Launch a specific Hardware version of iOS simulator using instruments command line utility

Question

I am using UIAutomation provided by Apple -> Xcode -> instruments. I have my Javascripts and the whole automation using instruments command line infrastructure running up.

I got an additional task of running automation on previous versions of simulator (iOS 6.0 , 5.1, 5.0, 4.3.2) to provide better coverage.

But i do not know a way to specify which version of iOS simulator to choose from. by default it always chooses the lates iOS simulator.

I have tried the following things:

1. Specifying the path where the simulator is kept which includes the version path of simulator.
2. Making a custom Automation template trace and trying to use it.
3. Changed the default version of iOS simulator using defaults write com.apple.simulator utility.

Answer 1

Since Xcode 5.1 Instruments supports specifying the simulator hardware type and iOS version from the command line.

instruments -w help

The command above will give you a list about the available hardvare-iOS combinations. On my machine thats are:

iPhone - Simulator - iOS 6.1
iPhone - Simulator - iOS 7.1
iPhone Retina (3.5-inch) - Simulator - iOS 6.1
iPhone Retina (3.5-inch) - Simulator - iOS 7.1
iPhone Retina (4-inch) - Simulator - iOS 6.1
iPhone Retina (4-inch) - Simulator - iOS 7.1
iPhone Retina (4-inch 64-bit) - Simulator - iOS 6.1
iPhone Retina (4-inch 64-bit) - Simulator - iOS 7.1
iPad - Simulator - iOS 6.1
iPad - Simulator - iOS 7.1
iPad Retina - Simulator - iOS 6.1
iPad Retina - Simulator - iOS 7.1
iPad Retina (64-bit) - Simulator - iOS 6.1
iPad Retina (64-bit) - Simulator - iOS 7.1

You can specify the hardware and iOS version also with -w flag. Example:

instruments -w "iPad Retina - Simulator - iOS 7.1" -t ...

Note that -w flag must come at the start of the command line, before any other flags, otherwise you get strange errors.

I have found this information at: http://cocoamanifest.net/articles/2014/03/ui-screen-shooter-now-simpler-and-more-robust-since-xcode-5-1.html

Answer 2

Using Instruments 5.0 (relate to Xcode 5.0):

1. click the small "i" icon to the right of "Automation" in the upper left part of the window
2. underneath "Target", click on the name of your app
3. in the pop-up menu, select "Edit Active Target" in the pop-up window,
4. click the "Options" menu, and underneath "Simulator Configuration" select the device to simulate and iOS version.

If you don't see a particular iOS version, then you need to add that simulator in Xcode:

1. Xcode menu, Preferences...
2. Downloads tab
3. Click the down-arrow next to the version of iOS simulator you want to install

PS: I created some awesome screenshots, but stackoverflow won't let me post them. boo.