xcode
Latest
Dev Juice: Help find me a standalone property editor
"Dear Dev Juice, With Lion and new xCode 4, Property List Editor is missing. Opening xCode to just be able to edit a plist file is not what I want. So my question is how do you edit your plist files ? Do you know an alternative to xCode 4? Thanks. Thierry" Dear Thierry, If you don't mind converting your property lists to XML format (plutil -convert xml1 filename.plist), you can always use TextEdit to make quick changes. However, it sounds like you're looking for a third party GUI solution. Daniel Jalkut helpfully pointed DevJuice to PlistEdit Pro. A $29.95 shareware application, PlistEdit Pro offers a standalone property list editor. Developer Brian Webster told TUAW, "PlistEdit Pro was originally written in a fit of frustration over how bad Apple's editor was. They eventually updated it around Xcode 3.1 or so, and it was much improved, but then as you saw they pulled the standalone version with Xcode 4." In addition to basic property list editing, PlistEdit Pro also offers a preference file browser, which scans through your user defaults library for easy browsing, adds scriptability for automatically modifying plists, and supports extended search, replace, and undo features. Know of any other third party standalone GUI property list editors? (As opposed to plusutil, which is command-line only...) Leave a note in the comments.
Dev Juice: Help me use less hard drive space for Xcode
Dear Dev Juice, I have a small SSD drive on my iMac. Got some tips on how to offload Xcode to my USB drive instead? Jaames C. Dear Jaames, You can install some but not all of Xcode to a secondary drive. You'll still end up using about half a gigabyte, but that's a sight better than the multiple gigabytes you'd normally occupy. On the Custom Install Screen (right after you agree to become a centipad), set your install location to Other using the folder pop-up. Navigate to your USB and "Choose" a folder there. After installing, there's more you can do to save room. Open Xcode Preferences > Locations and set your Derived Data, Snapshots, and Archives folders to live off your primary drive. You'll also want to move your documentation (which can take many GB all by itself) as well. Open any class reference in the Organizer, and then right-click > Open Page in Browser. Allow the page to open. Its file:// URL will show you where your documentation is currently stored (normally in /Library/Developer/Documentation). Use symbolic links to move that material to the USB drive. There are more tweaks you can do (move your simulator home, mess with ~/Library/Developer as well as /Library/Developer) but they tend to produce fewer gigabytes for greater effort, so aren't recommended. Happy developing!
Dev Juice: Help me set up a multiperson dev team
Dear Dev Juice, We have a 3 man dev team with the iOS developer program (as a small company plan) and we are getting ready to move up to Xcode 4 once Lion is out to the public and the have a stable sdk. What is the best way to set all of our systems so we can each build for adhoc distribution instead of just one of us being able to? Thanks, Brandon Dear Brandon, You can easily build for Ad Hoc on more than one machine at a time. Just export your developer provisions and certificates from Xcode's organizer. Click Export Developer Profile, enter a password that you will remember and verify that password. Save the file to a convenient location such as the desktop. You will generally have to enter an administrator password during the process to allow Xcode to access your local keychain. Once created, you can transfer this profile file to another Macintosh system and import it through the same Xcode organizer screen. You will be prompted for the password. Once imported, just do the same build-and-archive, sign-with-the-ad-hoc-provision building of IPAs on the remote installations that you would do at your home system. Happy Developing!
Dev Juice: How do I autocomplete in Xcode 4?
Dear Dev Juice, I just moved from Xcode 3 to Xcode 4. How can I make autocomplete give me a template? I type -(void)deal and the drop down pops up. tab just completes the dealloc word. I want it to pop out the template for me. Space bar doesn't work, enter, escape, nothing anymore. I need to know how to make it dump the template Tigerpaw Dear Tigerpaw, Xcode 4 offers a slightly different take on text macros. Code snippets are now the way to go. The problem is that you're typing -(void) deal and expecting it to expand to the skeletal dealloc method. What you need to do is this. Go outside of any method and type de. No "- (void)". Immediately, Xcode will pop-up a completion menu and the first choice will be dealloc. That's because you need use code snippets by name in Xcode 4, not by structure. You can find out the name of your snippet by using the Code Snippet Library browser. Enter dea in the text field at the bottom of the browser. It returns just one match, "Objective-C dealloc Method". Hover over the selected item until a pop-up appears and then click Edit. Here you'll find the completion shortcut name. As you can see, the name here is "dealloc". Creating your own custom snippets and naming them with shortcuts is just as easy. Select text in the Xcode code editor. Click and hold for a second in the selection and then drag it over to the library. It appears at the end of the library list and is named My Code Snippet by default. Do the hover/pop-up/edit trick again to enter the edit mode above. Change the snippet's title, summary, and completion shortcut and click Done. Your new snippet will now be available for use using the shortcut you assigned. Enter the first few characters, press return. Presto. Should you want to add a placeholder into your new snippet, surround it with <# and #>, e.g. int foo = <#value#>; Xcode automagically converts this into a placeholder in the editor.
