XCode install and usage on MacOS

Utilities for Apple MacOS

This tutorial describes the installation and useage of Apple’s XCode set of utilities for developers.

XCode Install

To build Python on a machine requires a GCC compiler. One comes with command-line tools installed with Apple’s XCode IDE. Newer versions also installs a Git client.

“Xcode includes everything developers need to create great applications for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. Xcode provides developers a unified workflow for user interface design, coding, testing, and debugging. The Xcode IDE combined with the Swift programming language make developing apps easier and more fun than ever

1. Get the installation location in a Terminal window:

   xcode-select -p

   The answer:

   /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
   

It used to be that one can enter a command:

xcode-select --install

The response on my Sierra machine is:

   xcode-select: error: command line tools are already installed, use "Software Update" to install updates
   

So below is the “Software Update” approach:

1. Use an internet browser to https://developer.apple.com/xcode

2. Provide your Apple ID and password. Get one if you don’t already have one.

3. Go through Apple’s location verification if prompted.

4. Click the blue “Download” and provide your Apple ID. You’ll need to establish an Apple ID.

5. Select the version to download:

   File	Date	Download	Unpacked
   XCode_9.0	2017-09-19	. ? GB	? GB
   XCode_8.3.2.	2017-	. ? GB	? GB
   XCode_8.2.1 8C1002	2016-12-19	? GB	? GB
   XCode_8_beta_2.xip	2016-07-05	5.9 GB	12.32 GB
   XCode_7.31	2016-05-03	3.8 GB	?
   XCode_4.1	2014-	2.9 GB	?
   XCode_3.2.4	2014-	2.? GB	?

   NOTE: These are massive files that may take a while to download if you don’t have a fast internet connection.

   CAUTION: Even more important, make sure that your machine will have enough free space available.

6. Open App Store. Click Open.

7. Remember to delete the installer after you’re done, then

   XCode version

8. Confirm the version installed.

   /usr/bin/xcodebuild -version

   The answer:

   Xcode 8.2.1
   Build version 8C1002
   

   The should match up with the Build Number on the Apple web page.

   Alternately, for a more precise version number and other info (Mavericks and up):

   pkgutil --pkg-info=com.apple.pkg.CLTools_Executables | grep version

   A sample response:

   version: 8.3.2.0.1.1492020469
   

   NOTE: Version 9 is available.

   This is a specific version of:

   pkgutil --pkgs | grep -i tools
   

   The response for 8.3.2:

   com.apple.pkg.CLTools_Executables
   com.apple.pkg.CLTools_SDK_OSX1012
   com.microsoft.package.Proofing_Tools
   

   The response earlier:

   package-id: com.apple.pkg.CLTools_Executables
   version: 8.2.0.0.1.1480973914
   volume: /
   location: /
   install-time: 1484969093
   groups: com.apple.FindSystemFiles.pkg-group 
   

9. Get the version of the GCC (C compiler) installed:

   gcc --version

   Sample answer:

   Configured with: --prefix=/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr --with-gxx-include-dir=/usr/include/c++/4.2.1
   Apple LLVM version 8.1.0 (clang-802.0.42)
   Target: x86_64-apple-darwin16.7.0
   Thread model: posix
   InstalledDir: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin
   

10. XCode is used to develop iOS mobile apps using Swift. So let’s see:

    swift -version

    Target: x86_64-apple-macosx10.9
    

    xcodebuild -version

    xcode-select: error: tool 'xcodebuild' requires Xcode, but active developer directory '/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools' is a command line tools instance