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iOS New Developer Programme - Free Tier

M

mds1256

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 9, 2011
167
43
Just noticed that Apple now allow you to build an app (that uses no iCloud services) and run it on your own device without having a paid developer subscription.

I see this question asked a lot on here so hopefully this will be of benefit to those who don't quite want to pay the developer fee just to see their basic app run on their own devices.
 
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I didn't hear about this, do you have a link to something that shows this? I did a google search and didn't find anything.

IMO, if this is true, it's a great step forward because testing on the device can show speed and other issues you can't find otherwise.
 
https://developer.apple.com/xcode/?new

scroll down past the rMBP image.

Now everyone can get their app on their Apple device.
Xcode 7 and Swift now make it easier for everyone to build apps and run them directly on their Apple devices. Simply sign in with your Apple ID, and turn your idea into an app that you can touch on your iPad, iPhone, or Apple Watch. Download Xcode 7 beta and try it yourself today. Program membership is not required.
Click to expand...
 
OMG! It's true! Stoked!
Wait! It says: "Xcode 7 and Swift now make it easier for everyone to build apps and run them directly on their Apple devices"

I hope that doesn't exclude ObjC apps. They wouldn't do that just to push Swift. I see they are pushing Swift, but there's still a ton of work already done in ObjC. Has to be the way the worded it.
 
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mds1256 said:
Just noticed that Apple now allow you to build an app (that uses no iCloud services) and run it on your own device without having a paid developer subscription.

I see this question asked a lot on here so hopefully this will be of benefit to those who don't quite want to pay the developer fee just to see their basic app run on their own devices.
Click to expand...

I take it will only work in Xcode 7 but not Xcode 6?
 
I'm also guessing this only works when targeting iOS 9?

Some other good news for Australian developers: not only is the developer program now combined for OS X, iOS and Watch OS, but the subscription price for Australia has dropped back from A$149 to A$99.
 
ohbrilliance said:
I'm also guessing this only works when targeting iOS 9?

Some other good news for Australian developers: not only is the developer program now combined for OS X, iOS and Watch OS, but the subscription price for Australia has dropped back from A$149 to A$99.
Click to expand...

So i have to wait to Xcode 7 come out in july right?
 
perlsyntax said:
So i have to wait to Xcode 7 come out in july right?
Click to expand...
I believe the Xcode 7 beta is open to all. People on other sites have reported success in downloading the Xcode beta without paid ADC membership. I'm already a member so I can't test this out with my Apple ID. Also, Xcode 7 final won't be released until El Capitan GM is out.

Edit: I get what you mean now. If you can only load on ios9 then yes, you'll need to wait for public beta access.

Against my better judgment I put iOS 9 on my iPad Air. I've only noticed one bug so far; Photos won't go from a single picture back to album view when selected as a side panel app (whatever they're calling the new non adjustable split view).
 
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perlsyntax said:
I take it will only work in Xcode 7 but not Xcode 6?
Click to expand...
My guess is that it would require 7 because running on the device is controlled by Xcode. As far as which iOS version goes, I would guess it wouldn't be specific for iOS 9 because that would remove all developers on older systems and there's a installed base of business developers that use the older products that won't run iOS 9.
 
Okay, I've just tried it. Xcode 7 beta was able to install a new Objective-C app on my iPhone 6 running 8.3.

That means we can use this feature without needing iOS 9 (and the paid developer account).

In my quick test, I didn't have luck installing an existing app I had written, but that's likely due to provisioning set to my expired iOS dev account.
 
ohbrilliance said:
Okay, I've just tried it. Xcode 7 beta was able to install a new Objective-C app on my iPhone 6 running 8.3.

That means we can use this feature without needing iOS 9 (and the paid developer account).

In my quick test, I didn't have luck installing an existing app I had written, but that's likely due to provisioning set to my expired iOS dev account.
Click to expand...


How did you do it for Xcode 6 just login into your apple id?
 
perlsyntax said:
How did you do it for Xcode 6 just login into your apple id?
Click to expand...
From what he said, he didn't do it with Xcode 6. I doubt Apple will back-grade Xcode 6 at this point because Xcode 7 Beta is already out.

