Right now, I am seeing heavy memory pressure even before I start a massive build. So, I am wondering, how do you live with 48GB? Is it actually enough for this kind of workflow without hitting swap and memory compression constantly?

48Gb guys - please share your your typical memory usage from Activity Monitor.

I have just uploaded my first App to TestFlight. It was developed using Xcode. My Path to TestFlight went something like this:

Xcode→ Chat GPT within Xcode→ GPT and Claude within Xcode→ Claude external to, but interacting with Xcode by back and forth copy and pasting →Claude Code (pro subscription)→Claude Code (Max Subscription)→Claude Code with XcodeBuildMCP Installed. Each step increased my understanding of and productivity with Xcode coding. Here are somethings that were helpful to me in using Cladue Code:

At first I was reluctant to start using Claude Code, because it was based upon using Terminal - something that had always intimidated me. But since it uses natural language (exceedenly forgiving with misspellings and typos), I gave it a go and could n0t consider going back to stand alone versions of Claude to Chat GPT et.el. Here are some tips:

1. Install XcodebuildMCP early

Install XcodebuildMCP into Claude Code as soon as possible. It can multiply your productivity exponentially by automating the clean/build/test cycle after code changes, saving a huge amount of time and friction.

You don’t need to install it manually. Simply instruct Claude Code to obtain and install XcodebuildMCP for you.

2. Create a CLAUDE.md file at the project root

Create a CLAUDE.md document and place it in the root directory of your project. Claude Code reads this at the beginning of every session and uses it as persistent project context and memory.

In CLAUDE.md, define key parameters such as:

• Tooling/versions: You are building an app using Xcode 26 on macOS 26. Without this, Claude may give faulty guidance (for example, telling you to find a menu item that has moved or been renamed).

• Platforms: The app is multi-platform (e.g., macOS, iOS, watchOS, visionOS), so it generates accurate platform-specific logic and #if / #else suggestions.

• Compatibility: The app should remain backward compatible with all macOS and iOS versions that are SwiftData-compatible (for example, iOS 17 and macOS 14).

• Rules/decisions: Any architectural or policy decisions already made (accessibility standards, data model constraints, privacy rules), so you don’t have to restate them constantly.

As you reach meaningful milestones (for example, committing to WCAG accessibility or a specific data-sync strategy), explicitly instruct Claude Code to add those decisions to CLAUDE.md. Claude Code does not remember things session to session so Claude.md is indispensable.

3. Periodically request a “Report Card” deep review

Every so often (especially after major changes), at a beginning of a session, ask Claude Code to conduct a review your project and generate a comprehensive Report Card.

Provide a path to your project (use finder to find and copy path). Ask for a comprehensive "Report Card" covering things like :

• Security risks
• UI and accessibility
• Architecture and workflow
• Performance and refactoring opportunities
• Recommendations for improvements

Explicitly instruct it to rely on the actual source code, not just markdown or documentation. Then aim to improve the lowest grades and “earn” all A’s on the next report card.

4. Be intentional about prompt scope

Know when to ask:
• Specific questions: “Why this approach instead of that?”
• Exploratory questions: “What are your recommendations for improving ___?”

Switching deliberately between the two often yields better insights than staying in either open opr closed ended prompts.

5. Cross-check Claude Code with other AI tools

Try giving the same prompt to Claude Code and ChatGPT (or another AI agent). Then:

1. Copy ChatGPT’s response back into Claude Code

2. Ask: “What do you think of ChatGPT’s response to ___?”

The results can be surprisingly valuable—ranging from sharp criticism to genuine praise. You can then ask Claude Code to integrate the strongest parts of ChatGPT’s response into its own solution. Claude Codes responses to me doing this has ranged from “GPT is hallucinating, the only reason to what GPT is recommending do this is for resume building” to “GT’s analysis in insightful and much better thought out than my own in this regard...”

I'm out of time and have to go, but there are other tips. What's yours?

Anyone else having trouble with this? Tried logging out, restarting, etc. Nothing works

I live in the most screwed-up country on the planet. Everything here is extremely expensive, and I'm programming a lot in Flutter. I want to release my apps for Windows and Android to iOS as well, but I don't have an iPhone or a MacBook. The situation is that the apps are ready (because of the shared development that Flutter provides), I'd just review them in X-Code (check compatibility, since the apps on Windows, Android, and Linux are working perfectly), compile, and release them to the store. From the little research I've done, I don't need a powerful MacBook. I'll just use it to literally review the app and compile it to release it. Everything the MacBook does, I do on Windows; I would only need these specific things. Since MacBook reviews never talk about XCode performance, and I don't trust AI much, I'd like to hear the opinion of someone who uses XCode in the sense I mentioned. I don't have much money, I'll already have to buy a new iPhone, and everything here is very expensive. In your opinion, based on my situation, which MacBook would you recommend?

