Create Ios Apps Without Mac
Apr 27, 2015 When making apps for an Apple device (phone, watch, computer) you need to use Xcode. A free piece of software created by Apple that allows you to design and code up apps. Xcode only works on Apple's operating system OS X. So if you have a Mac, then. Create a new IOS projects (follow the instruction on the site) And when it as for the provision profiler and.p12 files you now have those files Then hit build and download your.ipa file; Copying.ipa to IOS device Install iTunes Connect IOS device to your PC Then drag and drop the cloud build.ips file here.
How to Install Xcode on Windows and build your own iOS or MacOS apps
If you really want to make Apps for iOSand MacOS Without paying any single penny on Apple hardware (MacBook or iMac) then you are at right place.
Here, In this article, we have answers to all your queries.
You must have heard about this myth that if you really want to build apps for iOS or macOS then you must own a MacBook or an iMac which is certainly not true.
You can make iOS apps without using Macbook or iMac. Yes! it is possible.
The reason they say this is because of Xcode (an IDE which is only available for MacOS ).
This software is only meant for Mac machines but now with the help of certain tools, you can operate Xcode in windows as well.
Now the question arises How to use Xcode on windows? There are many ways to do that.
We will tell you about the most efficient ways by which you will be able to achieve your iOS development goal.
Different Ways to use Xcode in Windows.
1. Virtual Machine (Vmware Workstation)
The first and foremost way to use Xcode in your windows machine is the use of a virtual machine.
It is a software which is capable of running different OS (operating system) in the existing OS.
In simple words, you will be able to use and control macOs and that can be of any version by just by installing it on Vmware.
Vmware is a virtual machine software. It basically fools your computer to believe that its Apple iMac or MacBook so that Xcode can be run on it.
Now the harsh reality.
Everything offers some pros and cons.
Vmware also has some pros and cons with it.
Yes, you will be able to enjoy macOS free of cost but it won’t be as responsive and fast as a real MacBook or iMac.
How To Create Ios Apps Without Mac
Even if you have the strongest hardware you may face some issues like lag or heating issues.
So we won’t strongly recommend it to you but if you just want to have a taste of it then of course you can go for this option.
2. Rent a Mac
The second option in this list is renting a Mac online.
This service is widely used by many developers who can’t afford to purchase Apple’s expensive MacBook or iMac.
You can even remotely access a mac by sitting in any part of the globe.
The best thing about this option is that the cost is really low and it’s the fastest option to get up and running.
Now there are many companies that offer this fantastic service.
Some of them are:
This is the most well-known service for renting a mac online. We personally witnessed it a few months back and was very satisfied with their plans and quality service. As We said this before that it will be a bit slow but do very justice with its price.
You can get more information by visiting their website or by clicking the name above.
This is another service offered to use macOS X remotely. After MacinCloud this is the second best choice to opt for. But here too the issues will be the same related to speed and smoothness.
Our third option in this category is XcodeClub. This service is run by a dedicated developer himself and if we see the reviews many people are liking it. If you can’t go with the choices above then I recommend you to give this a try. So now you can work without Xcode for Windows, if your machine is not resource-rich. You can head-over to this cloud solution.
Building a Hackintosh
What is Hackintosh
Hackintosh is basically a pc which is capable of running MacOS as smooth as real iMac and MacBook. Yes, it is possible. In this option, you don’t need to use any virtual machine ( VMware ) or any online mac renting service. This requires the most effort out of all the options above presented. However, it can work for someone who wants a separate physical computer running MacOS. Now you can use Xcode on Windows to modify an operating system. You only need few things such as bootable USB-drive etc. In order to learn more about building Hackintosh, you can visit many websites on the Internet or just YouTube it. There are numerous step-by-step guides to follow.
Third Party Solutions
Last but not the least option you have, is the use of the third party solutions. But again as we said earlier you have to compromise some features either its speed or something else. Here you won’t be using Xcode in these solutions but you’ll be able to generate an app that can run on iOS devices. Check out these great Xcode alternatives if you are not satisfied with Xcode
ReactNative helps you to create real and exciting mobile apps using JavaScript only. This is supported by both ios and Android platforms. React Native acts as a framework that builds a hierarchy of UI (User Interface) components to build the JavaScript code. With React Native Framework, you can render UI for both iOS and Android platforms. Also, this framework is open source. The big advantage of React Native is that its components have counterpart rights which allows you to reuse the components for building both Android and iOS app. You won’t need Xcode for Windows to run this application.
Xamarin is a software company founded in 2011. Recently in 2016, Microsoft acquired it. Xamarin provides developers with tools to develop cross-platform mobile applications. As per Xamarin stats, more than 15000 companies rely on their tools and the list includes many big names out there.
