Photo by Rodrigo Galindez
Do I need a Mac to make iPhone apps? Apple Watch apps? Mac apps? The short answer is no. But there's a lot more to it than just that.
Open the Mac App Store and do a quick search for the application you're got for iOS - the best option will be to get a version of the app that is designed for the Mac, rather than a touchscreen. Create Apple ID on App Store. You can also create Apple ID by launching the App Store App on your iPhone or iPad. Open the App Store on your iPhone and tap on the Account icon. On the Account screen, tap on Create New Apple ID link. On the next screen, enter your Email Address, Password, Verify Password, select Country and tap on Next.
When making apps for an Apple device (phone, watch, computer) you need to use Xcode. A free piece of software created by Apple that allows you to design and code up apps. Xcode only works on Apple's operating system OS X. So if you have a Mac, then you can run Xcode no problem. If you don't have a Mac, there are two work arounds that I know of that you can use. So in total there are three ways you can run Xcode. Here's my thoughts on each of them.
1. Using a Mac![]()
This is by far the best option. Using apple's hardware to run Xcode is going to be your best experience for making apps. You might not have a Mac though and buying one can be expensive. I remember when I wanted to first buy a Mac and couldn't get over the price tag. The MacBook I was looking to buy cost $1,200. A PC with similar parts (RAM, CPU, HardDrive, etc..) cost only $400. Three times the money for a stinking Apple logo! In retrospect, the money was well worth it.
If you are interested in going this route and buying a computer, check out my Mac Buying Guide for developers.
Also be on the lookout of place where you could use a Mac for free. https://hutqxv.weebly.com/blog/mac-screen-dimming-app. Maybe your library has a machine you can use.
2. Using a Cloud Service
This is my second favorite option. It's a really creative solution for helping people make apps who don't have Macs. There are few companies that own a bunch of Mac computers and allow you to access them via the web and control them remotely. It's kind of like renting a Mac month to month. All you need is a web browser to access your machine. The downside to this is you have to pay a monthly fee and you must be connected to the internet to do your work. Here are links to two companies that do this: macincloud.com and xcodeclub.com
How To Develop Ios Apps On Macos3. Virtual Machine
This option involves creating a virtual machine on your computer, installing Apple's OS X operating system, and then running Xcode on that virtual machine. Mac delete an app. I don't like this option for two reasons.
Running Ios Apps On Mac
If you got the budget for it, buy a Mac. I know it's crazy expensive but I believe you'll fall in love with your Mac. If you end up using a cloud service, let me know in the comments what your experience has been. I'd love to hear more.
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