Dear Aunt TUAW: Installing new betas borks my production Xcode
Dear Aunt TUAW, Every time I install a new Xcode beta these days, it kills my production Xcode and I can't submit to App Store. What gives? I thought you said that Xcode installs could live side-by-side in separate folders! Your loving nephew, Scott McA. Dear Scott, Although you can use separate folders for each installation of Apple's IDE, many of the tools used to create and submit packages live in the /usr/bin directory. And, when it comes to a shared folder like /usr/bin, the rule is last-installed-wins -- your subsequent Xcode installation will overwrite the older versions of the tools in that folder. To get around this you can disable the UNIX Development install option on the "Installation Type" screen of the Xcode installer. This option, which is enabled by default, adds command-line development tools onto the shared install volume. Unselect it during your beta install, and you should be able to skip the development tools re-install when you use the older Xcode version. Auntie adds that qualifying 'should' because a good fresh install of a release Xcode almost always fixes any problems left around by a beta install, even if you pick all the right options while installing. Hugs and good luck, Auntie T.
If you install iOS 5, you can't go back... maybe (Updated)
Update: Some of our Twitter buddies have noted that you should be able to use the TinyUmbrella tool to kick out of the 'error 1' loop that results after restoring an iOS 5 iPhone back to 4.3.3, and proceed safely from there. Needless to say, your mileage may vary. We knew the pre-release builds for iOS 5 would be issued to the developer community today, but AppleInsider warns that this comes with a caveat. Apple has apparently told testers of iOS 5 that any devices updated to that beta cannot be downgraded back to iOS 4. They will only be able to further upgrade their device and eventually install the final iOS 5 release. This note was delivered to developers alongside the latest builds of iOS 5 (build 9A5220p), iTunes 10.5, Apple TV Software beta and the Xcode 4.2 Preview (build 4C104 for Snow Leopard and 4D5031b for Lion). Commenters on the AI forums note that this is not necessarily a new condition for iOS 5; as far back as iOS 3, downgrading was not officially supported. For larger developers this should not be a major problem, but for smaller/indie devs that use their development devices as their primary or day-to-day devices... well, let's hope that beta 1 is stable enough for regular use.
Code Pilot 2.0 with Xcode 4 compatibility
Macoscope has released version 2.0 of its Xcode navigation plug-in, Code Pilot. Technically, it's still a beta -- judging from the 2.0b6 version number -- but it's been rock solid for me so far. This version brings Xcode 4 compatibility and a revamped interface. If you code and you haven't tried it, definitely take a look. Code Pilot attaches to Shift-Command-X in Xcode, and the hotkey brings up a HUD with a search field focused. As you type, it quickly and intelligently filters the files in your project down to the one you were looking for. It also searches symbol names across the board or within the selected file (add a space after the filename). It's similar to Xcode's Open Quickly, but smarter and easier to install than PeepCode's PeepOpen (which is great in MacVim and TextMate but a bit less friendly in Xcode). Macoscope, also behind Productive! Magazine for iPad and the Nozbe apps for iPad and iPhone, has gained a reputation for refined design. Code Pilot is a great example of smart, unobtrusive UI with some serious utility behind it. The free download is good for 10 days, at which point you'll need a license (US$29.95). Users who purchased v1.x in 2011 get v2.0 for free, and 1.x owners who purchased before that get a 50% discount.
Ten One Design licensing Autograph signature capture to developers
Ten One Design started the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad stylus market singlehandedly with the Pogo stylus. Now it's hoping to jumpstart development of apps that capture signatures by licensing its Autograph iOS Library. The idea is simple. Rather than re-inventing the wheel when writing apps that capture signatures, Ten One Design's library -- which works with Xcode, of course -- can be purchased by developers for US$99 for a single one-time use or for $499 for an unlimited site license. This is the same code used in Ten One's Autograph app ($6.95), and a free demo version of the library is available to developers who would like to test-drive its capabilities. The Autograph iOS Library is used in apps to capture digital signatures on the capacitive displays of iOS devices. The Library allows users to customize the stroke color and width, as well as the size of the signature, and provides smoothing for accurate signatures. The velocity of a writing stroke varies the width of the digital ink, and this capability supports biometric verification to capture signature details. Users can undo or redo their signatures with a three-finger swipe, and the Library can also offer a unique security hash watermark for signatures for security and tracking purposes. The applications of signature capture are huge, from getting signatures from patients in the medical world to having customers sign an app to take delivery of a package. By making the Autograph iOS Library available to developers, Ten One Design is hoping that you'll be signing your name on many more iPads and iPhones in the near future.
