Why can't I download Xcode 4.2 for Snow Leopard?

If your looking for Xcode SL release you can find it here...

https://connect.apple.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MemberSite.woa/wa/getSoftware?bundl eID=20792

That is the Xcode 3.2 release. There is an Xcode 4.2 for Snow Leopard. It does exist.

So far, people in this thread have pointed to the Xcode 3.2 for Snow Leopard and the Xcode 4.2 for Lion. What the original poster is searching for is Xcode 4.2 for Snow Leopard, which is neither of those things.

The reason that the link to Xcode 4.2 for Snow Leopard is hard to find is that in Apple's entire history, going all the way back to System 1.0 and Macintosh Programmer's Workshop, it is the only Mac development environment that Apple has not given away for free. All versions of Xcode up to 3.2 are free. Xcode 4 and later are free, but only for Lion. Xcode 4.2 for Snow Leopard required a paid developer account when it was first released, and it seems that Apple has never gone back and made it available for free.

in the same boat. looking for xcode 4.2 for snow leopard but can't find it. I refuse to upgrade to Lion because I think it's garbage. Snow Leopard has been great and there's no need to upgrade but I need xcode 4.2. Apple is making it very difficult for users still using Snow Leopard.

Agree about Lion, I have no interest in Lion at all. As an old-time BSDer, the more Apple hides and takes away, the less I like OS X. What makes OS X attractive to me is having a great UI to abstract from Unix when I want to, which is most of the time, with BSD underneath when I want to drop down. So Lion? I don't want a phone OS on my server, thanks very much! And actually, on my phone I prefer Android.

But to repeat - 4.2 for Snow Leopard is available, but the link is hidden if you are not signed in, and to sign in you have to pay for the dev programme.

If you're signed up and signed in, the link I posted previously (see page 2 of this thread) lists the 4.2 for Snow Leopard download - it's still there, I've just checked.

@zijit When I use your link it takes me to the page to download XCode 3 for snow Leopard or 4.3.2 for Lion. (which I do not use)

You must be a registered Developer with a paid account in order to see it in the downloads section of the developer site. Once you meet the requirement, then you can download it.

https://developer.apple.com/downloads/

Better yet, move to Lion 10.7.3 & Xcode 4.3.2 to be current all around.

That you for the link K T, it sent me where I needed to go. I am a registered developer with a paid account and it still does not show up for me. I can go back to XCode 3.2.6 and previous versions, or XCode 4.1+ for Lion, but no XCode 4.2 for Snow Leopard. I see your picture and see that its on October 12th, 2011 but the only thing I have around there is Kernel Debug Kit 10.7.2 build 11C74. My developers account expires soon but it is not expired yet. Does this have something to do with it?

The screenshot is only a few days old....looking for it right now show it is still there.

I can't speak to the status of your account, sorry. This is what happens when one seeks to use older tools, tho - move to Lion if you need current help.

Actually, this has nothing to do with using older tools; Xcode 3 is still readily and easily available.

It has to do with the fact that for its entire history, Apple has always provided Mac development tools for free....except when Xcode 4 first came out. It was the first time in its entire history Apple decided to charge for developer tools. It was a disaster, and raised huge amounts of ire from the Mac development commuunity, so Apple reversed itself with Lion and went back to providing the tools for free...but they never went back and made pre-Lion versions of Xcode free.

It's purely a ruinous and quickly reversed financial decision, not the age of the tools, that creates the problem here.

It's all about older tools.

Xcode 3.x is unsupported on the current OS. Without Lion & XC 4.3.2, you can't do ARC or iCloud or iOS 5.x. The pain you feel is that box you won't leave, getting smaller, with less breathable oxygen. You locked yourself in there, not Apple.

You want Apple to spend their time & $$ supporting older tools in addition to current? Not me...that's foolish. I stay current and happy. socks to be you 🙂

Go back and re-read the start of the thread.

The original poster was looking for a particular tool. Apple makes OLDER tools available than the one he was looking for, and Apple makes NEWER tools available, but Apple doesn't make THAT VERSION available without paying for it. His inability to find the tool he wanted had nothing to do with its age, and everything to do with Apple's momentary decision to charge for that and only that version.

How is the inability to get Xcode 4 for Snow Leopard an issue with its age, when you can still easily get Xcode 3 for Snow Leopard?

your supercilious snideness does nobody - except perhaps yourself - any good.

imagine there are people on Snow Leopard who are not as advanced - nor as impressed with themselves - as you.

imagine they have no need, nor any desire, to migrate to a new release of the OS.

imagine - for reasons that might be unfathomable to superior minds such as yours - all they want is the xtools 4.2 software, previously available for free, for their Snow Leopard machine.

imagine they're NOT ASKING, as you put it "Apple to spend their time & $$ supporting older tools".

imagine all they want is a simple link.

imagine that weren't too much to ask.

imagine Apple hadn't learned so well from Microsoft.

imagine...

Hi Mr,

Xcode 4.2 for Lion already found, i need Xcode 4.2 for Snow Leopard,

thanks anyway

It is easy to find if you are a registered Mac Developer. Note that being an iOS Developer is a different license. On the developer page select "Mac Dev Center" On that page scroll down to "Additional Downloads" and select "View All Downlopads". In the left panel "Categories" unselect all but "Developer Tools" and type "Xcode" into the search box and press enter.

Scroll down and you will see "Xcode 4.2 for Snow Leopard" dated Oct 12, 2011

I was able to download Xcode 4 for snow leopard last year for free, but now that I need it again it's impossible to find. I am not a paid developer either. This happens so many times- I look for dev tools for other than the "latest greatest" OS version, and I spend a half hour searching for it with no luck at all. It's really frustrating. I wish Apple would support at least the recent releases of their tools instead of disavowing all previous tools that aren't targeted for the current cat.

Sorry I could not help. The hunt continues...