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Leaker Claims Mobile Version of Xcode Coming to iPad

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Apple could be developing a version of Xcode that runs on iPads, according to a new rumor circulating this week. The capability has been linked to the release of iOS 14 by rising Apple leaker Jon Prosser, and if true, it would enable full-scale app development to take place on Apple's mobile devices for the first time.

xcode-10.jpg

Developers use Xcode to create apps for iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS. However, Xcode is a complex app and has only ever been available on Mac. While Apple offers the Swift Playgrounds app for learning about coding on mobile, it has never indicated that it has any plans to bring Xcode to iPad.

But according to a tweet posted on Monday by Prosser, Xcode "is present on iOS/iPadOS 14," the implications of which are "huge" because it "opens the door for 'Pro' applications to come to iPad."

Responding to Prosser's tweet, iOS developer and MacRumors writer Steve Moser noted that a hidden Xcode Preview app is present in iOS 13 that acts as a companion app for showing layout previews on device from the main Xcode Mac app. However, Prosser appears to be referring to the existence of a native full-fat version of Xcode for iPad.


Such a step would be a big undertaking for Apple, requiring an overhaul of Xcode's interface to take advantage of the iPad's primarily touch-based operating system. If successful though, it could make full-scale app development a possibility for mobile users who don't have a Mac.

Hopefully we'll hear more at this year's virtual Worldwide Developers Conference, where Apple will reveal annual updates to all of its operating systems, including its plans for iOS 14 and iPadOS 14.

Article Link: Leaker Claims Mobile Version of Xcode Coming to iPad
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/04/21/rumor-mobile-version-of-xcode-for-ipad/
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I don't expect the same experience macOS can offer. They may port Xcode to the iPad, but what if your build scripts require python or ruby or shell scripts? We won't have full access to the file system, it would be a huge change in iPadOS and I don't expect that.
So it will be a "baby" version of Xcode. I'd say better than nothing, now we have Swift Playgrounds but is very limited. I wouldn't say no to the ability to edit my source in Xcode on an iPad, but I don't expect to be able to work only on iPadOS for the entire lifecycle of an iOS app. And I love big displays when it comes to coding, my laptop is the 16" and I use it with an external display whenever possible, so using only iPadOS would be out of question. But that's a personal preference more than a technical limitation. For a quick edit iPad would be sweet, so in the end it is a good news, but not a breakthrough.
 
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I am really hoping apple is working on providing the whole developer experience that includes a terminal.

It would be my dream to run homebrew or macports and be able to run a node development and front end dev stack on my iPad Pro.

It would go from being almost a paper weight to being a serious development tool

I found it under the sofa last week and realised I haven’t even missed it for 2 months
 
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ct2k7 said:
I don’t think it’ll be a full version, XCode is more than just a text editor with semantic analysis.

I wonder how they plan to implement this, as the article says it’d be a huge undertaking.
Click to expand...

YES it is a full version, obviously because let's just add 2+2 together and say it as it is

- New Macbooks will be ARM based - way better performance and battery

- These will run iPAd OS

- Therefore looking at iPads - which now have a full magic keyboard - you're looking at the future ARM based MacBook Pro. And Mac Pro. All Macs are moving to iPad OS.

iPad OS shares a lot of code with Mac OS - I don't know if they're going to bother doing an emulation envirnment this time - I don't think so. There's not much we need to switch to iPad OS

For me:

- A terminal - that will likely just run, we even had shells on Cydia way back when
- XCode
- Safari (already have this)
- Files (we have this)

For other professionals:
- Adobe products. Will run with recompile and / or switch to their mobile versions and build them out. Adobe must be working on this already, for sure.
- Microsoft products? They'll probably have had a similar warning and I think Office 365 is fully on iOS already anyway
- Other random stuff? That will have to be slowly ported over.

With XCode, all apps will simply only need a recompile. I imagine there's going to be a migration framework for all things that are on Mac OS that aren't on iPad OS - but shouldn't be too much now

iPad OS is the new Mac OS. Existing apps can be re-compiled to run on it. Done.

New ARM based Macs will be larger iPads with larger screens and keyboards.

The writing is on the wall and I am super EXCITED about this. Imagine new ARM cores that are maxed out, get more processiing cores, unbelievable battery management compared to Intel Core processors, I am also hoping for multiple processors but I know... probably too difficult to make them talk to each other to be worth it... maybe down the road on a Mac Pro. But initially it's going to be single ANNX CPUs but with maybe 8 or 12 cores. A14X, A15X, and so on. Well - they're probably going to have their own naming schemes as they're going to have more cores and use more power than the iPad ones.
 
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itsmilo said:
maybe in 5 to 10 years @orthorim
Click to expand...
Nah it's happening now. Nobody has time to wait for Intel to get their heads out of their behinds... ARM is already way better.

Apple is switching to ARM really soon so they can either adapt OS X for ARM, or use iPad OS.

There were two very difficult aspects with the transition to ARM based macs and using iOS for that:

- User interface. This is handled by the new magic keyboard, full mouse support in latest iPad OS. It would be relatively simple to run a window manager on top of iPad OS - remember this entire OS came out of OS X, and all the libraries are very similar.

