Turn your Mac into a simulator cloud that manages itself.

[01] How it works

1. 01

   Install

   Install the CLI. The daemon starts on demand, so there is no setup step.

   $ npm i -g simlock
2. 02

   Lease

   Ask for a platform and a model. You get a booted, checked device no other agent will touch.

   $ simlock lease --platform ios --device "iPhone 16"
3. 03

   Add machines

   Run one daemon as a gateway, mint a join token, and point each Mac or Linux worker at it.

   $ simlock --gateway token create --role worker

simlock lease --platform ios --device "iPhone 16"
simlock simctl install <device.address> ./MyApp.app
simlock release <lease.id>

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "simlock": {
      "command": "simlock",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

curl -X POST https://gw.example/v1/lease-requests \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SIMLOCK_TOKEN" \
  -d '{"platform":"ios","device":"iPhone 17 Pro"}'

import { homedir } from 'node:os';
import { join } from 'node:path';
import { connectSimlock } from 'simlock/client';

const client = await connectSimlock({
  endpoint: join(homedir(), '.simlock', 'daemon.sock'),
  principal: 'build-bot-1',
});
const grant = await client.requestLease({ platform: 'ios', model: 'iPhone 16' });

await client.releaseLease({ leaseId: grant.lease.id });
await client.close();

[02] Fleet

# on the gateway
simlock --gateway daemon start
simlock --gateway token create --role worker

# on each worker, Mac or Linux
simlock config set gateway '{"url":"wss://gw.example","token":"slk_..."}'
simlock daemon stop
simlock daemon start

[03] Console

[04] What you get

[05] Safe by default

[06] FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does Simlock sandbox my agents?

No. It is advisory: agents are told to use only devices a lease hands them, and Simlock does not intercept simctl or avdmanager. What it does enforce is its own reach: it only shuts down, erases or deletes devices it created.

What happens when an agent dies holding a device?

Every lease has a TTL and lives only while it is renewed. simlock lease renews on a timer and releases when it exits, so a killed holder frees its device at once, and one that vanishes costs the device only until the TTL runs out.

What if every device is busy?

Simlock creates another one, up to a capacity it derives from the machine’s CPU and RAM. After that the request waits in a fair queue, with --timeout and --no-wait for callers that want something else.

Does a worker need an open port to join a fleet?

No. A worker dials out to the gateway over one WebSocket, with the gateway URL and a join token from simlock --gateway token create --role worker, so a Mac behind NAT joins without an inbound port.

Can a Linux machine be a worker?

Yes, for Android. Emulators run headless with android.emulator.headless, as on a Linux CI runner. iOS simulators need a Mac with Xcode.

How do agents on other machines reach it?

Over the HTTP API, with a token: POST /v1/lease-requests on the gateway, then POST /v1/leases/{id}/exec to run simctl or adb on whichever worker holds the device. agent-device can use the gateway as its proxy too.