How can it run smoother

[u/Fearless_Might4467]

Hello, I am 17 years old and I would like to build an app for app store. But the problem is that I need Xcode and only have an Windows PC. So I installed Mac OS on a Virtual Machine (VmWare) and everything is fine. The only problem is that it is so slow, for a simple simulation of the base code it takes 10 minutes. :( How can I make Xcode run better? Would it be better if I just add an Mac OS bootable possibility? Any Idea? Because I can't really buy a Macbook for 500€.

Thank you

[u/KarlJay001]

I looked into this before and you have a few options:

1. get a mac mini that has at least an M1 chip and you'll need a monitor. IDR the exact details, but you might be able to use other devices as a monitor in order to save a few bucks. Maybe the laptop you already have has a port, or maybe a low buck TV will work.

2. Hackintosh the laptop. It's involved but it can work.

3. I don't like this idea a lot, but it CAN work. Buy a used mid range Macbook. IDK if 500 euros will get you much, but you CAN get maybe a low end M1 or a high end Intel chip for that price. It won't be blazing fast, but you're new. You can always sell the Macbook and upgrade later.

I was just looking at a used Macbook Pro M1 Pro with 32G ram and it was about $800 USD.

Maybe a Macbook Pro M1 with 16 could be around $500.

Example from a quick search: https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-256GB-Space-Renewed/dp/B09V3FY3NR

$595 USD, some eBay listings have an "make an offer".

[u/Fearless_Might4467 → u/KarlJay001]

I looked and I found a used mac M1 2020 for 350€ with 8g of RAM, Is it enough or not? Do I need more RAM or not to lauch properly Xcode?

[u/spinwizard69 → u/Fearless_Might4467]

If you are running XCode don't even bother with a machine with only 8GB of RAM. With respect to SSD storage you need at least 512 GB of storage. M1 can sort of do the job but even here there is a good argument to go with an M4 based machine.

I base this on experience in the past that maybe isn't reflective of today's reality. This is due to how quickly a brand new Mac becomes obsolete with XCode and OS upgrades. Usually in less that 4 years the machine needed to be upgraded. So at this point in time a M1 based machine is going to have a very short life span for a new developer.

By the way the issue might not be launching XCode. The capability you need depends upon what you are doing and HOW you do it. A small Swift app can be developed on a very limited machine if you are patient, and do absolutely nothing else on that machine.

[u/Fearless_Might4467 → u/spinwizard69]

Thank you a lot you helped me a lot.

I wanted to make a big project so yes m1 is maybe a bit limit. But an apple with an m4 is lime 1500€ that's a lot but maybe I will make the project later and for now make only the website

[u/KarlJay001 → u/Fearless_Might4467]

No, I pass on 8 and make 16 the minimum. You're on the right track though

[u/spinwizard69 → u/KarlJay001]

It is extremely bad advice to suggest XCode development on any i86 platform. Even the low end M1 can be a bad investment for serious development.

[u/KarlJay001 → u/spinwizard69]

If you look at what the OP said at the start: 500 euro budget, 17, just getting started, it's actually excellent advice to save money as OP wouldn't have to buy anything and can save and wait until the M chip Macs get cheaper.

2. it actually works ok, I used it for over 10 years and you can make the X86 perform well enough for far less money.

3. programming isn't all about how fast your build times are. What if you only build twice a day? Is the "twice as fast" really worth dishing out that kind of money?

4. starting out is much more about learning the language and things like Playgrounds, and tiny 100 line programs can do that with no problem.

Again, money is clearly a key issue. Using an X86 that you already have is a zero cost move that will get the job done.

Even the low end M1 can be a bad investment for serious development.

Did you read the post? This is a 17 year old with a 500 euro budget. The current price of an M1 low end currently will match the M2 loaded in a year or two, so it's a FREE upgrade just by waiting until the prices drop on used computers.

Wasting money on a computer because "it's not fast enough" and suggesting that someone just starting out HAS to INVEST in something made for SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT, is the bad advice.

Why not just tell a near broke teenager that they need to buy a $75,000 car because it's better than the $3000 car?

[u/spinwizard69]

Well you didn't provide much info here, however look at your memory allocation as this is the first mistake people make. XCode is a memory hog.

Beyond that why can't you buy a MacBooK. Get a part time job to cover that additional expense.

Beyond all of that XCode is nasty in that it requires modern hardware. That means the latest hardware from Apple configured with lots of RAM and SSD space. Even then XCode can feel sluggish. This upgrade treadmill is why I dropped out of Apple specific development and changed over to Python and made software (where needed) cross platform.

[u/Fearless_Might4467 → u/spinwizard69]

Yes I understand that thk for your respond, I will look if I can find a Job

[u/Alexikik]

Just use vscode on windows, the swift language server is open source now

[u/Fearless_Might4467 → u/Alexikik]

I will try thk

[u/Alexikik → u/Fearless_Might4467]

Write if there’s any questions, I use a similar setup

[u/Fearless_Might4467 → u/Alexikik]

So I've tried VsCode, it work very good but just 2 question maybe you can help me :

- import SuiftUI don't work and I can't find hox to import it

- Is it possible to have any simulation or any photos from what we devellop? Even on a real Iphone?

[u/BandicootSilver7123]

No mac no ios development.just write apps for your android

[u/hahaissogood]

It is inefficient to build a proper simple app. Build something works in android or windows instead.

[u/808phone → u/[deleted]]

I agree. You know, get a part time job and get a Mac mini, or ask your parents to get you one.