Xcode Vs VS Code

[cute.as.kawaii]

 

Hello everyone, I’ve been doing web development,and  experienced with html, css, javascript. Now I want to learn iOS app development. I’ve been using VS code till now for web development. I’ve also heard about Apple’s native IDE, Xcode, should I switch to Xcode or another IDE for iOS development. Please guide me. 

[Biohazard777]

You’ll need Xcode (and thus macOS) to build and sign iOS apps, that’s an Apple requirement, along with an Apple developer account.

That being said, first decide your language + framework:
- Swift + SwiftUI (fully native)
- or cross-platform options like Dart + Flutter, JS + React Native...

Pick your stack first, then choose the IDE that fits it.

[cute.as.kawaii]

20 hours ago, Biohazard777 said:

You’ll need Xcode (and thus macOS) to build and sign iOS apps, that’s an Apple requirement, along with an Apple developer account.

That being said, first decide your language + framework:
- Swift + SwiftUI (fully native)
- or cross-platform options like Dart + Flutter, JS + React Native...

Pick your stack first, then choose the IDE that fits it.

Xcode is not available for windows?

[Nayr438]

1 hour ago, cute.as.kawaii said:

Xcode is not available for windows?

No you will need MacOS for Xcode which means you will need MacOS for iOS Development. You would need to buy a Mac or Rent one in the cloud.
There are other ways around not having to buy a Apple Device to run MacOS but you would technically be in violation of Apple's ToS.

[cute.as.kawaii]

On 11/15/2025 at 2:40 PM, Nayr438 said:

No you will need MacOS for Xcode which means you will need MacOS for iOS Development. You would need to buy a Mac or Rent one in the cloud.
There are other ways around not having to buy a Apple Device to run MacOS but you would technically be in violation of Apple's ToS.

What are the ways to run Xcode on windows other than buying macOS? Have you tried them personally?

[Biohazard777]

19 hours ago, cute.as.kawaii said:

What are the ways to run Xcode on windows other than buying macOS? Have you tried them personally?

Running macOS inside a virtual machine is possible (look up VMware), but just a heads-up: it’s slow and painful.

If you value your time, don’t bother.
Also, be aware that using someone else’s macOS image could get you into trouble security-wise... and like previously said, in violation of Apple's ToS.

Get something like a used M1 Mac Mini if your goal is learning Swift, or, if you just want to tinker with mobile development in general, go with a cross-platform stack like Dart + Flutter and install Android Studio.
That works fine on Windows, including the Android emulator... which is important when building apps, since you’ll want to see changes instantly.

Once your app works and looks the way you want, either borrow a Mac or rent one (daily rentals are available for under $5). Use that to build your IPA and and get it running on an iPhone. If this is an app you might share with friends & family, going cross-platform comes with the bonus that you won’t be excluding folks running Android.

[cute.as.kawaii]

Thank you guys for your replies and suggestions, I just explored various ways to run mac on my pc, and it looks fascinating to me. And I see a method to run mac on my PC through virtualbox, which is looking straightforward. I’m willing to try it and see if I am able to use xcode on it or not, obviously I’ll try it on my secondary PC.  

[BootlessBuck]

For what it's worth, running macOS on non-Apple hardware violates the EULA. The only legal way to run a macOS VM is as a guest on macOS... and at that point, you might as well run Xcode natively.

[cute.as.kawaii]

On 11/21/2025 at 12:18 AM, BootlessBuck said:

For what it's worth, running macOS on non-Apple hardware violates the EULA. The only legal way to run a macOS VM is as a guest on macOS... and at that point, you might as well run Xcode natively.

As a guest? on whose Mac?

[wasab]

Xcode and a mac.

 

First buy a Mac. This costs $1000ish American dollars for modern low end model. 

 

Next install xcode and whatever sdk for developing iOS apps, glad these are free. 

 

Note that native apps are dying, both on desktop and mobile. Unless you want to make games, web apps and progressive web apps are the future. I mean do you even want the app store with its stupid policy and Apple taking a share of your revenue? 

[spacepickle]

1 hour ago, wasab said:

Xcode and a mac.

 

First buy a Mac. This costs $1000ish American dollars for modern low end model. 

 

Next install xcode and whatever ask for developing iOS apps, glad these are free. 

 

Note that native apps are dying, both on desktop and mobile. Unless you want to make games, web apps and progressive web apps are the future. I mean do you even want the app store with its stupid policy and Apple taking a share of your revenue? 

Brand new Mac Mini costs about $600. Used knock it down to like $400-$500. Developer license costs $99 a year to keep your apps on the App Store, so be ready to try and sell a few copies to keep up with that. It won’t be super profitable most likely, but if you can make something unique and functional you can at least save a little on top of that. 

[BootlessBuck]

On 12/13/2025 at 8:40 AM, cute.as.kawaii said:

As a guest? on whose Mac?

 

When talking about virtual machines, the "host" is the computer running the software like VirtualBox, the "guest" is the OS running as a virtual machine.

