iOS Development with VS Code: Step-by-Step Setup Guide

February 18, 2025 • 0 views

As you all know, Xcode is an indispensable tool in the world of iOS development. Its powerful features and deep integration with the Apple ecosystem make it the number one choice for iOS developers. However, sometimes you might want to use a lighter, more customizable, and open-source IDE. This is where Visual Studio Code (VS Code) comes in.

VS Code stands out with its lightweight and fast nature, extensive extension support, and customizability. If you're looking for an alternative development environment to Xcode, giving VS Code a chance might be a good idea. In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step setup of an iOS development environment with VS Code. Let's get started!

Setup Steps

1. Install Required Tools

First, we need to install xcode-build-server and xcbeautify tools using Homebrew. These tools are used to build Xcode projects and make the build output more readable.

Open Terminal and run the following commands:

brew install xcode-build-server
brew install xcbeautify

2. Open VS Code and Install Extensions

Open VS Code and install the following extensions:

3. Restart the LSP Server

After installing the extensions, restart the language server by running the SweetPad: Restart LSP Server command from the VS Code command palette.

4. Select Scheme and Device

You need to select the scheme and device you will be developing for. You can do this in two ways:

  • By searching in the VS Code search bar.
  • By selecting from the SweetPad extension panel on the left side.

5. Generate Build Server Configuration

Use the SweetPad extension to generate the build server configuration. Run the SweetPad: Generate Build Server Config command from the VS Code command palette. This process may take about 1 minute and will create a buildServer.json file in your project directory.

6. Build and Run the Application

Finally, to build and run your application, run the SweetPad: Build & Run (launch) command from the VS Code command palette. The build process will start for the selected scheme and device.

Extras

Test Management

To manage your tests more easily, you can install the Swift Test Explorer extension. This extension allows you to run and manage your tests more conveniently.

Xcode Theme

To give VS Code a look similar to the Xcode theme, you can install the Xcode Theme extension.

Advantages

  1. Open Source: Since VS Code is an open-source IDE, you can easily integrate various tools. For example, you can integrate tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor to make your work easier.
  2. Lightweight and Fast: VS Code is lighter and faster compared to Xcode.
  3. Customizable: VS Code is highly customizable with extensive extension support.
  4. Cross-Platform: VS Code allows you to develop not only for iOS but also for other platforms.

Disadvantages

  1. Limited Integration: VS Code does not offer the same level of integration with the Apple ecosystem as Xcode. Features like Interface Builder, Storyboards, and SwiftUI previews are not available in VS Code.
  2. Manual Configuration: Setting up an iOS development environment in VS Code requires more manual configuration compared to Xcode, which can be time-consuming and complex for beginners.
  3. Debugging: While VS Code supports debugging, it may not be as seamless or feature-rich as Xcode's built-in debugging tools.
  4. Official Support: VS Code is not officially supported by Apple for iOS development, which means you might encounter issues that are not well-documented or supported.
  5. Learning Curve: If you are already familiar with Xcode, switching to VS Code might require a learning curve to get used to the new environment and workflow.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can easily set up your iOS development environment with VS Code. With its lightweight and customizable nature, VS Code can make your iOS development experience more efficient. You can benefit from the flexibility of VS Code without giving up the powerful features offered by Xcode. It's worth a try! Also thanks to Adem Özcan for his support.

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