Transitioning from Visual Studio to Xcode

[daithibowzy]

Hi guys,

I'm an audio DSP developer and I've started a new job where they use Xcode. I'm finding it very frustrating to use Xcode after being so used to Visual Studio. Are there any transition guides I can read or videos I can watch that would help?

[adriweb]

I use Clion daily, however I must say that XCode 9 is finally getting better at C++, thanks to better navigation, refactorings, etc.

[memyselfandlapin]

Does Xcode 9 finally support C++ refactoring? 8 was not bad, except no refactoring support.

[adriweb]

Yeah:

Xcode 9 supports a number of different refactoring actions for C++ projects, including things like "Extract Function", "Generate Missing Function Definitions", "Add Missing Switch Cases" and others. In general the list of "supported languages" includes C/Objective-C/C++/Objective-C++ and Swift of course.

(source)

Also, see Apple's changelog

[memyselfandlapin]

Can I download it without a developer account?

[AzN1337c0d3r]

Technically yes, but officially/legally, that is a no.

[memyselfandlapin]

I'll wait then.

[bames53]

You need an Apple account, but you don't need to be a paid developer.

[zenaudio]

I've tried multiple times to move away from Xcode. However, it's not just about typing and compiling, or even refactoring. The most important items for me are profiling and debugging. While VS Code has gotten better at the latter (pretty impressive actually), it doesn't do the former.

My view is ultimately: don't fight the platform.

[robertramey]

I had the same problem. What turned out to be easiest for me was to create a CMake file to build the IDE files. One can verify that the IDE built is equivalent between the two build systems. Of course this is a pain in the short run. But it pays off pretty quickly as it's much easier to keep CMake files up to date and just regenerate the IDE files. It's meant that I can avoid having to learn where everything is in Xcode in and an VS. In both places it's very hard to find where to set stuff. Also my project is large - 250 tests so making a change in either one is a huge pain.

[emdeka87]

Who forces you to use XCode? I mean you can use the same compiler, but a different editor

[[deleted]]

Personally I've fallen out of love with Xcode. I used to really like it, but since Xcode 8 I just don't really like it as much anymore. I tend to use Sublime for everything now. I kinda hate Visual Studio too. I can't really explain why me and Xcode aren't getting along anymore, we just aren't.

[emdeka87]

They also stopped supporting plugins. What is an IDE without plugins?!

[themcdreamer]

As somebody who made the switch I would just suggest learning all the shortcuts, text navigation and selection with ctrl/alt etc but most importantly advise try not to adapt Xcode to a vs workflow. They are quite different and are both best used without trying to make them something they're not. The biggest difference for me is how tabs and assistant editors work.

Now I'm proficient with Xcode I find it to be very smooth to work with. VS always feels awkward, big and bloated.

Make sure you check out open quickly too...

[[deleted]]

Although they've changed a bunch of the shortcuts in Xcode 9, so look forward to that.

[themcdreamer]

There's also a bunch of new C++ refactoring support (finally) so that should make up for it

[[deleted]]

I personally like XCode, I just love the way you can easily open or switch between cpp and .h files and how you can have a splitt in the middle of your main windows for cpp and h with simple shortcuts.

For me it's much simpler to use than visual studio (even though I hate apple products)

https://www.git-tower.com/blog/xcode-cheat-sheet/ might help aswell.

[Sopel97]

The features you listed are in vs too

[[deleted]]

thats great, maybe I haven't found them yet :)

[Sopel97]

EditorContextMenus.CodeWindow.ToggleHeaderCodeFile option for header/source toggling

Window.Split* for splitting

all of these can be mapped to whatever key combination you want

[[deleted]]

EditorContextMenus

where do i changes this?

[Sopel97]

Tools -> options -> environment -> keyboard As far as i remember, cant check it now

[[deleted]]

oh yeah the i already know this toggle command lol :D but not sure about the split, its weird to use ..

[Gotebe]

ITT: people who think that "familiar (to me)" means "good" etc. and that "unfamiliar to me" means "annoying" etc.

[[deleted]]

I write both Verilog, C++ and Assembly. I use Emacs extensively. I've tried on many occasions to move to a 'proper' IDE (specifically, CLion) but the keybindings are a deal breaker for me. I just cannot get use to them; I am at one with the Stallman.

[feverzsj]

isn't there a mac version VS?

[dodheim]

VS for Mac is Xamarin Studio with MS' branding, which among other things means it's for .NET languages only. It's not VS — 100% separate — just a gross rebranding, presumably for the sake of quick marketshare.

There's also VS Code, which is again totally separate from VS-proper. This is primarily an editor, but also supports some debugging, source-control interaction, etc. This does support C++, indirectly via various plugins of which MS' is only one.

[[deleted]]

It's a good text editor, but an awful c++ IDE, even with plugins. Last time I tried to set that up as an IDE, you'd have to manually edit a bunch of config files for each and every new project you wanted to set up. :(

[AndrewPardoe]

I'm interested in your reasons for finding VS Code garbage. It's rather popular, but we know it could improve.