Installing Xcode 8 and the iOS 10 SDK
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iOS apps are developed using the iOS SDK in conjunction with Apple’s Xcode development environment. Xcode is an integrated development environment (IDE) within which you will code, compile, test and debug your iOS applications. The Xcode environment also includes a feature called Interface Builder which enables you to graphically design the user interface of your application using the components provided by the UIKit Framework.
In this chapter we will cover the steps involved in installing both Xcode and the iOS 10 SDK on macOS.
Identifying if you have an Intel or PowerPC based Mac
Only Intel based macOS systems can be used to develop applications for iOS. If you have an older, PowerPC based Mac then you will need to purchase a new system before you can begin your iOS app development project. If you are unsure of the processor type inside your Mac, you can find this information by clicking on the Apple menu in the top left-hand corner of the screen and selecting the About This Mac option from the menu. In the resulting dialog check the Processor line. Figure 3 1 illustrates the results obtained on an Intel based system.
If the dialog on your Mac does not reflect the presence of an Intel based processor then your current system is, sadly, unsuitable as a platform for iOS app development.
In addition, the Xcode 8 environment requires that the version of macOS running on the system be version 10.11.5 or later. If the “About This Mac” dialog does not indicate that macOS 10.11.5 or later is running, click on the Software Update… button to download and install the appropriate operating system upgrades.
Figure 3-1
Installing Xcode 8 and the iOS 10 SDK
The best way to obtain the latest versions of Xcode and the iOS SDK is to download them from the Apple Mac App Store. Launch the App Store on your macOS system, enter Xcode into the search box and click on the Free button to initiate the installation.
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Starting Xcode
Having successfully installed the SDK and Xcode, the next step is to launch it so that we can create a sample iOS 10 application. To start up Xcode, open the Finder and search for Xcode. Since you will be making frequent use of this tool take this opportunity to drag and drop it into your dock for easier access in the future. Click on the Xcode icon in the dock to launch the tool. The first time Xcode runs you may be prompted to install additional components. Follow these steps, entering your username and password when prompted to do so.
Once Xcode has loaded, and assuming this is the first time you have used Xcode on this system, you will be presented with the Welcome screen from which you are ready to proceed:
Figure 3-2
Adding Your Apple ID to the Xcode Preferences
Regardless of whether or not you choose to enroll in the Apple Developer Program it is worth adding your Apple ID to Xcode now that it is installed and running. Select the Xcode -> Preferences… menu option and select the Accounts tab. On the Accounts screen, click on the + button highlighted in Figure 3 3 and select Add Apple ID… from the resulting menu. When prompted, enter your Apple ID and associated password and click on the Add button to add the account to the preferences.
Figure 3-3
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Developer and Distribution Signing Identities
Once the Apple ID has been entered the next step is to generate signing identities. To view the current signing identities, select the newly added Apple ID in the Accounts panel and click on the View Details… button at which point a list of available signing identities will be listed. If you have not yet enrolled in the Apple Developer Program it will only be possible to create iOS and Mac Development identities. To create the iOS Development signing identity, simply click on the Create button highlighted in Figure 3 4:
Figure 3-4
If the Apple ID has been used to enroll in the Apple Developer program, the Create button next to the iOS Distribution entry will also be active and, when clicked, will generate the signing identity required to submit the app to the Apple App Store.
Having installed the iOS SDK and successfully launched Xcode 8 we can now look at Xcode in more detail.
Learn SwiftUI and take your iOS Development to the Next Level
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| Joining the Apple iOS Developer Program | A Guided Tour of Xcode 6 |
