How To Start Ios Development On Windows

How to Develop iOS Apps on Windows

Have you been wanting to develop iOS apps but the merely thing stopping you is that you lot primarily use Windows? Perhaps you're just wanting to explore working with iOS app development but don't desire to commit to ownership an iOS device quite yet. Regardless of the reason yous've been wondering if yous can develop iOS apps on a Windows PC.

To brand a long explanation curt: You tin can't. Or at least, you shouldn't.

The main reason why you tin't is that Windows is not compatible with Xcode, which is the Integrated Development Surround (IDE) used to design, develop, and publish iOS apps. Xcode contains everything needed to build iOS apps, including the Swift compiler, Interface Builder, and the tools needed to publish your apps to the App Store.

If y'all've been wanting to get started on making an iOS app on your Windows PC, this presents a problem. Because Apple tree does non license its operating system outside of its own hardware, you cannot buy a PC with macOS on it. Although Apple tree released Swift as an open-source, we nevertheless recommend i of these workarounds you could theoretically use in a pinch for personal use.

But really, we highly highly recommend y'all Exercise Not do these workarounds. Of form, if you are asking for a friend who insists, hither are a few options.

1. Install macOS Onto a Virtual Machine on Your Windows PC

how to install macos onto a virtual machine on windows

Using virtualization software is some other option to go macOS running on your Windows PC as a host. The services are very similar to using a Remote Desktop Connection but are instead running on your own computer.

This method is a bit more technical to get up and running than paying for a Mac in the Cloud, but services similar VirtualBox accept made making virtual machines much easier. Virtualbox (free) and VMWare Workstation (paid) are the nearly popular options to do this.

Once yous've downloaded Virtualbox, there are several guides online that can help you get MacOS running on your virtual machine.

2. Rent a Cloud-Based Mac

A simpler way to start developing with macOS on your PC is past renting a Mac in the Cloud. There are several services available like MacinCloud, MacStadium, and XcodeClub that volition allow you to connect to cloud-based Macs via Remote Desktop Connection (RDP).

Pricing will vary per service but typically starts at $20/month with various hardware options that will work best for your needs. You lot can access your rented Mac past using the stock Remote Desktop Client on Windows 10. Several Linux operating systems also provide a stock RDP client equally well. Once you've logged on you tin install XCode and start building your app.

Deject-based Mac services usually offer the post-obit:

A dedicated Mac, which ways you get access to a physical Mac located in a data center
A virtual Mac, which means y'all become access to a virtual Mac in a information centre, running on virtualization software
A Mac Build Server, which is a specialized kind of Mac that tin be used to compile iOS apps

3. Apply an Culling to XCode

The skillful news is that at that place are cross-platform tools available. Allowing you lot to code your app once, and then export it to iOS or Android. There are complete Integrated Evolution Environments similar Xamarin, which primarily use C# to code, in addition to other tools like PhoneGap, Cordova, Ionic, and Appcelerator. Information technology is of import to note that the ane thing that these tools take in common is that they are not beginner-friendly. It'south only a lot easier to get access to a Mac and XCode, learn Swift, then build a uncomplicated app.

In Short…

If you haven't even so fabricated the delivery to switch to Apple and acquire iOS development on a Mac, hopefully, the resources listed above will help you further explore developing apps on macOS. Whether information technology's a deject-based Mac or a virtual motorcar Mac on VirtualBox, you need macOS to run Xcode.

So delight, don't try to develop iOS apps on windows.

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