[Bug]: Smithery install failing

[adamhill]

Bug Description

When trying to install into vscode with Smithery.ai command line from the Repo. (clicked the Copy icon) it fails.

> npx -y @smithery/cli@latest install cameroncooke/xcodebuildmcp --client vscode
✔ Successfully resolved cameroncooke/xcodebuildmcp
error: unexpected argument '--add-mcp' found

  tip: a similar argument exists: '--add'

Usage: code --add <folder> [paths]...

For more information, try '--help'.
✖ Failed to install cameroncooke/xcodebuildmcp
Error: Command failed: code --add-mcp {"name":"xcodebuildmcp","command":"npx","args":["-y","@smithery/cli@latest","run","cameroncooke/xcodebuildmcp"]}
error: unexpected argument '--add-mcp' found

  tip: a similar argument exists: '--add'

Usage: code --add <folder> [paths]...

For more information, try '--help'.

AXe is installed via brew
VScode 1.107.1 - macOS Tahoe 26.2

Debug Output

XcodeBuildMCP Doctor output:

XcodeBuildMCP Doctor

Generated: 2026-01-06T20:38:36.691Z
Server Version: 1.15.1

## System Information
- platform: darwin
- release: 25.2.0
- arch: arm64
- cpus: 16 x Apple M3 Max
- memory: 128 GB
- hostname: Thorough-But-Unreliable.local
- username: adamhill
- homedir: /Users/adamhill
- tmpdir: /tmp

## Node.js Information
- version: v25.2.1
- execPath: /opt/homebrew/Cellar/node/25.2.1/bin/node
- pid: 79923
- ppid: 79849
- platform: darwin
- arch: arm64
- cwd: /Users/adamhill/dev/apple/TheElectricSlideV3/sources/TheElectricSlide
- argv: /opt/homebrew/Cellar/node/25.2.1/bin/node /Users/adamhill/.npm/_npx/99336612077b7094/node_modules/.bin/xcodebuildmcp

## Xcode Information
- version: Xcode 26.2 - Build version 17C52
- path: /Applications/Xcode-26.2.0.app/Contents/Developer
- selectedXcode: /Applications/Xcode-26.2.0.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/xcodebuild
- xcrunVersion: xcrun version 72.

## Dependencies
- axe: ✅ Bundled
- xcodemake: ❌ Not found
- mise: ✅ 2025.12.13 macos-arm64 (2025-12-30)

## Environment Variables
- INCREMENTAL_BUILDS_ENABLED: (not set)
- DEVELOPER_DIR: (not set)
- HOME: /Users/adamhill
- USER: adamhill
- TMPDIR: (not set)
- NODE_ENV: (not set)
- SENTRY_DISABLED: (not set)
- XCODEBUILDMCP_DYNAMIC_TOOLS: false
- XCODEBUILDMCP_SILENCE_LOGS: true

### PATH

/Users/adamhill/.npm/_npx/99336612077b7094/node_modules/.bin
/Users/adamhill/dev/apple/TheElectricSlideV3/sources/TheElectricSlide/node_modules/.bin
/Users/adamhill/dev/apple/TheElectricSlideV3/sources/node_modules/.bin
/Users/adamhill/dev/apple/TheElectricSlideV3/node_modules/.bin
/Users/adamhill/dev/apple/node_modules/.bin
/Users/adamhill/dev/node_modules/.bin
/Users/adamhill/node_modules/.bin
/Users/node_modules/.bin
/node_modules/.bin
/opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/run-script/lib/node-gyp-bin
/Users/adamhill/.antigravity/antigravity/bin
/Users/adamhill/.bun/bin
/Users/adamhill/.sdkman/candidates/java/current/bin
/Users/adamhill/.pixi/bin
/Users/adamhill/.console-ninja/.bin
/Users/adamhill/Library/Android/sdk/emulator
/Users/adamhill/Library/Android/sdk/tools
/Users/adamhill/Library/pnpm
/Users/adamhill/.local/bin
/opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.12/libexec/bin
/opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.12/bin
/opt/homebrew/bin
/opt/homebrew/sbin
/usr/local/bin
/System/Cryptexes/App/usr/bin
/usr/bin
/bin
/usr/sbin
/sbin
/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/local/bin
/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/bin
/var/run/com.apple.security.cryptexd/codex.system/bootstrap/usr/appleinternal/bin
/opt/pmk/env/global/bin
/opt/X11/bin
//Applications/Topaz Photo AI.app/Contents/Resources/bin
/Library/Apple/usr/bin
/Library/TeX/texbin
/usr/local/share/dotnet
~/.dotnet/tools
/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/Current/Commands
/Users/adamhill/.cargo/bin
/Users/adamhill/Library/Application Support/JetBrains/Toolbox/scripts
/Users/adamhill/.cache/lm-studio/bin
/Users/adamhill/.dotnet/tools

