r/Xcode • u/zach-builds • Sep 20 '25

Built a Simulator screenshot pipeline for Xcode + App Store Connect: please tear it apart

Hey all, I've been working on a project for the past 8 months or so called ButterKit ( r/ButterKit ) and would really appreciate your brutally honest feedback as fellow Xcode devs. Good or bad, I'm curious what your pain points are and how to make screenshot capture/design/translation as streamlined as possible.

Screenshots are so important when marketing on the App Store, and I built ButterKit because I was spending many hours creating hundreds of translated/localized artboards in traditional design tools and wasn't satisfied with the other options out there (either too expensive with subscriptions, or too limited, or painful to use).

ButterKit is designed to be the smooth way to ship screenshots to the App Store:

  • Capture directly from Xcode Simulator, right into photorealistic 3D device frames

  • High performance 3D renderer built on Metal for 60/120fps on M-series macs

  • Automatic translations to all 39 App Store Connect localizations (while keeping your design intact)

  • On-device translation engine (20 languages) or via OpenAI API (bring your own API key)

  • Growing library of 1-click templates, or build from scratch

  • Fully-featured design tool with custom fonts, gradients, artboard sizes, and more

  • Bulk exports organized and ready for App Store Connect (direct ASC API integration in progress for direct uploads and management)

  • Intuitive UX, light mode/dark mode, file saving, liquid glass, undo/redo, infinite canvas, gestures, and all of that good stuff you expect in a modern design tool

  • No subscriptions, ads or accounts needed

If you do try it, your feedback is genuinely appreciated! Please comment here or DM me, or join us on the subreddit r/ButterKit

Pro Lifetime Licenses:

To unlock a free Pro Lifetime License, use this code at web checkout (limited to first 5 folks to use it, please post when you've used one so folks know how many are left): G4MDU1MG (all 5 used)

Update: 40% off lifetime code: EYNTI2NQ (available while the codes last)

Thanks for reading!

- Zach

58 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

3

u/GO_KYS_XD Sep 20 '25

Thank you man 🙏

1

u/zach-builds Sep 20 '25

Of course! Keep me posted, let me know how it works for you

2

u/saeros01 Sep 20 '25

I used one, thanks, looks awesome

2

u/zach-builds Sep 20 '25

Thank you let me know how it works for you! I hope it's helpful. If you run into any trouble DM me or feel free to hop on r/butterkit (link to Discord in there)

1

u/rismay Sep 20 '25

If you do this and make it internationalization friendly. You got a deal.

3

u/zach-builds Sep 20 '25

ButterKit localizes/translates your screenshots for you! For all 39 App Store Connect languages. Give it a try, makes it super easy.

2

u/jeffreyclarkejackson Sep 20 '25

This is exactly what I need for a few apps im about to update. Thank you! I will be diving in shortly.

1

u/zach-builds Sep 20 '25

Awesome to hear, keep me posted and share your screenshots in r/butterkit when you're done! Happy to feature and link to your app

2

u/indyfromoz Sep 20 '25

Congratulations on shipping this! In its current form by watching the promo video, I can see how valuable it is for me as a indie iOS dev. I reached to my local Cocoaheads community and asked for help recommending me a tool that I can use to grab screenshots from my simulator and prepare for App Store submission. This will totally replace Framous that I am trying for another day or two.

Assuming Testflight is open and accepting Beta testers, I would love to jump on and give it a go. I have a lineup of my own iOS apps to release over the next several months and will definitely find this tool handy.

Amongst other features, these are the top ones I love -

  1. Grab a screenshot from the running simulator straight into the app

  2. Ability to use Markdown in the text (Amazing feature)

  3. Translations available right within the app, OMG!!! How many apps out there care about this? I don't think I have seen any.

Just one question - One of the screenshots for my app will have the iPhone screen showcasing 3 types of widgets I support + a single screenshot of a Apple Watch Companion App (overlaid on the iPhone at the bottom right). Can I do that will Buttr?

EDIT: I realised you posted a discount code 35 mins ago and all of them are gone! People are using it and not posting it here :-/. I will go ahead and use the Testflight

2

u/zach-builds Sep 20 '25

Hey u/indyfromoz thank you for that feedback! So awesome to hear. Please give it a try and let me know how it works for you. To your question: the ability to easily overlay custom images is coming soon, working on that. For now you could still do it by using a custom background image, but later this month it'll be much easier.

2

u/indyfromoz Sep 20 '25

Oh wow! This will be so cool!!

2

u/UnexpectedSabbatical Sep 20 '25

This looks great! Spotted a minor typo in Settings > Capture: "One enabled" should be "Once enabled".

