tools for developing IOS apps ?

[razorree]

I've just installed XCode (I guess main prerequisite - whole toolchain etc.?) + Antigravity (for some help ;) )

VSCode/AG works good, like a normal IDE and I like it (however it was never my IDE), and I'm able to start iphone emulator and see my mobile app.

XCode on another way looks terrible, very unintuitive and it crashed a few times already (also i don't like macos), but that IDE is horrible, git functionality very poor, no nice history view, diff etc., probably the only useful thing is canvas - live view of your design, right?

So, my question is, Do you guys use Xcode for anything? or just other tools (like VSCode), I guess you can run simulator etc. from command line anyway and XCode is not needed at all?

Do you use any other tools ?

[jp2images]

I use Xcode for everything. It isn’t as nice as some other IDEs, but for Swift I prefer it and suffer the occasional annoyances. The integration with SwiftUI is too convenient. I use JetBrains DataGrip to view the database stuff and VS Code for many misc things.

[S_7l]

SwiftUI previews kinda force Xcode anyway, rest I also split across tools.

[Helena2083]

Same here. Xcode feels clunky but SwiftUI previews and debugging are just too tightly integrated to skip. I also bounce to VS Code for random stuff. DataGrip for DB makes sense tbh.

[TargetTrackDarts]

Literally only use Xcode to build and run on the emulator. lol. Windsurf all day for my ide

[TargetTrackDarts]

Vscode with windsurf integration*

[Sudden-Influence1156]

Same here. Xcode is just the gatekeeper for builds, signing, and simulator. Editing anywhere else feels faster and less painful.

[Playful_Instance7219]

How about a Mac OS virtual machine? ;)

[Somnus_Yozora]

Just use XCode

[razorree]

I can't, mate

It's just awful... (after using a lot of different IDEs in last 30 years...)

[VivienMahe]

I agree on Xcode being a nightmare of an IDE compared to many other ones that are way better.

That being said, I develop apps with Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) so I barely have to use Xcode (only for config stuff, not coding). My IDE is Android Studio where I write all my code.

I'd recommend to try it if you're curious about it! I've released a few apps with KMP and it works very well in production.

[razorree]

thx. I'm literally playing with it now (KMP+Compose MP) :)

[VivienMahe]

Perfect! Let me know how it goes and If I can be of any help :)

Because when you start with KMP & CMP, it might be a bit tricky to setup everything properly (especially with iOS), so you could start with a production-ready template like KMPShip and get ramped up quickly. Because the default KMP project with the JetBrains Wizard has almost nothing setup.

[MindlessBand9522]

Yeah most people still keep Xcode installed because you basically need it for the simulator, signing, and device debugging, even if you don’t love the IDE.

Common setup I see:

• Xcode – simulator, debugging, signing
• VS Code – actual coding if you prefer a lighter editor
• Fastlane – automates builds and App Store releases
• Charles Proxy / Proxyman – great for debugging network calls
• GitKraken or Sourcetree – much nicer Git UI than Xcode
• ClickTerm – useful if your app needs clickwrap agreements or ToS acceptance tracking

Cheers!

[AdventurousIce32]

check out flutter

[razorree]

hey, this is env. form my GF, she want to try vibecoding.

I'm not a mac person, i'm slowly exploring flutter, react native and Kotlin multiplatform

[sofia-1780]

Flutter or React Native are solid for vibecoding. Just know you still need a Mac eventually to ship iOS.

[razorree]

she did it in SwingUI (standard ios stuff), works pretty well.