Introducing XCRemoteCache: The iOS Remote Caching Tool that Cut Our Clean Build Times by 70%

This post introduces XCRemoteCache, an open-source remote caching tool for iOS projects that reduces clean build times by 70%. It details the problem of long local build times in the Spotify iOS application, explains the principles of remote caching, and describes the design and implementation of XCRemoteCache. Key technical aspects include identifying input files using Git history and compilation outputs, handling build artifact portability with path-agnostic fingerprints and debug symbol mapping, and integrating with existing Xcode projects via a CocoaPods plugin. The post also shares real-world results from its rollout to 50% of developers and provides instructions for integration and contribution.