Datasheet

Getting Started

Support for Schemes, which offer fine control over how projects build, and support dif-

ferent build options for different applications (for example, testing, debugging, pack-

aging for distribution, and so on)

Support for Workspaces, which make it easy to manage and work on multiple related

projects

Backward compatibility with Xcode 3.x project files

Improved compiler technology

Various other time-saving features, such as automatic unprompted file saves before

a build

CAUTION

If you load a project made with an older version of Xcode 3 into Xcode 4, you sometimes see an error message reporting

a “Missing SDK.” You can’t build the project until you fix this. For details, see “Selecting the Base SDK” near the

beginning of Chapter 13.

Moving from the Xcode 3 to the Xcode 4 editor

The new features of the editor are described in more detail in Chapter 3, but this chapter

includes a simple orientation for impatient developers who are already familiar with Xcode 3. In

outline, almost all the familiar features have been retained, and there are some new arrivals. But

the UI has been reorganized, and features may be in unfamiliar locations.

NOTE

Xcode 4 is backward compatible with Xcode 3. You can load Xcode 3.x projects and save them again, and Xcode 3

should still be able to open them. Naturally, you can’t open Xcode 4 projects in Xcode 3.

In Xcode 3, floating windows could proliferate uncontrollably, making them difficult to work

with. Xcode 4 gathers every feature into a single window with multiple work areas and panes.

The active areas can be shown, hidden, split, or resized as needed. Every Xcode feature, includ-

ing Interface Builder (IB) and the debugger, can appear in this window. Features can be hidden

when you’re not using them. Hiding and revealing features adds a small overhead, but is much

more efficient and productive than a chaotic mess of windows. You can also create your own

workspaces to save and restore complete window layouts.

TIP

Compared to Xcode 3, Xcode 4 becomes more efficient with a larger monitor. Xcode 3 often wasted screen real estate;

for example, the right side of a code window was usually empty. With Xcode 4, you can have a console/debugger, edi-

tor, file list, and IB open simultaneously in tiled panes. With a large monitor, these panes become large enough to be

truly useful without scrolling, resizing, or switching.

At the top of window, the toolbar area includes a new summary panel that displays project sta-

tus. This gives progress updates as a project builds and displays a count of warnings and errors

after each build. The toolbar has been simplified. Only build/run and stop buttons are available.

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