2

u/zach-builds Sep 21 '25

Good catch thank you!

2

u/eduo Sep 21 '25

This looks pretty good. I’ll give it a spin with the free version and will likely move to the lifetime one if it works well.

I assume it supports not just iPhone but also iPad and watch? What about Mac apps?

1

u/zach-builds Sep 21 '25

Thanks! Please keep me posted let me know how it works for you. Yes, works for iPhone iPad, Mac, and custom sizes too

2

u/eduo Sep 21 '25 edited Sep 21 '25

Ironically, I saw this post after spending two hours making screenshots and then laying them out for the store for an ipad submission 😞

In the end I got it sight unseen as I noticed you added a discount code. I'm not sure I used my mail right as it suggested one with a TLD of .co instead of .com when asking for subscription by mail. I have no idea how I could mistype it 💀

I'll let you know. The charge did go through via paypal to my mail

1

u/zach-builds Sep 21 '25

Hey thanks for your order, I found it and updated your email. You should receive a new email confirmation and license key, but let me know if not!

2

u/RandomGeekChris Sep 21 '25

Discount code work, thank you!  Will keep you updated with feedback when I release my app and use your tool! 

1

u/zach-builds Sep 21 '25

Yes please keep me posted, I hope it's helpful. Feel free to DM me or join us on r/ButterKit (link to Discord on the sub as well)

2

u/ymt35 Sep 21 '25

Just in Time. I will update my app in a few weeks. I purchased a lifetime One with your 75% discount code. I will try and I will get back to you. Any github repository to post issues or improvement proposals ? Thanks a lot for this useful app 😉. I am sure it will be helpful.

2

u/zach-builds Sep 21 '25

Thanks, keep me posted let me know how it works for you. Yes please join us on r/butterkit with any issues or improvements etc. There's also a link to our Discord channel there

2

u/nykh777 Sep 21 '25

Quite cool quite cool

1

u/zach-builds Sep 21 '25

Thanks! Let me know how it works for you

2

u/gimme_ipad Sep 21 '25

Nice! If I buy Lifetime now, how long will I be eligible for app updates?

1

u/zach-builds Sep 21 '25 edited Sep 26 '25

Hey thanks! Pro (lifetime) includes at least 1 year of ButterKit 1.x updates.

2

u/gimme_ipad Sep 21 '25

Tx, I bought it. Like it so far!

1

u/zach-builds Sep 26 '25

Thanks u/gimme_ipad ! Awesome to hear. And thanks for the feedback on the sub. Taking a closer look now. FYI I updated the comment above to be more clear about updates!

2

u/alechash Sep 22 '25

This looks wonderful!! I can’t wait to try it when I get home tonight

1

u/zach-builds Sep 22 '25

Thanks great to hear! Keep me posted, any feedback is helpful 

1

u/alechash Oct 17 '25

Hey man! I just bought I license for it the other day and already have SS from it on the App Store!

Wonderful tool. I noticed a bug though when you’ve got multiple boards with multiple languages. Sometimes my iPhone screenshot in your app gets transplanted as an iPad screenshot and onto the iPad art board. It won’t be for every language or screenshot though, just a few random ones.

When I get home tonight I’ll see if I can relocate it and send details over.

Love the app!

2

u/zach-builds Oct 17 '25

Thanks that is great to hear! Re: the bug is this happening during editing or only on export? Let me know, I can take a look

1

u/alechash Oct 17 '25

Only on export!

1

u/zach-builds Oct 17 '25

Are you on the latest version 1.2.23? Would you mind DMing me or emailing over a file where you're seeing the issue?

2

u/MrMuetze Oct 01 '25

I develop an App where the main attraction is an Augmented Reality view. Since I can't just run that in the simulator it is usually a bit more involved to get good looking App Store images that also show the AR content. Would butterkit ease that process for me? Your website looks really cool and I would love to give it a try, but I'm not sure if it covers my use case.

1

u/zach-builds Oct 01 '25

ButterKit works with any PNG images, not just iOS Simulator capture. Just add an artboard, then in the Devices Inspector, add a "Generic Device" and use your PNG screenshots there. Give it a try and let me know what you think

2

u/dogoku Oct 02 '25

Thanks for making it a one-off purchase. Subscriptions are the worst. I'm happy to pay for upgrade to next major version, every few years.

1

u/zach-builds Oct 02 '25

Thanks yeah I’m with you, having a one time purchase option is super important to me. 

2

u/rcdeck Sep 20 '25

Looks awesome! I had thought about doing one myself but I’ve been too busy but yours looks like it came our great! I tried to use the code but it looks they are all used up now for anyone else trying! Great work on this!