Where does xcode save the executable files that it creates?

Just to build on K T's informative response, here's a step-by-step (maybe obvious for Mac experts but I'm an old Linux guy...)

In Project Navigator (click the "file" icon at top left of Xcode window so that tree of files and folders are visible):

Open the Products folder. Find the executable, which has the file name assigned in the project settings and a Terminal icon.

Right-click the executable and choose "Show in Finder"

Right-click the executable in the Finder window and choose "Get Info"

Select the "Where: " path, copy and paste into a terminal window, e.g.:

cd /Users/blisterpeanuts/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/HelloWorld-biqrclqfye npjzgwyyffpreysovr/Build/Products/Debug

Voila! Your awesome executable will be there, ready to run, or deploy to a more convenient directory such as /usr/local/bin 🙂

WRONG! Mark's answer is right.

XCode 4 doesn't create a build folder in your project. Live every other version of XCode or any other reasonable build tool. It creates a 20-levels deep build folder off in the system library files on your system disk. How frigging stupid is that? Who's brilliant idea was this?

Look in the 'build' folder that Xcode creates in your project folder....

Or, toggle the triangle on the left of 'Products' in the resources window to expose the contents, right-click and choose 'view in Finder' - hover the mouse over the app name and the path that is shown will be to the app.

Since you can change Xcode4's default build location (preferences) or right-click on the product and choose "Show in Finder" (K T's correct answer) what difference does it make?

Edit: The file inspector works as well.

Because it's buried. No sane human would imagine that, after days of work on an application all contained in a nice/neat folder tree, that when you finally decide you want to run the app itself outside the debugger, you go hunting for it, and it's written it miles away.

And then I just spent another hour trying to figure out how to get a release build. How do you get one of those? They used to be there next to the release, created by default. In XCode 4, you choose "archive". "Archive"? Really? Archive? What the heck!

If they could have made XCode more complicated, I'm not sure how...

I've tried Archive, and it creates a new folder every time you run it, with a new timestamp. I think the purpose of Archive is to archive, i.e. keep a version of the product. That's fine, but it's not what the OP asked for.

Hello again blisterpeanuts,

It is also for distribution. Archiving is one of those Xcode features that tends to get worse. Xcode6 was much better. But still, if you want a release build and maintain a copy of what you distributed, archive is how you do it.

Read the following:

Xcode 4: Finding the Application You Built

>How do you get one of those?

You may want to start your own thread to it can receive the unique attention it deserves and you can track easier, close if solved, etc., thanks.

As you can see, I figured it out. It's "archive". Thanks, tho.

Hello blisterpeanuts,

How about using Product > Archive instead? That's what it's for.