The next concern is have far back of iOS will it support. My guess is that it'll go back to about iOS 5 because they want people to be on a common dev platform.

ohbrilliance, can you check if it support older versions of iOS? IDK what device(s) you have, but maybe you have access to an older device that has an older version of iOS on it.

Either way, I'm betting it'll support back pretty far, at least iOS 7 or maybe 6.

I have an older device that won't take iOS 7 and don't want to upgrade until the next product cycle because of the new multi-tasking. it gets a bit old having to keep buying all these products just to keep up.
 
KarlJay said:
ohbrilliance, can you check if it support older versions of iOS? IDK what device(s) you have, but maybe you have access to an older device that has an older version of iOS
Click to expand...
The oldest I have is an iPhone 4 running iOS 7. I'll give that a go tonight.

To get an existing app to run in this way I changed the team to my apple dev ID (available in a dropdown) and changed the application identifier. I assume the old identifier was tied to my expired provisioning profile. I'm no expert on provisioning..
 
batting1000 said:
Looking forward to trying this out as I learn Swift
Click to expand...
I think this is really behind Apple move. They are looking for more ways to get more people into the program. It's a smart move on their part. I just hope they don't drop support for ObjC. It takes time to really know a language and runtime, I'd hate to see Swift be able to do things that can't be done in ObjC as far as new APIs.
 
KarlJay said:
I think this is really behind Apple move. They are looking for more ways to get more people into the program. It's a smart move on their part. I just hope they don't drop support for ObjC. It takes time to really know a language and runtime, I'd hate to see Swift be able to do things that can't be done in ObjC as far as new APIs.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I always wanted to see the apps I make (or try to make) right on my device and I could never do that because it wasn't worth shelling out $100. I was happy when I saw Apple did this.
 
batting1000 said:
Yeah, I always wanted to see the apps I make (or try to make) right on my device and I could never do that because it wasn't worth shelling out $100. I was happy when I saw Apple did this.
Click to expand...

So does anyone know if the new apple program is all setup on the apple web site.I am asking just to make sure i won't have any prob sign up for the apple developer program?
 
perlsyntax said:
Thanks

Is there any tax on the developer program and do you still need to sign your app before i install on the device in Xcode 6?
Click to expand...

Nope, no tax. The free-tier is completely free.

And yes. You'll need the Xcode 7 beta to deploy apps to your device for free. Xcode 6 still requires a dev subscription to run apps on your device I believe
 
This is good stuff. This also creates opportunities to "side-load" apps not approved by Apple granted the creator would have to release their application as an Xcode project.
 
batting1000 said:
Nope, no tax. The free-tier is completely free.

And yes. You'll need the Xcode 7 beta to deploy apps to your device for free. Xcode 6 still requires a dev subscription to run apps on your device I believe
Click to expand...

I thought it would come out to $100.00 for the tax and if you want to do just free app you don't need to worry about the paid app?

What do i need to know if i just want to do free app?
 
perlsyntax said:
I thought it would come out to $100.00 for the tax and if you want to do just free app you don't need to worry about the paid app?

What do i need to know if i just want to do free app?
Click to expand...

Not sure what you're talking about.

Apple announced that you no longer require a paid developer account to test your apps on your device when you use Xcode 7. Prior to this announcement, you would've had to be enrolled in the iOS or Mac OS X developer program for $99 a year if you wanted to test apps you wrote in Xcode directly on your device.

While testing apps directly on your device is now free, you still have to pay the $99 subscription to access betas and put your app in the App Store. Previously, free developers were restricted to using only the iOS Simulator in Xcode to test apps.
 
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batting1000 said:
Not sure what you're talking about.

Apple announced that you no longer require a paid developer account test your apps on your device when you use Xcode 7. Prior to this announcement, you would've had to be enrolled in the iOS or Mac OS X developer program for $99 a year if you wanted to test apps you wrote in Xcode directly on your device.

While testing apps directly on your device is now free, you still have to pay the $99 subscription to access betas and put your app in the App Store. Previously, free developers were restricted to using only the iOS Simulator in Xcode.
Click to expand...


I was thinking of sign up for apple developer program.But i just asking some question before i sign up.So i am out of luck for using Xcode 7.
 
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