Apple Xcode
| Version | 10(as of 11/30/2018) |
| Platform | Mac |
| License | Freeware |
| Category | Programming |
Main Features
- Fully-equipped IDE for publishing iOS and OS X apps
- Support for a variety of languages, including Objective-C, C, C++, Java, Swift, Python, Ruby, and AppleScript
- Various debugging and performance testing tools
- Version control systems, including Git, Subversion, and Xcode snapshots, allow for team collaboration
- Dark Xcode interface and tools for building dark macOS apps
- Built-in testing engine for running unit tests and UI and performance tests
Software Overview
Apple Xcode is a macOS IDE used for developing iOS and macOS apps. It is available for free from the Mac App Store and is required to publish iOS apps to the iTunes App Store and macOS apps to the Mac App Store. The software provides a suite of tools to help developers build user interface components and write source code.
Xcode includes all the tools needed to build and publish apps from start to finish. Xcode's Interface Builder provides a design canvas to create user interface components, as well as to set properties for interacting with your source code. The Interface Builder can also easily switch from light to dark mode for developing dark macOS apps (introduced in macOS Mojave). The program integrates with popular version control tools such as GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket and also provides its own local revision tracking system called snapshots, allowing developers to track revisions of source code.
The IDE features an impressive source code editor that makes it easy to visualize and select sections of code and comes with a built-in refactoring and transformation engine. Changes you make to your code are highlighted next to each line and you are instantly notified if you have created a conflict. This is especially helpful when working collaboratively with local changes and commits from team members upstream in the source repository.
Debugging and performance tools allow developers to test for memory leaks and examine app efficiency during runtime. These tools can be customized or you can use templates included with Xcode to build using the same tools as Apple. Also, Xcode comes with Simulator, a tool that allows you to prototype and test builds of your app by simulating iOS, watchOS, and tvOS devices.
Summary
Xcode is a great tool for developing apps and has come a long way since the first version of the software. Apple has streamlined many features and continues to make development easier for app developers. Keep in mind that, while you can develop with Xcode for free, you must subscribe to the iOS and Mac developer programs before you can distribute apps on Apple's stores.
Primary File Type
.XCODEPROJXcode Project
Supported File Types
| Extension | File Type |
|---|---|
| .XCODEPROJ | Xcode Project |
| .ASM | Assembly Language Source Code File |
| .C | C/C++ Source Code File |
| .CC | C++ Source Code File |
| .CP | Xcode C++ Source File |
| .CPP | C++ Source Code File |
| .CXX | C++ Source Code File |
| .DEVELOPERPROFILE | Xcode Developer Profile |
| .DOCSET | Doxygen Document Set File |
| .ENTITLEMENTS | Mac App Sandboxing Entitlements File |
| .F | Fortran Source Code |
| .FOR | Fortran 77 Source File |
| .GEOJSON | GeoJSON File |
| .GLSL | GLSL Shader File |
| .GPX | GPS Exchange File |
| .H | C/C++/Objective-C Header File |
| .HPP | C++ Header File |
| .JAVA | Java Source Code File |
| .L | Lex Source File |
| .LPP | LabelPrint Project File |
| .M | Objective-C Implementation File |
| .MAKE | Xcode Makefile Script |
| .MM | Objective-C++ Source File |
| .MOBILEPROVISION | Xcode Mobile Provisioning Profile |
| .MOM | Managed Object Model |
| .NIB | Interface Builder User Interface File |
| .OCTEST | Xcode Objective-C Unit Test Bundle |
| .PLIST | macOS Property List |
| .R | Rez Source Code File |
| .RB | Ruby Source Code |
| .RBW | Ruby Script |
| .S | Source Code File |
| .STORYBOARD | Xcode Interface Builder Storyboard |
| .XCAPPDATA | Xcode App Data File |
| .XCARCHIVE | Xcode Archive |
| .XCDATAMODEL | Xcode Core Data Model File |
| .XCDATAMODELD | Xcode Core Data Model File |
| .XCODE | Xcode Project |
| .XCSNAPSHOTS | Xcode Snapshot |
| .XCWORKSPACE | Xcode Workspace File |
| .XIB | Interface Builder File |
| .Y | Yacc Source File |
| .YM | Atari ST Audio File |
Additional Related File Types
| Extension | File Type |
|---|---|
| .CACTION | Automator Converter Action |
| .DSYM | Xcode Debug Symbols File |
| .DYLIB | Mach-O Dynamic Library |
| .EXP | Symbols Export File |
| .FTN | Fortran Source Code File |
| .HH | C++ Header File |
| .HXX | C++ Source Code Header File |
| .IPSW | iPod and iPhone Software Update File |
| .JAV | Java Source File |
| .MAK | Makefile |
| .PBPROJ | Project Builder Project |
| .PBXBTREE | Xcode Auto-Complete File |
| .PBXPROJ | Xcode Project Data File |
| .PBXUSER | Xcode Project User Data File |
| .PCH | Precompiled Header File |
| .SCRIPTSUITE | AppleScript Script Suite File |
| .SCRIPTTERMINOLOGY | AppleScript Script Terminology File |
| .SDEF | AppleScript Dictionary Document |
| .STRINGS | Text Strings File |
| .TBD | Apple Xcode Text-based Definition File |