Xcode, without the reaches.
Xcode is a keyboard app. A scene only earns its place for the four commands you keep reaching for with the mouse: build, run, Open Quickly, and the debug area.
Xcode is a keyboard application with a mouse-heavy periphery: build, run, find a file, open the debug area. Those four commands are the reaches a scene can remove. Nothing else in the editor should be touched.
Who owns which control
| Control | Action | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Command-B | Build | Keyboard |
| Command-R | Run | Keyboard |
| Command-Shift-O | Open Quickly | Keyboard |
| Command-Shift-Y | Debug area | Keyboard |
| Command-0 | Navigator | Keyboard |
| Two-finger swipe | Editor history (where supported) | Test first |
The scene
- Top-left corner: Build.
- Top-right corner: Run.
- Two-finger tap: Open Quickly.
- Bottom-right corner: Toggle the debug area.
- Left and right edges: Brightness and volume.
Build it
Create a scene for Xcode, start from the Developer recipe, and replace its command-palette action with Open Quickly. Keep the two-finger swipes off until you test whether Xcode’s editor history uses them on your setup.
What not to add
Do not map scrolling, text selection, or the navigator. Xcode’s pointer behaviour is precise, and a layout that intercepts it makes editing feel broken. Do not map Command-C or Command-V either; a misfire costs more than the reach it saves.
Cursor and VS Code
The same shape works, with different shortcuts. Create a separate scene for each app rather than copying the Xcode scene; the key commands differ and a copied mapping will look right and do nothing.
Make the trackpad do more than point.
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Does Xcode support trackpad gestures?
It supports normal scrolling and pointer movement. Build, run, and Open Quickly are keyboard commands a trackpad utility can map to corners.
Is a trackpad scene useful in Xcode?
Only for the commands you keep reaching for with the mouse. Typing, selection, and scrolling should stay untouched.
Will it conflict with Xcode shortcuts?
Only if you map the same shortcut twice. Keep one owner per action and test the editor swipes before enabling them.
Does it work in Cursor or VS Code?
Create a separate scene for each app; the shortcuts differ, so the mappings should too.
Sources
Shortcuts checked November 2026. Xcode changes key commands between major releases; confirm in the app.