Apple releases Xcode 4.0.2 (4A2002a) to developers
How doth Apple's Xcode 4 Improve each shining Hour, And offer enhancements every day For every Developer! How skilfully Apple builds its tools! How neat it I.D.E's And labours hard to make it well With the sweet SDKs she releases. In Works of Labour or of Skill I would be busy too: For Developers find some Mischief still For idle Hands to do. In Books, or Work, or healthful Apps Let my first Years be past, That I may give for every Day Some released code at last. -- Isaac "now an Apple Developer" Watts, 1715
Xcode 4.0.1 is now available
Apple has released Xcode 4.0.1 today. It's largely a bug fix release. Specific changes include: Improved Assistant editor logic when switching among different file types Fixed a bug in "Install Xcode.app" that hangs at 99% complete, never finishing Fixed a bug that prevented indexing of some projects Fixed a bug related to nil settings in the Core Data model editor Fixed a bug that prevented automatic download of iOS documentation Fixed a bug in LLVM GCC 4.2 and LLVM compiler 2.0 for iOS projects Additional bug fixes and stability improvements You can grab your copy via the Mac App Store or Apple's site. Happy coding.
Development courseware updated for Xcode 4
Shiny Development has updated all of its training courses following Apple's release last week of the latest version of its development tools, Xcode 4. "We have been working with Xcode 4 for a while now and I am very pleased to announce that all of our training courses are now fully updated with materials that are written specifically to target the new version of Xcode," says Dave Verwer, owner of Shiny Development and developer of several successful iPhone and iPad apps. "All of the slides, lab notes and sample code have been updated to be compatible with all of the new tools included in Xcode 4."
Apple Xcode magazine template could streamline iPad publishing
Magazines and newspapers on the iPad would appear to be a perfect match for the device, but attempts such as Rupert Murdoch's The Daily and Sir Richard Branson's Project have met with limited success. There are many possible reasons for this, ranging from Apple's demands for 30 percent of all revenues from in-app purchases of subscriptions to the lack of a consistent user experience. The latter seems to be the biggest problem for many potential readers, since each magazine or newspaper seems to have its own unique method of navigating pages. Gadget Daily News is claiming that Apple has an answer in the works: a magazine template for the Xcode development environment that will provide a consistent, manageable user experience. The template will not only provide a familiar look and feel between all magazines and newspapers that are developed using the code, but also make it simple to sell subscriptions and back issues from within the app. According to Gadget Daily News, this should open up iPad publishing considerably, since people who wish to create and sell their own content need only get together with a developer to get their magazines or newspapers into the App Store in a short amount of time. The template could open up a huge new market for what blogger Anthony Morganti calls "Garage Magazines" -- self-published magazines that target a specific market. That's an apt moniker, considering that the company making this possible began its life in a garage. The template is expected to arrive before the end of 2011. Let's just hope that self-titled magazines like the one shown in the illustration above don't become commonplace. [via Electronista]
Apple releases Xcode 4; free for developers, $4.99 for everyone else
Apple has released Xcode 4 for free for all registered developers. The new Xcode offers a streamlined interface "that integrates UI design, coding, testing, and debugging, all within a single window." In addition, the embedded Apple LLVM compiler underlines coding mistakes, much like Microsoft Word underlines spelling mistakes, as you type and can even correct your mistakes automatically. Interestingly, Apple has also decided to sell Xcode 4 to anyone for only US$4.99 through the Mac App Store. The reasons that Apple has decided to sell Xcode 4 on the Mac App Store are not clear. It's possible, however, that the company wants to spur app creation for both the Mac and iOS App Stores for developers who normally wouldn't have access to Xcode (or indeed, even know of its existence).
Apple releases Xcode 4 GM. Again!
Apple has just posted another GM seed (number 2 if you're keeping count) of Xcode 4. Build 4A304a is ready for you to download, install, use and love. You need to be a paid member of either the iOS or the Mac dev programs to access this build. Now, if Apple would only get around to, you know, releasing Xcode 4..., it would make life ever so much more interesting. Be aware that if you are beta testing Lion, you will need to download and install the separate Lion-specific tools. Xcode 4 GM is built for Snow Leopard. A tip of the developer's cowboy hat to Morgan for telling us about the re-release
Apple (re)posts Xcode 4 GM
Apple teased us Thursday afternoon with a sneak peek at the Xcode 4 GM before pulling it. Now, the company has re-posted the gold master and it's ready for registered developers to go and download. Xcode 4 introduces a fully updated integrated design environment for Mac and iOS developers with lots of beautiful new bells and whistles that were first introduced in a WWDC keynote last summer. It's been a long time waiting for this new tool to come out of beta, but we're all glad it's finally here. If you're a developer, head on over to the Apple devcenter and download a copy. Thanks, Chuck T.
