14 DAY TRIAL // Xcode, Apple’s developer toolset for Mac OS and iOS programming, is now available free of charge from the Mac App Store and the Apple Dev Center for users running Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
Providing code-savvy folks with everything they need to create applications for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, Xcode has unified user interface, and design, coding, testing, and debugging tools all within a single window.
The Xcode IDE component aids developers with its ability to analyze the details of a project to identify mistakes in both syntax and logic, and goes as far as to suggest code corrections to speed up development.
“Xcode 4.1 runs on OS X Lion and includes the Xcode IDE, Instruments, iOS Simulator, the latest Mac OS X and iOS SDKs, and hundreds of powerful features,” reads Apple’s description on the Mac App Store.
Prior to making Xcode available through the Mac App Store, Apple distributed the developer toolset free of charge.
When Apple decided to distribute the coding tools through its Mac-centric digital storefront, the company started charging $4.99 for it.
It is unclear why the Mac maker decided to make Xcode free again but, as the saying goes, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
According to Cupertino, Xcode 4.1 for OS X Lion brings the following changes:
What's new in Xcode 4.1 for OS X Lion · Includes SDKs for OS X Lion and iOS 4.3 · Interface Builder support for Auto Layout and new Aqua controls such as NSPopover · Full screen support in workspace, project, and organizer windows · Project modernization to identify and resolve out of date build settings · Behaviors can be customized and assigned to unique key bindings · Source control enhancements to pushing, pulling, and management of remote servers · Assistant editor support for display of generated assembly and preprocessed output · Additional bug fixes and stability improvements