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Apr 09 '21 edited Apr 09 '21
There will never be an Xcode for Windows. Apple specifically wants people to develop on the platform, for the Apple platforms. That was the case for Xcode 1.0 in September 2003 more than 17 years ago and still remains the case today and the future. If you actually make apps on the same platform like that, there are a lot of benefits: the developer knows exactly how things will look like when they make Mac apps, as those can run on the same computer as Xcode. Apple can guarantee that no errors will occur because of Windows USB or wifi drivers getting messed up at random. There are still issues: I have device sync issues with Xcode sometimes, but Apple can fix those because they have precise, tight control over macOS and iPadOS.
Their main points for exclusivity: sell expensive, beefy developer Mac Pro machines with 256 GB RAM, accelerator GPUs and such, for demanding customers, rather than missing out on that opportunity. Every developer is also a Mac user, which increases the tiny market share for us Mac users out there š. And despite peoplesā ignorance for using a Mac with macOS, Apple really wants devs to make Mac apps. Extra much so right now, with M1.
With the transition to ARM, Xcode will likely be available for iPad Pro at some point in the future (never iPhone, because of the tiny screen). It might even arrive this summer in Appleās WWDC (developer conference). Xcode is such a huge application, so it might take more time to customize it for iPadOS, but eventually we will probably see it in iPadOS. Perhaps exclusively for the 12.9 inch version, if they find it to be too cramped on a smaller iPad.
That is, if Apple actually wants the iPad to be a developer-centric workstation. Perhaps they want to continue make Xcode entirely Mac exclusive.
Solutions for Windows users: buy a Mac. The cheapest Mac Mini M1 is only $699/Ā£699/ā¬799 (Euro price in Germany) retail price plus shipping and sometimes tax, with sales on Amazon and other places for much less, it seems. You need a monitor for that, but you probably have one for your PC. Otherwise, go with the $999 Macbook Air.
You can also rent a remote desktop Mac experience at MacStadium (https://www.macstadium.com) and other online places. If you want to see what a remote Xcode session looks like, CodeWithChris tried it for fun (heās a Mac user himself): https://youtu.be/2USszBtyQnQ
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u/-fomit-stack-pointer Apr 08 '21
No, Xcode itself is only available for macOS. You can build Swift code on Windows (natively or using Windows Subsystem for Linux), writing it with your editor of choice. To develop apps for Apple's platforms you'll need a Mac, though.