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iOS

Posted by Andrew Whitfield
Andrew Whitfield
5,239 Points

iOS Development with a Mac (Learning without)

Hi,

So, when you learn most courses, you don't need much or you can get what you need from the web.

For this course:

http://teamtreehouse.com/library/ios-development

You need a Mac or you have to make notes or memorise content while you're learning.

Are there any simulators that are PC compatible for those who can't yet afford the expensive hardware needed?

Is remote access a possibility? http://www.edumobile.org/iphone-course.html

Thanks!

5 Answers

samiff
samiff
31,206 Points
samiff
samiff
31,206 Points

Hey Andrew, someone asked a similar question previously. I don't have any experience with cloud services, but I have run OS X as a virtual machine before. Not sure how feasible doing that for development would be performance/compatibility wise, so hopefully someone chimes in that has done it recently.

With compatible hardware and lots of tinkering, you may also look into OSx86.

julia pak
julia pak
2,345 Points
julia pak
julia pak
2,345 Points

From what I know you need a mac to run Xcode. You need to be running OSX. However there is a way to install OSX on non-supported hardware. Check this out: http://www.hackintosh.com/

samiff
samiff
31,206 Points
samiff
samiff
31,206 Points

A quick side-note, "hackintosh" projects could be considered legal gray areas, and as such we probably shouldn't link to specific implementations from these forums.

julia pak
julia pak
2,345 Points
julia pak
julia pak
2,345 Points

Sam, that's a good point. However I doubt cloud services would be any good (beyond say learning ObjectiveC/cocoa) for iphone development as Andrew will likely need to test his app using his device connected through the computer.

Andrew, I know that macs are rather pricey. If I were you I would check craigslist or kijiji for a used mac mini. Be careful buying used though. I purchased both my macs used this way, but I made sure they still had warranty on them. Right now I have an iMac and a macbook pro. The warranty is transferrable as that is based on the serial number. My macbook pro has had several issues all of which were taken care of by Apple when I brought it in to the store. I had to have the logic board replaced 3 times.

A friend of mine picked up a mac mini with plenty of warranty left on it for $300. Very powerful machines!

Andrew Whitfield
Andrew Whitfield
5,239 Points
Andrew Whitfield
Andrew Whitfield
5,239 Points

Hi =)

The cloud solution looks interesting a possible companion to doing the course, but the rented option in general looks interesting. Is the way that edumobile does it a possible way for treehouse to do it as well?

In the UK, the machines are exceptionally expensive. I have an iPad for testing, which is connected to my PC. A possible option might be if treehouse were able to put a forum place for people who have old/used appropriate hardware, so that there's a certain level of trust involved in the quality of what they offer.

A mac mini would probably be appropriate it just takes months to save for :) Thanks for the options!