Apple Releases Xcode 4 to Developers, Coming Soon to Mac App Store for $4.99

[iBug2]

I don't see Xcode 2 on Apple's site, and Xcode 2 came bundled with Tiger Install CDs and DVDs. They have every rights to remove Xcode 3 from their site today -- right now, even.

That means Xcode 4 might soon become the one and only option to develop apps for Mac OS X and iOS, or to simply learn to develop on those platforms.

Just because Apple removes it from their site doesn't mean they stopped supporting it.

In any case, you own a physical copy of it in your Snow Leopard install disc. So you can install it whenever you want. There are incremental updates, like 3.2.6, which you can download today, and save somewhere.

Obviously Apple is not obliged to host every single update they released in the last 10 years in their website. I'm a paid ADC member and I can't download Apple Tiger DVD at the moment for example since they removed that from ADC as well. That's irrelevant.

You need to understand something. XCode 4 will never be forced on anyone who only wants to develop for 10.6 and iOS 4. That's Xcode 3.2.

XCode 4 will be only mandatory to develop for Lion, and possibly iOS 5.

And to develop for those platforms, you have to purchase Lion to begin with, which will most probably include XCode 4 anyway.

So you are practically whining for a problem that doesn't exist yet.

 

[Tom Cat]

Just because Apple removes it from their site doesn't mean they stopped supporting it.

In any case, you own a physical copy of it in your Snow Leopard install disc. So you can install it whenever you want. There are incremental updates, like 3.2.6, which you can download today, and save somewhere.

Obviously Apple is not obliged to host every single update they released in the last 10 years in their website. I'm a paid ADC member and I can't download Apple Tiger DVD at the moment for example since they removed that from ADC as well. That's irrelevant.

You need to understand something. XCode 4 will never be forced on anyone who only wants to develop for 10.6 and iOS 4. That's Xcode 3.2.

XCode 4 will be only mandatory to develop for Lion, and possibly iOS 5.

And to develop for those platforms, you have to purchase Lion to begin with, which will most probably include XCode 4 anyway.

So you are practically whining for a problem that doesn't exist yet.

I do hope that Xcode is included in Lion (i.e. Lion is distributed on DVDs instead of on the App Store as with the case of the developer previews and the betas). In that case I'll probably wait until Lion is out to try out Xcode 4, and just stick with Xcode 3 for the moment.

I am in no way mad at Apple for going this route. I'm merely disappointed, as I have seen Microsoft being so glad to throw free versions for students wanting to learn to code (go to https://www.dreamspark.com/ and provide a .edu email to get a free license of Visual Studio Professional Edition with much of the bells and whistles).

Of course I know there are other ways to get my hands on Xcode 4 right now. I have friends studying in the U.S. and I can probably ask them to buy a gift card for me. I'm just a bit sad -- nostalgic, if you will.

P.S. LOL so apparently some undersea fiber cables got torn to pieces here in Vietnam and my Internet connection's speed is reduced to 8 KB/s. $5 no longer the biggest issue.

 

[dethmaShine]

Check out the review I posted.

XCode 4 is like a reboot. It's really a version 1.
Almost everything is better - but there's still room for improvement.

I noticed productivity gains, but some programmers are very conservative when it comes to change.

C.

Yup. I did. I just finished reading that. That looks like a serious upgrade to me; thanks for pointing that out.

Only if its right on performance, I'll be happy. I do understand its v1.0. It's going to get better anyway.

Thanks

-deth

 

[iBug2]

I'm merely disappointed, as I have seen Microsoft being so glad to throw free versions for students wanting to learn to code

And how is XCode 3 not enough for students to learn to code? Do people suddenly need XCode 4 to learn now? There's a free version right now. So don't twist it like there suddenly isn't.

 

[dethmaShine]

I hope your proud that Apple have created a closed platform, where you can't even put your own application on your own device without having to pay Apple.

( I refuse to - so just jail broke my iOS device so I can.. I shouldn't have to pay Apple $99 for something that isn't going on their appstore ).

What you are implying is that:

1. Apple is forcing one to pay if one needs to test applications
2. The charge is illegitimate.

Imo, it's just there to keep the newbies and the untrained away from the devices.

I think they have it right.