## Feature Status

### UI Automation (axe)
- Available: ✅ Yes
- UI Automation Supported: ✅ Yes

### Incremental Builds
- Enabled: ❌ No
- Available: ❌ No
- Makefile exists: ❌ No

### Mise Integration
- Running under mise: ❌ No
- Mise available: ✅ Yes

### Available Tools
- Total Plugins: 86
- Plugin Directories: 13
- device: 14 tools
- discovery: 1 tools
- doctor: 1 tools
- logging: 4 tools
- macos: 11 tools
- project-discovery: 5 tools
- project-scaffolding: 2 tools
- session-management: 3 tools
- simulator: 19 tools
- simulator-management: 8 tools
- swift-package: 6 tools
- ui-testing: 11 tools
- utilities: 1 tools

### Runtime Tool Registration
- Mode: static
- Enabled Workflows: 13
- Registered Tools: 64
- Workflows: device, discovery, doctor, logging, macos, project-discovery, project-scaffolding, session-management, simulator, simulator-management, swift-package, ui-testing, utilities

## Tool Availability Summary
- Build Tools: ✅ Available
- UI Automation Tools: ✅ Available
- Incremental Build Support: ❌ Not available

## Sentry
- Sentry enabled: ✅ Yes

## Troubleshooting Tips
- If UI automation tools are not available, install axe: `brew tap cameroncooke/axe && brew install axe`
- If incremental build support is not available, you can download the tool from https://github.com/cameroncooke/xcodemake. Make sure it's executable and available in your PATH
- To enable xcodemake, set environment variable: `export INCREMENTAL_BUILDS_ENABLED=1`
- For mise integration, follow instructions in the README.md file

Editor/Client

Visual Studio Code 1.107,1

MCP Server Version

latest

LLM

Sonnet 4.5

MCP Configuration

NA

Steps to Reproduce

1. Run the suggested Smithery install command line from the Repo for VSC
2. It fails to install with the shown error message

Expected Behavior

The command should install the MCP

Actual Behavior

It fails with the below error message,

Error Messages

> npx -y @smithery/cli@latest install cameroncooke/xcodebuildmcp --client vscode
✔ Successfully resolved cameroncooke/xcodebuildmcp
error: unexpected argument '--add-mcp' found

  tip: a similar argument exists: '--add'

Usage: code --add <folder> [paths]...

For more information, try '--help'.
✖ Failed to install cameroncooke/xcodebuildmcp
Error: Command failed: code --add-mcp {"name":"xcodebuildmcp","command":"npx","args":["-y","@smithery/cli@latest","run","cameroncooke/xcodebuildmcp"]}
error: unexpected argument '--add-mcp' found

  tip: a similar argument exists: '--add'

Usage: code --add <folder> [paths]...

For more information, try '--help'.

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🔗 Related PRs

#84 - fix: resolve parameter validation bug in project-discovery tools [merged]
#114 - ci: make MCP registry publish optional; fix video background; pin AXe 1.1.1 [merged]
#132 - feat: migrate macOS tools to session-aware defaults [merged]
#156 - fix: Update VSCode configuration and tool registration logic [merged]
#164 - Fix bug where AXe isn't bundled for Smithery installs, also improve AXe detection logic [closed]

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[cameroncooke]

This appears to be a bug with Smithery you can open an issue there https://github.com/smithery-ai/cli. Though it might be worth checkout your VSCode CLI as it might be installed correctly, can you do code --help and paste the output. Looking at the VSCode docs the --add-mcp is documented https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/mcp-servers

[adamhill]

Oh, I forgot to add that - yes I had XcodeBuildMCP already installed and working fine for quite a while. I was just trying to get onboard with the new "official" way to install it so it will stay up to date. Forgot to mention that.

And just so you can see what XCB helps me build every day - Thanks for making a great MCP for Apple dev!

The Electric Slide

Original Post
Update

[cameroncooke]

I'm closing as this is not an XcodeBuildMCP issue, and the argument --add-mcp is documented as the canonical way to add MCP using VSCode