I'm using Apple's Xcode iOS-Simulator to run tests of a browser application on a (virtual) iPad device. To connect my code I use Appium. But sometimes the iOS simulator loses the safari.app, so I can't run the tests (without a browser on my device - it's not only not displayed, it's not there). I don't know why the safari.app is lost and when this happens. It's the same problem with all devices (iPad and iPhone) and all software versions that are installed.
First, I tried "reset content and settings", but nothing happened. Then I installed Xcode's iOS-Simulator 6.1 package and switched to it. This version contained safari.app. I switched through the different versions and after some switches, the devices with 7.1 had safari.app again.
A short time later Xcode iOS-Simulator lost the app again. "Reset content and settings" didn't work again, switching the versions had this time no effect.
Then, I removed Xcode from the mac and installed it again (with 2.1 gb to download...). safari.app was not on the simulated device. I used "reset content and settings" and then the safari.app was there.
The last part (from reinstall to reset) is the way I go every time the simulator loses safari.app, which wastes time and is annoying!
I use OS X 10.9.2 with Xcode 5.1.1 (Build 5B108).
So I have two questions:
What causes iOS-Simulator to lose safari.app?
How can I get it back without reinstalling Xcode?
There might be a workaround. You are able to open the xcode folder and go to your simulation files. Do a backup of the ios-Simulator files. If your simulator loses the safari app, close xcode and copy your backup files into your xcode folder again. So you don't have to reinstall it.