[cute.as.kawaii]

On 12/14/2025 at 1:30 AM, wasab said:

I mean do you even want the app store with its stupid policy and Apple taking a share of your revenue? 

Then where would I publish my app? 

 

On 12/14/2025 at 1:30 AM, wasab said:

Note that native apps are dying

Android? Then should focus on cross platform?

On 12/14/2025 at 2:30 AM, spacepickle said:

It won’t be super profitable most likely,

So, if iOS app development is not profitable then what about android?

[spacepickle]

1 hour ago, cute.as.kawaii said:

Then where would I publish my app? 

 

Android? Then should focus on cross platform?

So, if iOS app development is not profitable then what about android?

Neither of them are profitable if you aren’t making something that’s either extremely useful or bloated with garbage. 

[Franck]

You don't need a mac to build an app for mac. You need if you want to use xcode which isn't the only option.

f you compile c# .net 5 (an up) using console (for console app) or MAUI (for UI app) you can compile to Windows, Linux and Mac with only a PC

[Biohazard777]

On 12/15/2025 at 2:01 PM, Franck said:

You don't need a mac to build an app for mac. You need if you want to use xcode which isn't the only option.

f you compile c# .net 5 (an up) using console (for console app) or MAUI (for UI app) you can compile to Windows, Linux and Mac with only a PC

True, but the question wasn't about developing apps for desktop operating systems, OP specifically asked about iOS.
 

On 12/15/2025 at 11:29 AM, cute.as.kawaii said:

So, if iOS app development is not profitable then what about android?

No one would be making iOS apps and publishing them on the App Store if it wasn't proffitable.
The point is that you will be jumping through a lot of hoops which have nothing or very little to do with programming in order to publish your app, be it on App Store or Play Store.
Just carefully reading through this (and the links inside) will take you a day or two:
https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/
Complying with everything will take more, don't be surprised if you app gets rejected mutiple times till you fix whatever they decide needs fixing.

For a hobby/learning project, it makes very little sense to go through all that.
It is a similar pain in the ass for publishing on Google Play.

But, if you decide to make an Android or cross-platform app, and build an Android APK, you can install (sideload) that app on pretty much any Android device without ever registering for a dev account or publishing it anywhere.

[Franck]

7 hours ago, Biohazard777 said:

OP specifically asked about iOS.

My bad, I used Mac for all Mac distro, this include IOS. Also forgot to say it compile for android as well

[BootlessBuck]

On 12/15/2025 at 5:29 AM, cute.as.kawaii said:

So, if iOS app development is not profitable then what about android?

 

I haven't seen/heard recent numbers, but in the past I've heard many developers say that iOS was more profitable for them than Android. In general, iOS users are willing to pay for apps while Android users are far less likely. Ads don't seem as profitable as straight payment, not to mention they are ugly and everyone hates them. Even with YouTube, which is owned by an ad company, the Premium users who pay a monthly fee are more profitable than an ad watcher, from everything I've ever read.

[cute.as.kawaii]

On 12/18/2025 at 1:57 AM, BootlessBuck said:

 

I haven't seen/heard recent numbers, but in the past I've heard many developers say that iOS was more profitable for them than Android. In general, iOS users are willing to pay for apps while Android users are far less likely. Ads don't seem as profitable as straight payment, not to mention they are ugly and everyone hates them. Even with YouTube, which is owned by an ad company, the Premium users who pay a monthly fee are more profitable than an ad watcher, from everything I've ever read.

I also think same as you, and iOS users are premium IMO, and yes you are right iOS users are more likely to pay for the app than android users. But I think we can make money through ads on Android? 

[cute.as.kawaii]

On 12/17/2025 at 4:48 PM, Franck said:

My bad, I used Mac for all Mac distro, this include IOS. Also forgot to say it compile for android as well

That is okay but yes I was asking about iOS.

[cute.as.kawaii]

On 12/15/2025 at 6:31 PM, Franck said:

You don't need a mac to build an app for mac. You need if you want to use xcode which isn't the only option.

f you compile c# .net 5 (an up) using console (for console app) or MAUI (for UI app) you can compile to Windows, Linux and Mac with only a PC

Without Xcode can we make apple app with swift?

 

[wasab]

On 12/17/2025 at 3:27 PM, BootlessBuck said:

 

I haven't seen/heard recent numbers, but in the past I've heard many developers say that iOS was more profitable for them than Android. In general, iOS users are willing to pay for apps while Android users are far less likely. Ads don't seem as profitable as straight payment, not to mention they are ugly and everyone hates them. Even with YouTube, which is owned by an ad company, the Premium users who pay a monthly fee are more profitable than an ad watcher, from everything I've ever read.

A lot of apps on iOS and android are not meant to be "profitable". They are meant to supplement existing business. Banking apps are not there to generate profits from users, they are there to extend real world banking business that already exist as an example. Similar things like apps published by hospitals, insurance companies, and governments.