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Developing iOS applications on Windows 7

Hello, I’m an avid programmer who is keen to learn and keen to develop, but I’ve encountered one major issue. I can’t install or run Xcode on a Windows operating system. I was wondering are there any alternative methods to developing iPhone applications on Windows. If there are any information would be appreciated.


If all else fails I’ll download OS virtualisation software.

Posted on Feb 16, 2012 1:01 AM

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Posted on Feb 16, 2012 8:51 AM

An Intel Mac is required for iOS development. Lion is required for full compatiblity.

22 replies

Feb 16, 2012 8:43 PM in response to lukehicks

It's not a big deal if Apple finds out, I'll just simply change my local IP and re-register or alternatively I'll use a virtual private network.


Why not just get a Mac? Well firstly I'm not super rich and I can't afford to throw around $700.


I think Apple is really selfish and should actually allow windows users to develop iPhone/iPod applications using Xcode, I mean it's kind of ridiculous disabling us from developing on a Windows machine as apple does supply other software for Windows for iPhone etc (iTunes).


Thanks in regards.

Aug 14, 2012 8:44 AM in response to lukehicks

It isnt that Apple is being selfish, it's just that Apple and Microsoft have been competators for a long time and they still are. They are trying to get more people to buy Apple products than Windows products by giving Mac users more "things" to do with Apple software and things like that.


I'm not saying I agree with this because I am making an app with my cousin but I can't get Xcode for my HP Laptop. Would it be nice if they woulds work together? YES, but they don't so life is life try and find another program that you can develop it on and transfer to a friend's Mac and send it to Apple.


Hope this helps.

Nov 20, 2012 2:49 PM in response to msuper69

Microsoft let Apple run virtulized Windows on the machine, they even make Office for Mac's.


But Windows users can virtulize OSX?


I have just recieved an email notifying me a post I have made has been removed because I stated I had bought a Lion license, and bought WMwave Workstation 9, and was virtualizing it!


What exactly does Apple let Windows users Do?

It's all take take take with them!!

Nov 20, 2012 10:32 PM in response to lukehicks

People say something about Microsoft and Apple and I think I have something to share with you all.


@lukehicks: I am also an avid programmer who is keen to learn and design and develop software, may be not more than you, but I am sure not less than you.


I have more than 20 years of experience in programming in Windows with C/C++ and in the last decade: C# and .NET Framework and I am also a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer for Micorosft .NET. Java and VB are the other two languages that I know well. I am also an author, writing technical books (in Persian Language; I live in IRAN); so I used to read books and articles alot.


When Apple released iPad I saw it in the TV for the first time. I thought It was a very good device for reading books, As I used to read eBooks on my PC. But I didn't want to buy an iPad, since it was expensive. So I decided to buy an eBook reader. After searching a lot and looking all the abailable devices at that time, I found iPad as a revolutionary device, specially for me as someone who used to read books alot. And It really was, as I have not take a paper book in my hands since iPad.


It is more than a couple of years that I bought an iPad; the first Apple device I have bought in my life. I have never seen any Apple devices as a buyer before. And that's it: It changed my life.


Believe it or not, having an iPad in my hands, made me so curious about developing and running apps on it. And those days I was exactly in the state you are in now.


After a few months (may be 2 or more), I lastly decided to buy a Mac. And I did; an iMac 21.5" Late 2009. Started to learn programming in the Mac environment.


But I couldn't leave all my background in Windows programming. So I brought Windows to my iMac using Bootcamp.


I don't want to say all things that happen to me, but the net result is:


Working in OS X is so much better, safer, easier, more reliable, and more joyful than Windows. I am sure you have heard about that, but you must experience it to know well. Just think why people working with Macs and iPhones and iPads, don't want to go back to Windows (or any other environment they used to work with).


For me, today:


1. I have and iMac 21.5", a MacBook Pro 17", an iPad, an iPad 2 WiFi/3G, an Apple TV 2 and NO PCs (I think these are not enough for me, but I just say this to show that I don't use Windows PCs anymore).


2. I have transfered all my works from Windows environment to Mac. So I don't have Windows on Bootcamp and not even on virutal machine.


3. All the programming I do, is in Xcode; I really don't want to go back to those days of Visual Studio (The best development environment for me 3 years ago).


After more than 20 years of working with computers, I think I am born again 2 years ago, as the meaning of computers and all my view about programming has been changed. May be it's due to the fact that I was so focused on Microsoft technologies and never looked around. In fact, I was deep in Microsoft tools and design patterns in development.


As a developer point of view, just know that there are a lot intresting things to learn in Apple way of designing and implementing software. Cocoa is a collection of very well designed object-oriented frameworks which is used to develop software on OS X. It's little brother, Cocoa Touch is used in iOS. So learning one, makes learning the other so much easier. If you come to the world of Apple, you can develop for both iOS and OS X.


There are alot of resources out there, but if you want some help to pass the learning curve, or to know where to start, you can count on me.


Sorry to talk so much. I Just want to say, If something is good, it is good. don't try to attack it without enough knowledge. Apple is selfish or not; it doesn't matter. Apple creates good products that make our lives easier.


I just recommend you and all people like you to buy a Mac.

Nov 20, 2012 10:44 PM in response to Mani Hamedani

Dear Mani,


I made this thread over a year ago that's what I find funny about this; I agree with you that Apple products are definitely worth their value and you'd be better of purchasing apple hardware or software over Windows hardware or software. I guess it's kind of ironic considering I'm still on a Windows machine writing this article 😉


However, thank you for the interesting and useful response. You're just really lucky that my email alerted me and informed me that I got a reply, otherwise I would of never looked at this thread again haha and your time you spent responding to my stupid question would have been pointless! Thank you.


Regards,

Luke

Nov 20, 2012 10:59 PM in response to lukehicks

🙂))))))


I am sorry, I didn't look at the date. Actually I am not so invovled in questions and answers and participating in discussion forums. That's the main reason: I am new to this king of things. 🙂)


I spend my time reading books and to solve my problems I rely on books and reference materials rather than forums. I used to think that participating in forums is kind of wasting time, and now I found that may be I am wrong. That's why I tried to answer a question, but what a question??? 🙂)


I Knew that I must read the date of the thread before writing a reply, but I forgot it, since I am not so experienced in that.


Thank you for your reply

Mani

Developing iOS applications on Windows 7

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