Minimum MacOS Version Required to Compile iOS Apps

Question

We wish to compile iOS (iPhone & iPad) apps and we want to know if you need to have a minimum version of MacOS to compile/create the apps? We currently have a Mac OS X 10.6.8, 1GB RAM, 32 Bit.

If we want to compile apps for iOS 7 do we need the latest (more recent than what we have) OS?

Edit: Does the fact our Mac machine is 32bit affect our ability to compile iOS apps (old apps and/or more recent apps - iOS 5 and up)?

Answer 1

2022 update

Now they require SDK 15, included in XCode 13 or later (https://xcodereleases.com).

This release requires macOS Big Sur 11.3 which can officially work on macs from 2013 and later: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211238

In fact you can install it on an older mac with a patch, such as: https://github.com/dortania/Opencore-Legacy-Patcher

Answer 2

OS X 10.6.8 (snow leopard) is TOO OLD to publish an iphone app.

You'll need a new mac with OS X 10.8 (mountain lion). If the hardware in your mac won't support an upgrade to more recent OS X versions, don't waste your time. Apple have not maintained backward compatibility: the minimum versions of Xcode or Application Launcher needed to meet the app store requirements won't run on 10.6.8.

Specifically: - Beginning on February 1, 2015 new iOS apps submitted to the App Store must include 64-bit support and be built with the iOS 8 SDK

You can develop, test and simulate with your old mac, but ultimately to build and publish your app you'll need a newer Mac.

Answer 3

If we want to compile apps for iOS 7 do we need the latest (more recent than what we have) OS?

Compiling apps against the iOS 7 SDK requires Xcode 5. Xcode 5 requires 10.8.4 or later. You have provided insufficient information about your Mac to determine if your Mac can run OS X 10.8. Try to install Mavericks here, or if that doesn't work see the Mountain Lion requirements and buy it here.

Answer 4

iOS7 SDK requires XCode 5 (min requirement 10.8.4)

OSX 10.6.8 will not run anything beyond XCode 4.2