Objective-C — 138 Operations for AI Agents
This page is the canonical reference an AI coding agent uses to refactor, query, and analyze Objective-C code through the act MCP server. 138 operations available: 64 refactor, 18 query, 42 analysis, 14 verification. Each operation is callable from Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, OpenCode, or any MCP-compatible agent host. Click any operation for a stable anchor link suitable for citation.
Worked Objective-C examples
act101 parses Objective-C with the tree-sitter grammar and reads @interface/@implementation blocks, properties, and method declarations as syntax nodes rather than lines of text. It can list every named symbol in a file — classes, properties, and methods — each with the byte range act located it at. It can also read a class's structure as a skeleton: @interface and @implementation blocks, properties, and method declarations are listed by kind and name, without their bodies. Each example below is the verbatim output of the command shown, run against the file shown. Query outputs are pretty-printed with the timing block omitted.
List every named symbol in the file
Counter.m declares a Counter @interface with one property and two methods, plus the matching @implementation.
$ act query symbols Counter.mBefore
@interface Counter : NSObject
@property (nonatomic) NSInteger value;
- (void)increment;
- (void)reset;
@end
@implementation Counter
- (void)increment {
self.value += 1;
}
- (void)reset {
self.value = 0;
}
@endOutput
{
"type": "Symbols",
"symbols": [
{
"name": "Counter",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 1,
"column": 12,
"byte_offset": 11
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 1,
"column": 19,
"byte_offset": 18
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "NSObject",
"kind": "class",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 1,
"column": 22,
"byte_offset": 21
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 1,
"column": 30,
"byte_offset": 29
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "increment",
"kind": "method",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 5,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 79
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 5,
"column": 18,
"byte_offset": 88
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "reset",
"kind": "method",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 6,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 98
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 6,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 103
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "Counter",
"kind": "unknown",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 10,
"column": 17,
"byte_offset": 128
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 10,
"column": 24,
"byte_offset": 135
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "increment",
"kind": "method",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 12,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 145
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 12,
"column": 18,
"byte_offset": 154
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
},
{
"name": "reset",
"kind": "method",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 16,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 189
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 16,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 194
}
},
"visibility": "unknown"
}
]
}The symbol list gives Counter kind class for the @interface, NSObject kind class for its superclass, increment/reset kind method for the declared methods, then Counter again with kind unknown for the @implementation block, followed by its own increment/reset method definitions — seven symbols in total.
Read the file's structure without bodies
Counter.m declares a Counter @interface with one property and two methods, plus the matching @implementation.
$ act query skeleton Counter.mBefore
@interface Counter : NSObject
@property (nonatomic) NSInteger value;
- (void)increment;
- (void)reset;
@end
@implementation Counter
- (void)increment {
self.value += 1;
}
- (void)reset {
self.value = 0;
}
@endOutput
{
"type": "Skeleton",
"declarations": [
{
"kind": "class",
"name": "Counter",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 1,
"column": 1,
"byte_offset": 0
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 8,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 110
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 1,
"column": 12,
"byte_offset": 11
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 1,
"column": 19,
"byte_offset": 18
}
}
},
{
"kind": "property",
"name": "value",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 3,
"column": 1,
"byte_offset": 31
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 3,
"column": 39,
"byte_offset": 69
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 3,
"column": 33,
"byte_offset": 63
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 3,
"column": 38,
"byte_offset": 68
}
}
},
{
"kind": "method",
"name": "increment",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 5,
"column": 1,
"byte_offset": 71
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 5,
"column": 19,
"byte_offset": 89
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 5,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 79
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 5,
"column": 18,
"byte_offset": 88
}
}
},
{
"kind": "method",
"name": "reset",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 6,
"column": 1,
"byte_offset": 90
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 6,
"column": 15,
"byte_offset": 104
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 6,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 98
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 6,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 103
}
}
},
{
"kind": "impl",
"name": "Counter",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 10,
"column": 1,
"byte_offset": 112
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 20,
"column": 5,
"byte_offset": 224
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 10,
"column": 17,
"byte_offset": 128
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 10,
"column": 24,
"byte_offset": 135
}
}
},
{
"kind": "method",
"name": "increment",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 12,
"column": 1,
"byte_offset": 137
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 14,
"column": 2,
"byte_offset": 179
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 12,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 145
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 12,
"column": 18,
"byte_offset": 154
}
}
},
{
"kind": "method",
"name": "reset",
"range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 16,
"column": 1,
"byte_offset": 181
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 18,
"column": 2,
"byte_offset": 218
}
},
"name_range": {
"start": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 16,
"column": 9,
"byte_offset": 189
},
"end": {
"file": "Counter.m",
"line": 16,
"column": 14,
"byte_offset": 194
}
}
}
]
}The skeleton lists seven top-level declarations: a class entry for Counter's @interface, its property (value), its two declared method entries (increment, reset), a separate impl entry for the @implementation, and that block's own increment/reset method definitions.