- XCode. If XCode runs, basically anything can run on iPad OS. And anything can be compiled for iOS.

iPad OS makes for a much more compelling solution IMO. For one thing, the topic of "gaming on mac" is solved. Millions of iOS games - iOS might well be the biggest gaming platform by numbers now. Chips and OS are already adapted for each other. Graphics are solved. All Apple hardware.

Compared to making OS X run on ARM and then later switching to iPad OS - this is way better. And they've been adding more and more desktop features to iPad OS.

So they will likely just introduce ARM based laptops alongside the Intel based ones, then slowly phase out intel based ones over the next year or two.
 
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This is exciting news, I think a lot of us have been clamouring for this for years! This will be great for casual dev but to get more serious we’ll need more RAM and proper multitasking across multiple displays.
 
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There's already an app in the AppStore called Acryl that lets building apps UI backed by SwiftUI. :)
apps.apple.com

‎Acryl

‎Acryl is a mobile playground for building real apps in SwiftUI. It makes it fun to learn and experiment with SwiftUI code. Acryl is built to take full advantage of SwiftUI and Swift. It lets you build app's UI with an ease. Just drag & drop UI components to build any interface. Experience it...
apps.apple.com apps.apple.com

Will be interesting to see that apps category growth on iPadOS.
 
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orthorim said:
Nah it's happening now. Nobody has time to wait for Intel to get their heads out of their behinds... ARM is already way better.

Apple is switching to ARM really soon so they can either adapt OS X for ARM, or use iPad OS.

There were two very difficult aspects with the transition to ARM based macs and using iOS for that:

- User interface. This is handled by the new magic keyboard, full mouse support in latest iPad OS. It would be relatively simple to run a window manager on top of iPad OS - remember this entire OS came out of OS X, and all the libraries are very similar.

- XCode. If XCode runs, basically anything can run on iPad OS. And anything can be compiled for iOS.

iPad OS makes for a much more compelling solution IMO. For one thing, the topic of "gaming on mac" is solved. Millions of iOS games - iOS might well be the biggest gaming platform by numbers now. Chips and OS are already adapted for each other. Graphics are solved. All Apple hardware.

Compared to making OS X run on ARM and then later switching to iPad OS - this is way better. And they've been adding more and more desktop features to iPad OS.

So they will likely just introduce ARM based laptops alongside the Intel based ones, then slowly phase out intel based ones over the next year or two.
Click to expand...
You don’t seriously think Apple is going to remove from Macs:
• More than 2 visible windows
• Multiple displays
• Unrestricted filesystem access
• Ability run code from any source
do you?
 
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orthorim said:
YES it is a full version, obviously because let's just add 2+2 together and say it as it is

- New Macbooks will be ARM based - way better performance and battery

- These will run iPAd OS

- Therefore looking at iPads - which now have a full magic keyboard - you're looking at the future ARM based MacBook Pro. And Mac Pro. All Macs are moving to iPad OS.

iPad OS shares a lot of code with Mac OS - I don't know if they're going to bother doing an emulation envirnment this time - I don't think so. There's not much we need to switch to iPad OS

For me:

- A terminal - that will likely just run, we even had shells on Cydia way back when
- XCode
- Safari (already have this)
- Files (we have this)

For other professionals:
- Adobe products. Will run with recompile and / or switch to their mobile versions and build them out. Adobe must be working on this already, for sure.
- Microsoft products? They'll probably have had a similar warning and I think Office 365 is fully on iOS already anyway
- Other random stuff? That will have to be slowly ported over.

With XCode, all apps will simply only need a recompile. I imagine there's going to be a migration framework for all things that are on Mac OS that aren't on iPad OS - but shouldn't be too much now

iPad OS is the new Mac OS. Existing apps can be re-compiled to run on it. Done.

New ARM based Macs will be larger iPads with larger screens and keyboards.

The writing is on the wall and I am super EXCITED about this. Imagine new ARM cores that are maxed out, get more processiing cores, unbelievable battery management compared to Intel Core processors, I am also hoping for multiple processors but I know... probably too difficult to make them talk to each other to be worth it... maybe down the road on a Mac Pro. But initially it's going to be single ANNX CPUs but with maybe 8 or 12 cores. A14X, A15X, and so on. Well - they're probably going to have their own naming schemes as they're going to have more cores and use more power than the iPad ones.
Click to expand...
ARM Macs will run MacOS.

Will Apple let iPads run MacOS though?
 
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flottenheimer said:
I guess Apple is porting *everything* to run natively on ARM.
Right now for iPad where it makes sense but soon for the transition to ARM based Macs.
Click to expand...
A version of Xcode for ARM-based Macs does not need a version of Xcode ported to use iOS's interface API.
 
robbieduncan said:
I am expecting it will be limited to iOS/iPad OS app creation: no Mac apps
Click to expand...

... that’s like saying I can’t develop an app for Mac OS 9 in Xcode.

If Xcode is on the iPad, there’s almost no reason for the Mac and macOS to continue to exist.

I wonder if other IDEs will come to iPadOS. IntelliJ or Unity?
 
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