14 DAY TRIAL // Apple this week rolled out a new version of Xcode in the Mac App Store for developers writing apps for OS X and iOS. Compatible with Mountain Lion and Mavericks operating systems, Xcode 5.1.1 includes general fixes and optimizations, allowing developers to focus less on working around bugs and more on designing their next award-winning app.
Xcode 5.1 is a free download for all Mac App Store users. Fresh out of beta, the updated toolset rolled out last month with a new Auto Layout constraint inspector with support for all constraint types, Quick Look support in the debugger for custom object types, and an improved ability to resolve symbols in Instruments.
The iOS standard architecture setting was updated to include 64-bit instructions, and Apple carried out the usual maintenance with bug fixes and stability improvements across the board. Users have been generally pleased with the update since then, but a few issues cropped up that the company needed to address.
Hence version 5.1.1 was spawned. Available now from the Mac App Store, this build of Xcode further refines the latest additions and includes new code corrections to enhance the stability of the code-writing program.
The Cupertino company addressed an issue that would reposition the Interface Builder canvas unexpectedly, an issue where test cases would report as failed when in fact they had passed, a rare code generation issue in the LLVM compiler, and improved the reliability of Quick Look within the debugger. Additional bug fixes and stability improvements are also incorporated in Xcode 5.1.1 according to the release notes.
In order to download Xcode 5.1.1, users need a Mac running OS X 10.8.4 (Mountain Lion) or newer, a 64-bit Intel processor, and a decently-specced Mac overall. The 2.18 GB package includes software development kits (SDKs) for OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, and iOS 7.1.
“To test or deploy applications on an iOS device you must be a member of Apple's iOS Developer Program,” Apple says. “To submit your Mac or iOS apps to the App Store you must be a member of the Mac or iOS Developer Program. Continuous integration features require OS X Server 3.0 on Mavericks. Some features may require Internet access,” according to the requirements list.
The software is localized in English only and requires advanced coding knowledge. Guides on how to get started with the application are available from Apple’s Mac Developer Library.