Query
18 query tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/query-tools.
callers control_flow data_flow definition diagnostics effect_closure effect_summary fix_auto get_type graph import_organize interface mutations references repo_outline skeleton symbols symbols_batch
Refactor
| Operation | Description |
|---|---|
add-braces |
Add braces to single-statement if/while/for blocks |
add-default-case |
Add default case to switch statement |
add-method-documentation |
Add documentation comment to method |
add-method-implementation |
Add method body stub to @implementation |
add-nil-check |
Add nil check before property or pointer access |
add-nullability-annotation |
Add @nullable/@nonnull annotation |
add-property-attribute |
Add nonatomic/retain/weak attribute to property |
add-protocol-conformance |
Add protocol conformance to class |
add-required-import |
Add required import statement |
change-signature |
Modify function parameters, return, generics |
consolidate-imports |
Consolidate multiple import statements |
convert-for-to-foreach |
Convert for loop to fast enumeration (for-in) |
convert-ivar-to-property |
Convert instance variable to @property |
convert-loop-style |
Convert between loop styles |
convert-string-literal |
Convert string literal format |
encapsulate |
Make field private, generate getter/setter |
extract-class |
Extract methods/fields to new class |
extract-constant |
Extract value to named constant |
extract-enum-member |
Extract enum member value into a named constant |
extract-interface |
Create interface from class |
extract-variable |
Extract a sub-expression into a new local variable |
extract_function |
Extract a code selection into a new function — automatically infers parameters, return types, and inserts the call site. Use instead of manually cutting/pasting code. Works without LSP; LSP improves type inference. Params: file (string), new_name (string), start_line (u32), start_column (u32), end_line (u32), end_column (u32) [, preview (bool), receipt (bool)] |
extract_variable |
Extract an expression into a named variable — inserts the declaration and replaces the expression with the variable name. Works without LSP. Params: file (string), new_name (string), start_line (u32), start_column (u32), end_line (u32), end_column (u32) [, preview (bool)] |
flatten |
Merge category @implementation into main @implementation |
generate-accessors |
Generate getter/setter methods for @properties |
generate-async-method |
Generate method with completion handler |
generate-builder |
Generate builder pattern |
generate-class-stub |
Generate class interface and implementation skeleton |
generate-constructor |
Generate an initWith… initializer from @properties |
generate-convenience-init |
Generate convenience initializer |
generate-delegate-methods |
Generate delegate method stubs |
generate-description |
Generate description method |
generate-equality-methods |
Generate isEqual:/hash methods |
generate-equals |
Generate equals/eq comparison method |
generate-factory-method |
Generate factory method |
generate-from-json |
Generate JSON deserialization |
generate-hash |
Generate hash/hashCode method |
generate-impl |
Generate interface/trait impl stubs |
generate-init-method |
Generate init method |
generate-mapped-type |
Generate typedef pointer alias for a class |
generate-property-getter |
Generate @property getter |
generate-property-setter |
Generate @property setter |
generate-protocol-stub |
Generate protocol implementation stubs |
generate-stub-method |
Generate empty method stub |
generate-test-class |
Generate test class |
generate-to-json |
Generate JSON serialization |
generate-to-string |
Generate string representation |
generate-try-catch-block |
Generate @try/@catch/@finally exception handling |
generate-type-guard |
Generate isKindOfClass type guard function |
inline |
Inline a variable, function, or method — replace every usage with its definition body, then remove the original. The inverse of extract. Works without LSP (single-file); LSP enables cross-file inlining. Params: file (string), symbol (string) [, line (u32), preview (bool), receipt (bool)] |
insert_body |
Replace a function's implementation body with new code. AST-validated — rejects if the result has parse errors, so you can't accidentally break syntax. Use instead of manual text editing for function rewrites. Params: file (string), symbol (string), code (string) [, commit (bool)] |
introduce-field |
Convert local variable to class field |
introduce-parameter |
Convert expression to function parameter |
introduce-property |
Convert ivar to @property with appropriate attributes |
move-method-to-category |
Move method to category |
move-method-to-protocol |
Move method to protocol |
move_symbol |
Move a function, class, or type to a different file and automatically update all imports across the codebase. Use instead of manually cut/paste + fixing imports. Works without LSP (single-file); LSP enables cross-file import updates. Params: file (string), symbol (string), destination (string) [, preview (bool), receipt (bool)] |
pull-up |
Move member to parent class |
push-down |
Move member to child class(es) |
recipe_run |
Run a codemod recipe: declarative match → transform → optional verify across modeled grammars. Preview lists matches; apply writes with optional E7 receipts and all-or-nothing rollback. Returns a per-site report. |
remove-unused-import |
Remove unused import statement |
rename |
Rename a symbol and automatically update ALL references across the codebase. Safer and faster than find-and-replace — AST-aware, won't rename strings or comments. Works without LSP (single-file); LSP enables cross-file renames. Params: file (string), old_name (string), new_name (string) [, line (u32), column (u32), preview (bool), receipt (bool)] |
wrap-at-try-catch |
Wrap code in @try/@catch block |
wrap-in-function |
Wrap selected code in new method |
Analysis
42 analysis tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/analysis-tools.
analyze_api_diff analyze_chokepoints analyze_clones analyze_clusters analyze_cohesion analyze_conformance analyze_coupling analyze_cycle_risk analyze_cycles analyze_dead_code analyze_depth analyze_entry_points analyze_export analyze_extraction analyze_fan_balance analyze_features analyze_hotspots analyze_impact analyze_inconsistencies analyze_inheritance analyze_interface_bloat analyze_interfaces analyze_layers analyze_orphan_types analyze_patterns analyze_platform_deps analyze_readiness analyze_roles analyze_seams analyze_stability analyze_surface analyze_test_gaps analyze_thickness analyze_type_completeness churn_hotspots co_change_clusters coverage_overlay ownership_map profile_overlay simulate split_module trace_overlay
Verify
14 verify tools, the same on every supported language. Descriptions live in the shared reference: /docs/verification.
bisect_regression gate generate_test_harness scan secret_surface summarize_pr taint_flow unsafe_surface verify_behavioral_equivalence verify_contract_preserved verify_diff_semantics verify_port_parity verify_side_effects verify_test_impact