setup.md

Setting up your Mac for iOS app development

Students will need:

1. Mac computer running OS X Sierra 10.12.1 (req'd to download Xcode 8.1 and have Swift 3.0.1), with at least 8 GB of RAM (4GB can be too sluggish at times).

If you are upgrading your operating system, remember to backup existing iOS projects, software keys, etc -- ideally on an external hard drive.
If you have specialty software (video editing software, etc), please check with the user and support communities to verify the compatible versions of OS X before upgrading.

• if you're computer doesn't have 8GB of RAM yet:

  • first you need to identify which model you have: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201165

    • If in doubt, just walk into an Apple store with your laptop & stop by the Genius Bar. They'll tell you & then you can just buy it yourself online.

  • then, if more RAM can be added (I think 2014 or older laptops), then you can enter that model into various stores:

    • http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/apple-memory
    • http://www.newegg.com/Mac-Memory/SubCategory/ID-551
    • http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/guidedSearch.asp?CatId=10
    • http://www.kingston.com/us/memory/desktop-notebook

    ...and they'll show you what they are selling that is compatible.

  • then install the new memory cards:

    • you can do it yourself following any of a number of YouTube videos (search for your specific Mac computer model)
    • you can get a fellow student to help
    • walk into an Apple store & (in my experience) a Genius Bar employee can do it for you in less than 10 minutes

1. Xcode -- the integrated development environment (IDE) from Apple for making software for iOS and OS X

• First check to see if you already have Xcode installed on your Mac (look in your Applications folder):
  • if you already have Xcode, open the software to see which version number you have
  • if you don't, follow this link: https://developer.apple.com/xcode/download/
    • Here you will be asked to create an Apple Developer account.
      • If you already have an Apple ID, you can sign in with this.
      • You only need the free version.
      • However, if you want to release your app in the app store, you will have to enroll in the iOS Developer Program. This costs $99 a year.
    • If you have slow internet downloading Xcode could take 10 hours; however, if not, it should take 10 minutes. If you find yourself with a 10hr download time go to your local Apple store (free wifi and no password required).

1. git -- a version control system for software development

• First check to see if you already have git installed on your Mac:

  • open the Terminal program (look in Applications > Utilities)

  • type:

    git --version

  • if you have git already installed on your Mac, then you will see a result like this:

    git version 2.6.2

  • for any other result, Ctrl + C to escape back to "the command line" (more about the command line)

• if you need to install git on your Mac, follow this link: http://git-scm.com/downloads
  • the easiest way to check if the installation worked:

    • open a *new* Terminal window, and

    • again type:

      git --version

Optional (more detail coming later)

1. Homebrew
2. CocoaPods

---

#Installation Checkout

Please email us the following:

• screenshot of your OS X version

• screenshot of your Xcode version

• screenshot(s) of the results of the following commands (run from the Terminal):

  echo $PATH
  

  which git
  

  git --version
  

  > if any of the following shell initialization files (.profile, .bash_profile, .bashrc) are too big to easily take a screenshot of the contents displayed by the 'cat' command, then just attach them to the email.

  cd ~
  

  cat .profile
  

  cat .bash_profile
  

  cat .bashrc
  

Some of these commands may return no result, meaning these files are not on your machine, which is not necessarily a problem, but it's good for us to know if you do.

---

Now make your first iOS app or return to the main page.