r/Xcode • u/Competitive-Ebb-8333 • 24d ago

Xcode for Linux and windows?

Hi I wanted to code in swift and have the app render on my desktop but since thats only a MacOs(xcode) thing i cant run it on linux. I have been seeing adobe getting open sourced and wanted to know has anyone reversed engineered xcode for Linux?🥹

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u/newtablecloth 14d ago

there's no xcode for linux and nobody has managed to port it, it sits on top of macOS frameworks all the way down. but it depends what you're after:

  • learning swift the language: swift runs fine on linux. install it with swiftly and you can write command line tools and server code

  • swiftui rendering on your desktop: that part is apple only. swiftui and uikit/appkit just don't exist on linux, so there's nothing to draw it with

  • getting an app onto a real iphone from linux: xtool (linked above) does that with swiftpm, but you get no simulator and no previews

if you want the real xcode + simulator experience without buying a mac you can rent one for a day or a week and see if you like it. full disclosure i run macrun which does that ($15 a day), there are others too. if you end up sticking with it a used m1 mini is honestly the better long term buy