Following today’s release of iOS 7, Apple has also pushed out a major new release of their Xcode app development tool. The update adds support for iOS 7, a compiler for 64-bit apps designed for the iPhone 5S, a much simpler method to enable Apple’s cloud services, including Game Center, faster performance, and more.
From the release notes:
What’s New in Version 5.0
• Includes SDKs for OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and iOS 7.
• LLVM compiler builds 64-bit apps for iOS 7.
• Automatic Configuration enables services like iCloud and Game Center with one click.
• Test Navigator helps you quickly add, edit, and run unit tests.
• Test Assistants display tests and code side-by-side for test driven development.
• Auto Layout in IB can generate constraints automatically, or allow free-form design.
• Preview Assistant demonstrates your UI in portrait or landscape, for iOS 6 or iOS 7.
• Asset Catalog organizes all your project’s images in a single .xcassets archive.
• Debug Gauges show CPU, memory, iCloud, and OpenGL ES usage at a glance.
• Source Control top-level menu enables context sensitive branching and merging.
• Modules build setting speeds compile times, and enables auto-linking system frameworks.
The update weighs in at a rather hefty 2GB file size, which could take you a while to download, given all the iOS 7 update traffic. The update is available now for free through the Mac App Store.
- Xcode 5 (free, Mac App Store link).
Make sure to check out our full iOS 7 coverage roundup for all the details regarding iOS 7, and all of our iOS 7 launch coverage for today and the near future!