 

[Stella]

What you are implying is that:

1. Apple is forcing one to pay if one needs to test applications
2. The charge is illegitimate.

Imo, it's just there to keep the newbies and the untrained away from the devices.

I think they have it right.

Yes, it is fact that Apple *do* charge to test applications on your own device.

The charge is reflective of Apple's nature... all controlling.

I'd rather not have to jail break my device to be able to run my own applications, , but at the end of the day I'm not giving Apple a cent to be able to run my *own* apps on my *own* device.

What does it matter to you if 'newbies' upload their own app to their own iOS device?

That 'newbie' may be a damned good developer....

 

[neshkito]

Apple today updated its Xcode information page to note that Xcode 4 is now officially available free of charge for all registered members of the company's iOS and Mac Developer Programs. Interestingly, it appears that non-members will have the option to purchase Xcode through the Mac App Store, although the listing does not yet appear to be active. Pricing appears to be set at $4.99 for non-members.Apple gave developers the first glimpse at Xcode for at WWDC 2010 last June, and has released a number of updates to the software since that time. Apple seeded a golden master version of Xcode 4 in early February, and followed that up with a revised golden master alongside the iOS 4.3 golden master just last week.

Article Link: Apple Releases Xcode 4 to Developers, Coming Soon to Mac App Store for $4.99

Great news, fantastic !!!

 

[MadDoc]

If I take my wife out for a cup of coffee, it'll cost me more than $4.99.

Xcode 4 is one of the most sophisticated pieces of software in the world.

What the Hell is wrong with people???

 

[iBug2]

Yes, it is fact that Apple *do* charge to test applications on your own device.

The charge is reflective of Apple's nature... all controlling.

What does it matter to you if 'newbies' upload their own app to their own iOS device?

That 'newbie' may be a damned good developer....

Something tells me that a damn good developer won't have trouble finding 99$.

 

[Stella]

Something tells me that a damn good developer won't have trouble finding 99$.

Excuses... :-\

Apple can suck it... no $99 from me...

If I take my wife out for a cup of coffee, it'll cost me more than $4.99.

Xcode 4 is one of the most sophisticated pieces of software in the world.

What the Hell is wrong with people???

While XCode is a good ( actually, excellent ) improvement on XCode 3, it is still lacking in many departments, such as "Quick Fix" and Refactoring tools.

 

[Tom Cat]

And how is XCode 3 not enough for students to learn to code? Do people suddenly need XCode 4 to learn now? There's a free version right now. So don't twist it like there suddenly isn't.

Visual Studio Express Edition is kept at the latest version. Professional licenses for students with .edu emails are also kept at the latest version.

I'm not twisting thing around here. The truth is Xcode 4 costs money, and that _is_ a barrier to entry for at least _some_ potential developers (or wannabe developers).

 

[dethmaShine]

Yes, it is fact that Apple *do* charge to test applications on your own device.

The charge is reflective of Apple's nature... all controlling.

I'd rather not have to jail break my device to be able to run my own applications, , but at the end of the day I'm not giving Apple a cent to be able to run my *own* apps on my *own* device.

What does it matter to you if 'newbies' upload their own app to their own iOS device?

That 'newbie' may be a damned good developer....

What if he's not?

 

[iBug2]

Excuses... :-\

Still, Apple can suck it... no $99 from me... jail break is the way.

It's still funny that you can say "Apple can suck it" and pay them to buy their Phone.

 

[Stella]

What if he's not?

Still - what does it matter to you if a crap developer uploads their own app to their own device? You won't be affected, nor will any one else...

 

[dethmaShine]

Excuses... :-\

Apple can suck it... no $99 from me...

If Apple can suck it, so can you.

No Xcode4 for you.

 

[iBug2]

Visual Studio Express Edition is kept at the latest version. Professional licenses for students with .edu emails are also kept at the latest version.

I'm not twisting thing around here. The truth is Xcode 4 costs money, and that _is_ a barrier to entry for at least _some_ potential developers (or wannabe developers).

And how do you know Apple won't make the last version free for Lion users?

Apple never gave away free XCode upgrades before either. So this is not something new. You always had to buy the new OS to use the new XCode, so it did cost.

