Hot on the heels of the OS X Lion Gold Master release is the release of Xcode 4.1 Developer Preview 7 for Lion. The world’s best developer tools are only getting better. Kudos to Apple on this new release. But what’s new in the seventh version of Xcode 4.1?
What’s New in Xcode 4.1 Developer Preview 7
- Improvements to NIB file editing.
- Better dependency support for removals in Interface Builder 3.
What’s New in Xcode 4.1 for Lion
• Interface Builder support for Auto Layout and new Aqua controls such as NSPopover
• Project modernization identifies possible build settings errors and can fix them for you
• Full screen is fully supported by the main Xcode workspace and organizer windows
• Source control enhancements to pushing, pulling, and management of remotes
• View generated assembly and pre-processed output within the Assistant editor
• Fixed a bug in LLVM GCC 4.2 and LLVM compiler 2 for iOS projects
• Additional bug fixes and stability improvements
What’s New in Xcode 4
• Xcode 4 has a brand new, single window interface for all major workflows
• Interface Builder is now integrated within the main Xcode IDE
• Assistant shows a paired editor with complementary files, e.g.: header or UI controller
• Live Issues display coding errors as you type, and Fix-it can correct the mistake for you
Conclusion
Xcode 4 is one of the best development tools I’ve ever used and I’ve used a good number of tools over the years. If you are interested in programming Xcode and Objective-C is a good place to start. So what are you waiting for — go grab a copy of Xcode and start tinkering.
Did you find any other new goodies in Xcode 4.1 Developer Preview 7? Tell us about what you’ve found by leaving a comment.
David W. Martin has more than 20 years of experience in the industry as a programmer, systems and business analyst, author, and consultant. David has written for CNET’s iPhoneatlas.com, MacLife.com, CultofMac.com, BYTE.com and recently for aNewDoman.net. He comes to Cult of Mac’s website with deep knowledge and passion for the all things Apple. Follow David on Twitter @david_w_martin or see what he’s up to now at davidwmartin.com.