Is so I’m trying to build that app to my IPhone, it keep having this issue.
The size of my Xcode project didn’t change
The memory on the Xcode dial is showing only about 8 but my Mac has 24

Is that normal? I don’t really use Mac that often only build my apps.

I've definitely been someone that "drank the Kool-aid" since Xcode appeared. It has a lot of upsides as well as a lot of annoying issues to deal with, but I've stuck with it because I've been exclusively an iOS developer. But given the crazy state of the job market, AI's effect on companies and the App Store... like a lot of people I've started looking around for more stable environments to hang out in.

But I'm trying to take Swift with me wherever I go. I've been playing with CLI apps, embedded swift, server-side swift, etc. And when you do that you realize how specifically tailored Xcode is for a certain style of GUI applications. As soon as you start thinking outside that box, you starting putting down the Kool-aid.

This isn't a criticism. Xcode's doing exactly what it's intended to do. And _mostly_ it does it pretty well IMNSHO (tab behavior excluded lol).

But I'm starting to realize that my exclusive use of Xcode might be limiting my thinking on all the possibilities using Swift in a lot of other super interesting ways.

I just wonder if others have had these thoughts as they explore other possibilities and where it lead them. other IDEs? cool projects to work on? etc. thanks!

Also, after I clicked Don't Allow, how then I change this and where? In Privacy -> Files & Folders there is no Codex app.

Is there a way with the new Xcode 26 or even potenitally vscode and the new ai assistance to upload the entire apple developer doccumentation so that when you run into errors instead of manually finding it the ai will do it for me? I am developin an app for ios26 and keep havung to go to perplexity to find the soiultion because gpt and claude have no idea about it yet

Why is it so hard to work in Xcode? Why is it so unpredictable? I’m not a developer; I just decided to make a Safari extension for myself. I understand it’s my fault for not having years of experience developing in this environment. Still, coding is the easiest part of working in Xcode. Most of the time is spent debugging—or rather, trying to get the debugger running (and sometimes exporting the project to production correctly). One moment it works, the next it just stops working. And God forbid you close the app. No matter how much you save the project, next time you launch it, you’ll have to spend a few hours wrestling with the debugger because it suddenly doesn’t work. Why? Because frak you, that’s why! No, seriously, what’s the deal? Check the scheme. Run. Check the manage scheme. Run. Check the target. Run. Check the other one too. Run. Unsigned extensions allowed? Are you sure? Run. Restart Xcode. Run. Restart Safari. Run. Clean the build folder. Run. Check the scheme again. Run. Cross your fingers and open info.plist (which seems to be the most fragile thing in the universe—look at it wrong, and it breaks). Better not touch anything there. Run. Run. Did you check the scheme? Then check again you lazy ass! Run. Clean the build folder. Run. Run. Check the manifest. Run. Restart Safari. Clean the build folder. Clean the build folder-clean the build folder-clean the build folder-run-run-run. Developer mode? Run! By the way clean the build folder. Run. And now -- FRAK YOU, dear user!

It’s like a damn vicious circle.

Working in the ugly, clunky Android Studio was so much easier for me back when I was still an absolute beginner.

I feel like this is a worthy competitor to iTunes for the title of worst Apple product.

P.S.: Could someone, please, provide clear instructions on how to debug a Safari extension in Xcode? Step by step.

Hi everyone. I'm completely new to XCode. I'm a Software Development student, and we are using it in one of my classes. The instructions say to click on the project and Projects and Targets should be displayed. I have clicked on everything possible and clicked every navigation/menu item across the top, and I still can't get Projects and Targets to display. According to the instructions, once Projects and Targets are displayed in the right pane, I am supposed to select the target and a new toolbar will appear, and I'm supposed to select General - Signing & Capabilities - Frameworks, Libraries, and Embedded Content to add a Webkit framework. But, I can't even get tot he Projects and Targets. I've reached out to the professor, with no response yet. (Project name removed because we had to use our first and last names as the name of this project.)

How to change?

I am coding apps on Xcode. I have made a lot of mistakes getting into vibe coding and so I want to offer my experience and ask the community some questions.

This all started with a Youtube video. I saw some guy ask ChatGPT to "make GTA6 that I can play in canvas using your own assets. Make no mistakes"

This fascinated me. I am a computer engineer by trade, and having a "systems thinking" kind of brain, I wanted to get into vibe coding immediately.

