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XTool – Cross-platform Xcode replacement

lwouis

This tool says "Xcode replacement" and "Xcode-free development". I thought there is no way they can build apps without Xcode. How would they replicate the libraries, compilers, etc.

I dug more and of course they don't: "Though we don’t rely on the Xcode build system, you still need to install Xcode for the iOS SDK and toolchain"

I think they should clarify their messaging. This is not a replacement or an alternative. It's a layer on top designed for what they think is a better experience.

rockbruno

I think you are mixing some different concepts here. It's not that this is a layer on top of Xcode/xcodebuild, it's just that Apple today happens to package everything iOS/Swift-related together with Xcode releases. So even if you couldn't care less about the Xcode IDE itself or the xcodebuild build system, you still need to have it because this is the only way for you to download / install those toolchains. Apple could provide these separately, but they just don't.

firecall

JetBrains used to develop AppCode:

  AppCode

  A smart IDE for iOS/macOS development

  AppCode is no longer available as a commercial product as of December 14, 2022.

  https://www.jetbrains.com/objc/

lwouis

It seems that Fleet will support building XCode apps. It looks like a big regression from AppCode. As of today Fleet doesn't compile my macOS app. I try regularly on new updates. No alternatives, unfortunately

flax

Would this theoretically allow a Flutter app developer to build and deploy an ios app from Linux? God, I hope so.

candiddevmike

It technically violates the Apple Developer Agreement AFAIK, but that seems like yet another lawsuit waiting to happen IMO.

ronsor

Apple won't do anything right now as they're certainly afraid the courts* will slap them hard.

*Both US and EU now

saagarjha

They’re still rejecting Fortnite so I don’t think they’re particularly scared of anything

petabyt

People have been doing hackintoshes and macos VMs for years... And apple hasn't really done anything. So I doubt this tool will provoke them.

karlgkk

A long while ago, they put some company selling hackintoshes straight into the ground. Nobody tried since

conception

Apple has killed the Hackintosh…. It’s just bleeding out still.

tgma

IIRC it is only a potential issue if the host machine isn't made by Apple. You can install Linux on a Mac and use this.

IANAL yada yada.

_blk

Yeah weird world. When Gates bundles IE that no one wants it's an abuse of power but when Jobs shoves his apples down your throat just to (try to) publish for their platform it's all OK.. Oh, or was that the lawsuit waiting to happen? ;)

freeamz

Same thing with the bank bail out, if Bush did oh my we will never hear end of it, but if cool president who smokes weed and get down some good music, then no one really call him out on it.

gman83

Just use something like CodeMagic, I wouldn't risk getting your Apple account banned.

Cloudef

Afaik its already possible with darling. Nixpkgs also has xcbuild replacement, but not sure if it can handle codesigning.

woleium

no android support?

landr0id

...this is for building apps targeting iOS and macOS on non-macOS platforms. Why would Android support be necessary?

thayne

So you can build iOS apps on your android device?

If for no other reason, it would be gloriously ironic.

woleium

Oh, i misunderstood. my bad!

I thought it was for compilation of ios apps for linux and macos.

null

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