This allows you to built hybrid cross-platform mobile apps using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s an open-source cross-platform Mobile Application development framework by Nitobi Software (now Adobe) which allows web developers to build mobile apps. Despite the fact that you’re utilizing HTML/CSS and JavaScript to create applications, recollect that it’s not a customary desktop program environment and the client encounter example is fundamentally extraordinary.
Appcelerator is an open source framework that allows the creation of native mobile apps on platforms of iOS and Android. It focuses on streamlining development whilst using powerful native components from JavaScript code. The biggest benefit of Appcelerator for developers is the ease of cross-platform development. From a single code base, a developer can produce an app that will run on virtually every tablet and phone in the market.
Also Read:
Conclusion
So these were some ways to develop iOS and macOS apps for Windows. To do that you will need Xcode for Windows or any alternative for developing Mac, iOS apps . Tell us what method do you like and want to follow, would love to hear that.
-->This guide describes how to use Pair to Mac to connect Visual Studio 2019to a Mac build host. The same instructions apply to Visual Studio 2017.
Overview
Building native iOS applications requires access to Apple's build tools,which only run on a Mac. Because of this, Visual Studio 2019 must connect toa network-accessible Mac to build Xamarin.iOS applications.
Visual Studio 2019's Pair to Mac feature discovers, connects to,authenticates with, and remembers Mac build hosts so that Windows-basediOS developers can work productively.
Pair to Mac enables the following development workflow:
Developers can write Xamarin.iOS code in Visual Studio 2019.
Visual Studio 2019 opens a network connection to a Mac build host anduses the build tools on that machine to compile and sign the iOS app.
There is no need to run a separate application on the Mac – VisualStudio 2019 invokes Mac builds securely over SSH.
Visual Studio 2019 is notified of changes as soon as they happen. Forexample, when an iOS device is plugged in to the Mac or becomes availableon the network, the iOS Toolbar updates instantly.
Multiple instances of Visual Studio 2019 can connect to the Macsimultaneously.
It's possible to use the Windows command-line to build iOS applications.
Note
Before following the instructions in this guide, complete the following steps:
- On a Windows machine, install Visual Studio 2019
- On a Mac, install Xcode and Visual Studio for Mac
- You must manually open Xcode after installing so that it can add any additional components.
If you would prefer not to install Visual Studio for Mac, Visual Studio 2019can automatically configure the Mac build host with Xamarin.iOS and Mono.You must still install and run Xcode.For more information, see Automatic Mac provisioning.
Enable remote login on the Mac
To set up the Mac build host, first enable remote login:
On the Mac, open System Preferences and go to the Sharing pane.
Check Remote Login in the Service list.
Make sure that it is configured to allow access for All users, orthat your Mac username or group is included in the list of allowedusers.
If prompted, configure the macOS firewall.
If you have set the macOS firewall to block incoming connections, youmay need to allow
mono-sgento receive incoming connections. An alertappears to prompt you if this is the case.If it is on the same network as the Windows machine, the Mac shouldnow be discoverable by Visual Studio 2019. If the Mac is still notdiscoverable, try manually adding a Mac or takea look at the troubleshooting guide.
Connect to the Mac from Visual Studio 2019
Now that remote login is enabled, connect Visual Studio 2019 to the Mac.
In Visual Studio 2019, open an existing iOS project or create a new oneby choosing File > New > Project and then selecting an iOS projecttemplate.
Open the Pair to Mac dialog.
Use the Pair to Mac button iOS toolbar:
Or, select Tools > iOS > Pair to Mac.
The Pair to Mac dialog displays a list of all previously-connectedand currently-available Mac build hosts:
Select a Mac in the list. Click Connect.
Enter your username and password.
The first time you connect to any particular Mac, you areprompted to enter your username and password for that machine:
Tip
When logging in, use your system username rather than full name.
Pair to Mac uses these credentials to create a new SSH connectionto the Mac. If it succeeds, a key is added to the authorized_keysfile on the Mac. Subsequent connections to the same Mac will loginautomatically.
Pair to Mac automatically configures the Mac.
Starting with Visual Studio 2019 version15.6,Visual Studio 2019 installs or updates Mono and Xamarin.iOS on aconnected Mac build host as needed (note that Xcode must still beinstalled manually). See Automatic Macprovisioning for more details.
Look for the connection status icon.
When Visual Studio 2019 is connected to a Mac, that Mac's itemin the Pair to Mac dialog displays an icon indicating thatit is currently connected:
There can be only one connected Mac at a time.
Tip
Right-clicking any Mac in the Pair to Mac list brings up a contextmenu that allows you to Connect.., Forget this Mac, orDisconnect:
If you choose Forget this Mac, your credentials for the selectedMac will be forgotten. To reconnect to that Mac, you will need to re-enteryour username and password.
If you have successfully paired to a Mac build host, you are ready to buildXamarin.iOS apps in Visual Studio 2019. Take a look at theIntroduction to Xamarin.iOS for Visual Studioguide.