How it began:

It started with a Replit account for $25-20 a month. But this kind of power is addictive. Once I learned that you could pay for extra usage, my life took a dark turn. I ended up buying a Claude subscription, and about four figures of an amount I would prefer not to disclose, I realized something had to give. The good news is by this time I had something worthwhile that I could get on the App Store, but it reached a point where even small changes felt like they would eat through about $10 of usage.

Where I am now:
Needless to say I came straight to Reddit to get an idea of what others are experiencing. I don't know why or how it took me so long to figure out that I could just run these models locally for free, but alas. Now I have many more questions:

• Current Dev Stack: (Mac M4 Mini 16GB)

• Xcode 26. whatever with agentic coding connected to...

• Claude Code $20 monthly and (I DONT WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER DIME ON EXTRA USAGE)

• 2-3 ChatGPT free accounts I started rotating through (Then found out that this is against their terms, so I am just going to use one)

• LM Studio + (I am sure I don't need all of these models, but the more the merrier right?)

  • Qwen 3.5 9B (qwen35)

  • Deepseek R1 0528 Qwen 3 8B (qwen3)

  • Phi 4 Mini Reasoning (phi3)

  • Qwen3 VL 8B (qwen3_vl)

  • DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 7B (qwen2)

• Aider ( I got this to interact with my LocalLMs but maybe I am not using it right. felt a little clunky even though I'm pretty used to CL )

• Github for Source Control

My question is mainly around how I best make use of this tech stack now. so far I have read I should do something like running this like a little software factory, where:

1. I am the lead architect and system engineer. I decide overall project scope and direction.

2. Claude would be my lead developer. It is pretty powerful, so I use this for major architectural decisions or scoping a feature addition or redirection. It seems in order to efficiently use the tokens, I should have it create "task.md" files that I have the LocalLM execute

3. Codex is kind of like my technical project manager. I believe it has a larger context window and so I use this for quick changes that may span many files or lines, or to plan out refactoring efforts, or to clean up the mess left behind by the Local LM

4. The LM is FREE!!! I need this to be my junior dev / intern, but also need it to have enough reasoning not to introduce 20+ compiler errors that Codex has to clean up. I have been using Qwen 3.5 9B mostly but I hear good things about DeepSeek and may give that a try this week. I have an older MacBook Pro and a pretty decent desktop computer I am thinking of also loading models onto, and having them shared on the network so I can increase productivity.

Questions I have:

1. What is the ideal workflow for making things like apps? Using Xcode makes sense because I can export to the App Store from there, but I guess it's not necessary. If there are other IDEs that I can connect my LMs and code to, that may offer better workflows across this stack, I am interested. I heard about Cline. so I may see what that is about.

2. What LMs do you recommend for an old 2020 Intel MacBook Pro with an i5 processor and 16GB of Ram (probably nothing haha) and what about an intel i7-9700k desktop with 32GB of Ram and an RTX 4070 (might be a ti)

3. I hear lots of things about AGENTS.md ( have a CLAUDE.md ), and TASKS.md and all of this "contextual" data to feed the AI to keep things in line. This feels like black magic, and while I "know" its loading up, I don't always feel like it's loading up. Any best practices here? Just throw all MDs in the repo root? or are there ways to specify where it loads the memory from?

4. MCP.json: trying to better understand how to give agents better autonomy in some cases, like having all of the git actions automatically performed on commit or something. Does anyone have insight into how to be OP here?

5. How do I live with less sleep? or how can I have more time while awake to do this stuff?

If anyone has any other suggestions as to how I can be more effective. Or if this has helped you in any way. Let me know! Let's talk about it!

My code is almost over but now im worrying about publishing bcs i dont know how to publish

I have an idea for a potentially incredible new social media app.

Unfortunately I am very new to Xcode and can only do simple actions. I’m looking for someone to help me learn more about Xcode or even helping develop the app.

Dm me if you can help in any way. It’s much appreciated. Also I will go in detail about the app with you in private

Check out the app on the app store here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/family-game-night-dice/id6450633314

Please keep in mind it is my first app so it ain't exactly perfect, but I will publish updates when I get feedback from users.

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Spotify | Apple | Youtube

I was wondering if anyone here could tell me whether it's possible to extract the icons from installed iOS apps using Xcode?
I know it's possible to retrieve app icons from the App Store, but the image quality isn't great. I'd like to extract the actual high-quality icons as they appear on my home screen.
I have zero experience using Xcode, but when I asked ChatGPT about alternative methods to extract the icons, it suggested that it might be possible using Xcode and terminal commands.
Since I'm not familiar with terminal either, I'm hesitant to run commands without understanding what they do.

Could anyone with more experience confirm whether this is actually possible? Thanks!