1.1k tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__scaffold_macos_project: 909 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__session-clear-defaults: 645 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__session-set-defaults: 1.0k tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__session-show-defaults: 574 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__boot_sim: 573 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_run_sim: 682 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__build_sim: 678 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__describe_ui: 638 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__get_sim_app_path: 634 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__install_app_sim: 616 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__launch_app_logs_sim: 660 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__launch_app_sim: 654 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__list_sims: 600 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__open_sim: 574 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__record_sim_video: 681 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__screenshot: 590 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__stop_app_sim: 623 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__test_sim: 737 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__erase_sims: 605 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__reset_sim_location: 579 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__set_sim_appearance: 625 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__set_sim_location: 627 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__sim_statusbar: 793 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_build: 714 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_clean: 609 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_list: 576 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_run: 796 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_stop: 613 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swift_package_test: 766 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__button: 646 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__gesture: 997 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__key_press: 660 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__key_sequence: 647 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__long_press: 687 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__swipe: 812 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__tap: 740 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__touch: 698 tokens
└ mcp__xcodebuildmcp__type_text: 612 tokens
I appreciate the explanation for xcodebuildmcp over using bash commands.
I didn't know you could disable tools you didn't need, so i'll be doing
that and giving it another shot.
Thanks for the reply.
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Anyone else notice that xcodebuildmcp preload uses around 70k worth of tokens?
/context
⎿
Context Usage
⛁ ⛀ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛀ claude-opus-4-5-20251101 · 156k/200k tokens (78%)
⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁
⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ System prompt: 3.1k tokens (1.5%)
⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ System tools: 15.1k tokens (7.6%)
⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ MCP tools: 80.0k tokens (40.0%)
⛁ ⛁ ⛀ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛁ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛁ Memory files: 5.1k tokens (2.5%)
⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛁ Messages: 7.5k tokens (3.8%)
⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛶ Free space: 44k (22.1%)
⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ Autocompact buffer: 45.0k tokens (22.5%)
⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝ ⛝
Thats insane compared to just using xcodebuild bash commands no?
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