New iOS beta released offering new gestures, Xcode updated with AirPlay services for apps (updated)
Well hello there, here's something new. On Apple's developer page for iOS 4.3 beta there's this gem: "Test Multi-Touch Gestures for iPad This beta release contains a preview of new Multi-Touch gestures for iPad. You can use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen; swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar; and swipe left or right between apps. We are providing this preview before releasing them to the public to understand how these gestures work with your apps. Test them and give us your feedback on the Apple Developer Forums." So we're getting some new wibbly wobbly gestures? Too bad they won't change the orientation lock back to the way it used to work. Still, these new gestures make a lot of sense for Apple's tablet and its touch-centric interface. A new version of Xcode (Preview 6 beta) was also released to support the beta iOS build and adds Airplay and Apple TV services (not apps on Apple TV -- yet) for apps. Specifically: "AirPlay Video support is now available as an option for developers in the MPMoviePlayerController class. It is also available to web authors via the QuickTime Plug-In or media element." Developers, check it out and let us know if you find anything else of note. Updates: Thanks to our commenters! Looks like you'll be able to revert the orientation lock functionality in 4.3 so that you can use it as a mute or orientation lock. Also, hotspot functionality is there, but it'll work like tethering on AT&T, likely with those fun-time data caps. And last but not least ... well, iPhone 3G seems to be left in the cold, so maybe it is the least. Update 2: Some folks are diving into the info.plist file and finding some new camera effects. Neat!
Apple TV hacking update: PhoneView, ping, VNC support
Veni vidi hacki. Just picked up an Apple TV this afternoon at the Cherry Creek Apple Store (shout out to the guys there!) and while I haven't had a long time to play around with it -- hence the brevity of this post -- I have had a few moments of hands-on testing to share with you. Here are the basic highlights.
Unity takes a bow on Apple's third-party development stance
When Apple first passed out those development restrictions on using third-party platforms to create iOS apps, Unity was one of the third-party services that could have been frozen out (though Flash was obviously in everyone's minds). The team behind the popular game development environment assured everyone Unity was safe, but according to the rules as stated, the rest of us weren't so sure. Now that Apple has officially relaxed that policy, however, Unity's David Helgason is doing the equivalent of a victory dance on the company's official blog, saying that Unity respects Apple for "coming to the right conclusion, and in our eyes it's best to let bygones be bygones!" Yeah, he's kind of excited. Not that he's admitting the rules were make or break for Unity -- the company was apparently talking to Apple periodically, and even had a workaround ready to go if Apple ever did crack down on the platform. Helgason also points out that, even while things were up in the air, Apple continued to approve and, in some cases, feature lots of different Unity-created apps. While Apple preached against using anything but Xcode to create apps, the app review team allowed and even endorsed the products of third-party development tools. At any rate, the issue is settled now. Consumers are the real winners here. An end user probably can't tell the difference (if done correctly) between a third-party app and an Xcode app, so the more options for developers, the better.
Apple releases preview 3 of Xcode 4
Okay, I might be a little bit fangrrlish about the new Xcode 4 IDE. But seriously, it's really an awesome update to the existing Xcode tools. Yes, it's still majorly buggy and yes, there are still many features missing in action -- but it's such a treat to see how the new tools are evolving into their final form. Today, Apple has released developer preview 3 of the new Xcode 4 suite, which you can download by heading over to the developer.apple.com site. You will need to sign in with your online or paid developer credentials to access the page and the preview dmg. I'm a little iffy about what the NDA situation is with regards to the release (I believe it is under NDA until it leaves beta) so I'll leave finding out about the details (there's a Readme and release notes) to you.
Change Case uses OS X Services to expand TextEdit
Mac OS X Services have been around for a while, but not many people use them. Under the title of any Cocoa program in the upper left of the menu bar, you'll find an option for Services. This brings up a pull-down menu of services that are appropriate to the program at hand. They can be a real time saver. I use TextEdit for writing my TUAW posts, and it's always running. Recently, I found a neat service that works wonders for TextEdit and (I'm sure) a bunch of other text editors. It's free for the downloading from Ron Fleckner in Melbourne, Australia. What you'll get is a ZIP file that expands into a little, 86KB application file called Change Case. Once installed, select some words or sentences, go to Services, and you'll get a screen like the one above. It's pretty self explanatory; ALL CAPS, All lowercase, and Toggle Case do just what they say. Word Capitals capitalizes each word in a sentence, and camelCase (which you might know as InterCap) is mostly used for brand names. It turns something like " My Program" into "MyProgram." While it's true that a few of these options are available in TextEdit under the Edit-> Transformations menu (namely: Make Upper Case, Make Lower Case and Capitalize), the Services menu is easier to get to, and Change Case does more.