 

[dethmaShine]

Still - what does it matter to you if a crap developer uploads their own app to their own device? You won't be affected, nor will any one else...

You sound disturbed. I don't care if he makes an app and sells millions of copies. I don't care if he makes Xcode4 for the iPad.

Why are you pinpointing me?

What if some he's able to crash his application and crash the device?
What if he doesn't understand the debug/release mode?

Apple wants to get rid of that responsibility. Please do it at your own risk.
Read the Agreement (TOC) for christ sake.

 

[iBug2]

Still - what does it matter to you if a crap developer uploads their own app to their own device? You won't be affected, nor will any one else...

It's not about restricting you from testing your app in your own device only. If they allow you to do that, that means they'll allow you to distribute that app to anyone, without Apple knowing.

So that means you could basically sell your app, without using App Store.
That's something Apple doesn't want.

 

[jbellanca]

NeXT didn't fail. They took over Apple and were paid to do so.
Pixar didn't fail either. They took over Disney and were paid to do so.

C.

And I'm glad it happened!

 

[Stella]

It's not about restricting you from testing your app in your own device only. If they allow you to do that, that means they'll allow you to distribute that app to anyone, without Apple knowing.

So that means you could basically sell your app, without using App Store.
That's something Apple doesn't want.

I understand that - but in reality, the vast majority of people wouldn't bother, especially if you needed to do this via XCode - its too long winded / technical for the masses.

In reality, you *can* distribute your app without Apple knowing - via Cyndia, today. Jail breaking is extremely easy and fairly low risk but the appstore is still doing very well. The vast majority don't bother.

So, having the ability to freely load applications on to IOS via XCode I don't think really have much of an affect on AppStore sales.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Said many times I'm sure, but...why should I pay $5 for non-commercial use of what's mostly GPLed software for my purposes?

I'm a Unix geek and sometimes-developer, but the only development I do that XCode relates to is having a reasonably current version of GCC installed. I don't sell OS X or iOS software of any sort. Why should I pay money to have gcc repackaged? Obviously Apple has to release those parts for free, but the frameworks are proprietary.

I'd be happy to pay Apple if I want full use of their software and access to their developer program, past their previous free offering, if I had any plans to create commercial OS X/iOS products. Why should I have to spend excessive time compiling from Fink/MacPorts to get an up to date compiler (or build gcc directly), when it's always been free for that basic use?

Stop complaining and go to MacPorts to get GCC up to 4.6.

 

[iBug2]

I understand that - but in reality, the vast majority of people wouldn't bother, especially if you needed to do this via XCode - its too long winded / technical for the masses.

In reality, you *can* distribute your app without Apple knowing - via Cyndia, today. Jail breaking is extremely easy and fairly low risk but the appstore is still doing very well. The vast majority don't bother.

So, having the ability to freely load applications on to IOS via XCode I don't think really have much of an affect on AppStore sales.

Well, jailbreaking has its disadvantages so Apple wouldn't allow people to distribute apps through their own means, without forcing them to jailbreak.

I don't know how much it'd hurt Appstore if they allowed that, but in any case, that's not their business model.

 

[Carniphage]

I hope your proud that Apple have created a closed platform, where you can't even put your own application on your own device without having to pay Apple.

A fine political statement. Apple are indeed placing a simple barrier to control what goes on the platform. And all control is bad.

Or perhaps control is sometimes good. The law determines what we can and cannot do. Passports and borders control who can move where. Is this bad?

When platforms have no controls, there are advantages. But there are also disadvantages. The growth of iOS as a platform has occurred in part because it's a regulated place. Not a free-for all lawless state.

C.

 

[Carniphage]

The truth is Xcode 4 costs money, and that _is_ a barrier to entry for at least _some_ potential developers (or wannabe developers).

There are amazing people who succeed regardless of the highest barriers. And there are people who can find excuses in the smallest setback.

Anyone who finds their lifetime choices are impeded by the value of a hamburger is not going to make much of themselves.

C.

 

[jbennardo]

If I take my wife out for a cup of coffee, it'll cost me more than $4.99.

Xcode 4 is one of the most sophisticated pieces of software in the world.

What the Hell is wrong with people???

Well said. I'm not sure when this app entitlement started with people fussing over such small amounts of money or screaming on facebook how apps should be free.