I' m planing to upgrade my computer for mobile application development purpose. The platforms I have targeted for now is Android. Last response: July 14, 2015 9:07 PM in Apps General Discussion. Forums Macs Desktops Mac mini. 2014 Mac Mini Sufficient for iOS Programming? If you're new to iOS development, it takes some time to gain some proficiency in programming for the iPhone/iPad. If you've done typical app programming in Linux and are simply moving to Swift for developing on the.
You can make an app for iOS even if you’re on a PC running Windows 10. I wish I had known this when I first started because I delayed myself for 3 years before biting the bullet and buying a Mac. Had I known about running Xcode on Windows or about the solutions below, I might’ve started building iPhone apps much earlier! Rent a Mac Before committing to buying a new Mac, you can actually “rent” one for development.
You’ll remotely access the Mac and Xcode through your PC. It’ll be like having the Mac desktop in a window on your Windows Desktop. The really nice thing about this option is that the cost is really low and it’s the fastest option to get up and running. If you decide that app development isn’t for you, you just cancel your plan. There are a few companies out there that provide this service: This is the most well known service out of the three.
You won’t have to install Xcode because it comes preinstalled. You can also do pay-as-you-go so it’s a pretty low commitment. Some people complain that it’s slow but you can try it out for yourself since it’s only about a buck an hour!
These guys were featured in the recent Apple keynote when they introduced the updated Mac Mini! XcodeClub is run by Daniel who is a passionate developer himself. From the reviews I see, the service is fast and friendly.
The pricing is less flexible than MacInCloud and you’ll have to commit to at least a month. Virtualize MacOS If you’re a little more technically savvy, you can use virtualization software and run a “virtual Mac” on your PC.
The services above are essentially doing the same thing on their servers and then they charge you a fee to access the virtual machine. By setting it up yourself on your own PC, you essentially cut the middle man out of the equation. Unfortunately it does take a little bit of technical know-how to get this up and running. The two most popular pieces of software to do virtualization are VirtualBox and VMWare Workstation.
You can download them below and then use Google to find a guide on how to install the latest MacOS (Mojave) with either VirtualBox or VMWare Workstation. After that, spin up your new virtual Mac and download Xcode. This is as close as you’ll get to running actual Xcode on Windows! VirtualBox is open source software which means that it’s free. That probably explains why it’s a lot more popular than VMWare Workstation when it comes to running MacOS on your Windows machine!
Unfortunately you’ll have to pay for this piece of software and at the time of this writing, a license costs about half the price of a brand new Mac Mini which is perfectly suitable for iOS app development. I would recommend you try VirtualBox first or try to buy a used Mac Mini. Build a “Hackintosh” You can also build a “Hackintosh” which is a PC that has been customized to run MacOS. This requires the most effort out of all the options presented so far but it can work for someone who wants a separate physical computer running MacOS. A great resource for all things Hackintosh. The first How-To section contains links to a number of great tutorials for building your own Hackintosh and installing High Sierra.
![Ios Ios](http://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/mac-setup-integrations-developer-full.jpg)
I love looking for Reddit communities on anything that I’m interested in because there are always interesting conversations happening. Reddit provides a way to have a dialogue with like minded individuals, to get help and to help others! I included this link because it contains up to date news and articles for Hackintosh builds. Third Party Solutions Lastly, there are many third party solutions that you can use to do iOS development on Windows. You won’t be using Xcode in these solutions but you’ll be able to generate an app that can run on iOS devices.
Check out these great Xcode alternatives: Use JavaScript to build native mobile apps. Use C# to build a mobile app that you can deploy natively to Android, iOS and Windows. Build native mobile apps using JavaScript. Build hybrid cross-platform mobile apps using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
A guide to investing in a Mac that you will actually need From the edge of being dominated by Microsoft Windows to moving to Intel, Mac took off on the cloud in the most ultimate sophistication. Apart from sharing the workstations with top-spot CEOs, business giants, and top-of-the-line project leaders, Mac is today also popular among. Mac, after all, is no longer just a development project of some software engineers but has become a state-of-the-art creation of passionate computer scientists, including poets, musicians, and artists. Another reason for the popularity of Mac gaining pace is the launch of XCode by Apple. XCode is a free-to-download program used to develop apps for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. Although it can be run on Windows, with the help of a simulator, the best app development experience you can have with XCode comes from MacOS. Read Also: So, if you too are looking at app development with MacOS, but are unsure which version to purchase, below are a few factors to guide you through the process from a A.
Version Make sure that you use the latest version of Mac which supports XCode. The Mac Sierra version has recently been launched and supports Code Version 8.3.2. For updates on the latest versions, you can visit the Apple Store. RAM As a developer, RAM would be the first thing you would consider and the biggest factor you would need to look at while buying a system. A 2GB version is a strict no-no if you do not want to get frustrated by slow loading times and deleting previous code files. While 4GB is fine, 8GB would still be better.
Such 8GB versions come with a 2GHz dual-core processor and this makes a tremendous difference in enhancing the coding experience. Needless to say, if you are rolling in dough, 16GB offers the most luxurious of coding experiences that you’ll have while developing an app.
Desktop Computer or Laptop? Whether you should go for a desktop computer or laptop completely depends on your portability requirements. If you are a freelance app developer, laptops are undeniably a better option compared to desktops. Besides, buying a desktop version requires you to buy your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse as well.
With laptops, both Pro and Air are good. To choose between the two, you can consider the other factors, such as RAM and screen sizes. Withal, if a desktop computer suits you better, try going for a Mac Mini. It offers a cheaper deal with almost the same quality as Mac Pro and iMac. IMac is also good if you can afford to stretch your budget.
Battery Power Considerations If you are comfortable compromising on pixel display for battery life, the MacBook Air is perfect as it offers 12 hours of life. However, if you do not want to settle for lower quality graphics, Retina is possible the better option. It promises a 10-hour battery life and has an ultra display. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is equally good. Screen Size Coding is just not one of the tasks that a developer would be doing. In addition to the XCode environment, they would also need a database editor and a web browser.
![Mac mini 2018 for ios development Mac mini 2018 for ios development](/uploads/1/2/5/4/125449493/686749431.png)
Plus, emails, text editors, and more should be added to it. So, make sure you consider a Mac version that has an appropriate screen size to allow the developers to have one or more windows open at the same time, without going in the command-tilde cycle again and again. Also, do not use the 11-inch screen; Apple itself has terminated the MacBook Air 11-inch version as it has such a teeny screen. However, the 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro will do fine. If you can go for the 15-inch MacBook Pro it would simply be better. The Takeaway As the American historian, Don Rittner, puts it: “Macintosh is not a computer.
It’s a way of life”. So, there is no saying whether Mac is good or not; it is by far the best in offering ultimate sophistication in the computing industry. The main thing that you need to understand during iOS app development is whether your system efficiently runs XCode. Subsequently, it is totally your personal choice which apple product to use. The factors mentioned above will simply help you make the right choice for you.
If you or your team has recently purchased a Mac for app development, share your experiences with us in the comments section below.