If you have not been able to pair a Mac, try manually adding aMac or take a look at the troubleshootingguide.
Manually add a Mac
If you do not see a particular Mac listed in the Pair to Mac dialog,add it manually:
Locate your Mac’s IP address.
Open System Preferences > Sharing > Remote Login on your Mac:
Alternatively, use the command line. In Terminal, issue this command:
Depending on your network configuration, you may need to use aninterface name other than
en0. For example:en1,en2, etc.In the next step click on the Search Button in the very first row on BlueStacks home screen.4. Upon the Completion of download and install, open BlueStacks.3. Wine cellar app for macbook pro.
In Visual Studio 2019's Pair to Mac dialog, select Add Mac..:
Enter the Mac's IP address and click Add:
Enter your username and password for the Mac:
Tip
When logging in, use your system username rather than full name.
Click Login to connect Visual Studio 2019 to the Mac over SSH and addit to the list of known machines.
Automatic Mac provisioning
Starting with Visual Studio 2019 version 15.6,Pair to Mac automatically provisions a Mac with software necessary forbuilding Xamarin.iOS applications: Mono, Xamarin.iOS (the softwareframework, not the Visual Studio for Mac IDE), and various Xcode-relatedtools (but not Xcode itself).
Important
- Pair to Mac cannot install Xcode; you must manually install it on theMac build host. It is required for Xamarin.iOS development.
- Automatic Mac provisioning requires that remote login isenabled on the Mac, and the Mac must be network-accessible to the Windowsmachine. See Enabling remote login on the Macfor more details.
- Automatic Mac provisioning requires 3GB of free space on the Mac to install Xamarin.iOS.
Pair to Mac performs necessary software installations/updates when VisualStudio 2019 is connecting to theMac.
Mono
Pair to Mac will check to make sure that Mono is installed. If it is notinstalled, Pair to Mac will download and install the latest stable versionof Mono on the Mac.
Progress is indicated by various prompts, as shown by the followingscreenshots (click to zoom):
| Install Check | Downloading | Installing |
|---|---|---|
| Mono |
Xamarin.iOS
Pair to Mac upgrades Xamarin.iOS on the Mac to match the versioninstalled on the Windows machine.
Important
Pair to Mac will not downgrade Xamarin.iOS on the Mac from alpha/betato stable. If you have Visual Studio for Mac installed, set yourrelease channel asfollows:
- If you use Visual Studio 2019, select the Stable updates channel inVisual Studio for Mac.
- If you use Visual Studio 2019 Preview, select the Alpha updateschannel in Visual Studio for Mac.
Progress is indicated by various prompts, as shown by the followingscreenshots (click to zoom):
| Install Check | Downloading | Installing |
|---|---|---|
| Xamarin.iOS |
Xcode tools and license
Pair to Mac will also check to determine whether Xcode has been installedand its license accepted. While Pair to Mac does not install Xcode, itdoes prompt for license acceptance, as shown in the following screenshots(click to zoom): Custom screen monitor color and brightness app mac download.
| Install Check | License Acceptance |
|---|---|
| Xcode |
Additionally, Pair to Mac will install or update various packagesdistributed with Xcode. For example:
- MobileDeviceDevelopment.pkg
- XcodeExtensionSupport.pkg
- MobileDevice.pkg
- XcodeSystemResources.pkg
The installation of these packages happens quickly and without a prompt.
Note
These tools are distinct from the Xcode Command Line Tools, whichas of macOS 10.9 areinstalled with Xcode.
Troubleshooting automatic Mac provisioning
If you encounter any trouble using automatic Mac provisioning, take a lookat the Visual Studio 2019 IDE logs, stored in%LOCALAPPDATA%XamarinLogs16.0. These logs may contain error messagesto help you better diagnose the failure or get support.
Build iOS apps from the Windows command-line
Pair to Mac supports building Xamarin.iOS applications from the commandline. For example:
The parameters passed to msbuild in the above example are:
ServerAddress– The IP address of the Mac build host.ServerUser– The username to use when logging in to the Mac build host.Use your system username rather than your full name.ServerPassword– The password to use when logging in to the Mac build host.
Note
Visual Studio 2019 stores msbuild in the following directory:C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft Visual Studio2019<Version>MSBuildCurrentBin
The first time Pair to Mac logs in to a particular Mac build host fromeither Visual Studio 2019 or the command-line, it sets up SSH keys. With thesekeys, future logins will not require a username or password. Newlycreated keys are stored in %LOCALAPPDATA%XamarinMonoTouch.
If the ServerPassword parameter is omitted from a command-line buildinvocation, Pair to Mac attempts to log in to the Mac build hostusing the saved SSH keys.
Summary
This article described how to use Pair to Mac to connect Visual Studio 2019 to aMac build host, enabling Visual Studio 2019 developers to build native iOSapplications with Xamarin.iOS.