Xcode VS GitHub Desktop

Compare Xcode VS GitHub Desktop and see what are their differences

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Xcode

Xcode is Apple’s powerful integrated development environment for creating great apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Xcode 4 includes the Xcode IDE, instruments, iOS Simulator, and the latest Mac OS X and iOS SDKs.

GitHub Desktop

GitHub Desktop is a seamless way to contribute to projects on GitHub and GitHub Enterprise.

Landing page //
2024-07-04

Landing page //
2023-05-02

Xcode

Website: developer.apple.com
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GitHub Desktop

Website: desktop.github.com
$ Details

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Xcode features and specs

Integrated Development Environment
Xcode offers a fully integrated development environment for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. This integration includes code editing, project management, compilers, and debugging tools all in one application.
Interface Builder
Interface Builder is a graphical tool included with Xcode that allows developers to design user interfaces visually. This can speed up the development process and allow for easier customization of user interfaces.
Swift and Objective-C Support
Xcode provides robust support for both the Swift and Objective-C programming languages, which are essential for Apple's ecosystem.
Simulator
Xcode includes simulators for all Apple devices, allowing for rapid testing and debugging of applications without the need for physical hardware.
In-depth Debugging Tools
Xcode provides a comprehensive suite of debugging tools like breakpoints, stack trace analysis, and memory management tools, helping developers identify and resolve issues efficiently.
Performance and Profiling Tools
Xcode includes Instruments, a powerful performance analysis and profiling toolset. This helps developers optimize the performance and memory usage of their applications.
Documentation and Resources
Xcode has built-in access to extensive Apple Developer Documentation and resources, making it easier to find information and solutions related to Apple's APIs and frameworks.

Possible disadvantages of Xcode

macOS Exclusive
Xcode is only available for macOS, meaning that developers must use an Apple computer to build applications for Apple's platforms.
Resource Intensive
Xcode can be demanding on system resources, particularly RAM and CPU, which can affect performance on older or less powerful machines.
Steep Learning Curve
For new developers, Xcode can be overwhelming due to its complexity and the vast array of features and options available.
Update Frequency
Frequent updates to Xcode can sometimes introduce new bugs or require developers to update their project settings and code to maintain compatibility.
Limited Cross-Platform Capabilities
Xcode is designed specifically for Apple's ecosystems and provides limited support for cross-platform development, restricting its use for developers targeting multiple platforms.
Build Times
Build times for larger projects can become lengthy, potentially slowing down the development cycle and time to market.

GitHub Desktop features and specs

User-Friendly Interface
GitHub Desktop offers a clean, intuitive GUI that simplifies the Git process, making it accessible for beginners and less technical users.
Seamless GitHub Integration
The application is tightly integrated with GitHub, allowing users to easily clone repositories, create branches, and submit pull requests directly through the desktop interface.
Cross-Platform Support
GitHub Desktop is available on both Windows and macOS, offering a consistent experience across these major operating systems.
Simplifies Workflow
Features like drag-and-drop to add files, visual diff tools, and easy branching help streamline the workflow for users.
Collaborative Features
The app provides useful collaborative tools such as reviewing changes, creating requests, and viewing history, enhancing team productivity.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub Desktop

Limited Advanced Features
While GitHub Desktop is great for basic tasks, it lacks advanced features found in other Git clients like GitKraken or the command line.
Dependency on GitHub
The app is deeply integrated with GitHub, which can be limiting for users who want to interact with repositories hosted on other platforms like GitLab or Bitbucket.
Performance Issues
Some users report performance issues when dealing with large repositories or a significant number of files, which can hinder productivity.
Customization Limitations
GitHub Desktop offers limited customization options compared to other Git clients or the command line, which may be a drawback for power users.
Offline Limitations
Certain features of GitHub Desktop require an internet connection to interact with GitHub, limiting its usability in offline scenarios.

Xcode videos

+ Add

Getting Started: An Overview of Xcode

GitHub Desktop videos

+ Add

GitHub Desktop 2.0 -- Easy Mode Version Control

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Xcode and GitHub Desktop)

Xcode

GitHub Desktop

IDE

100 100%

IDE

0% 0

Git

0 0%

Git

100% 100

Text Editors

100 100%

Text Editors

0% 0

Code Collaboration

0 0%

Code Collaboration

100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Xcode and GitHub Desktop. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Xcode and GitHub Desktop

Xcode Reviews

Explore 9 Top Eclipse Alternatives for 2024

While Xcode is primarily free, a subscription to the Apple Developer Program is required for iOS app development at $99 per year.

Source: aircada.com

What's The Best C++ IDE? Our Top C++ IDEs & Editors In 2024

Occupying the sixth spot on my list is Xcode, Apple's flagship IDE. And yes, it's probably most well-known for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS development, but Xcode is also an excellent choice for C++ developers working on the macOS platform.

Source: hackr.io

Android Studio Alternative

Apple’s integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS is Xcode, which can be used to create software for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. In addition, it provides Command Line Tools (CLT), which enable UNIX-style development via the Terminal app in macOS. Xcode also has built-in support for source code management via the Git version control system and protocol,...

Source: www.educba.com

Top 10 Visual Studio Alternatives

The XCode cloud is a constant integration and a type of delivery service. It is a type of cloud that is ideally designed for apple users. It is only made for MAC OS X; hence, you need to try other ways if you have a Windows PC. The main goal of Xcode is to develop the software system for various IOS systems.

Source: blog.back4app.com

Best Eclipse Alternatives to Use

Xcode includes a code editor supporting syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, and code snippets, as well as an interface builder, which is designed for developing graphical user interfaces. Xcode supports the entire lifecycle of an application, including code editing, compilation, debugging, testing, and deployment.

Source: eclipsewin.com

GitHub Desktop Reviews

Best Git GUI Clients of 2022: All Platforms Included

Creating branches and switching to existing ones isn’t a hassle, so is merging code with the master branch. Furthermore, you can track your changes with GitHub Desktop. Check out our detailed guide on how to use GitHub for more detailed information.

Source: www.hostinger.com

Boost Development Productivity With These 14 Git Clients for Windows and Mac

GitHub Desktop is the global standard for working with Git-related tasks in a graphical user interface (GUI). It is an open-source tool and hence completely free to use for all sorts of projects. It is available for both Windows and macOS desktops and laptops.

Source: geekflare.com

Best Git GUI Clients for Windows

GitHub Desktop is, perhaps, the most famous solution for working with Git in a visual interface. It is familiar to all developers keeping their repositories on GitHub (Git repository hosting service used for version-controlling IT projects). This free Git GUI is open-source, transparent, and functional. When you consider the Git graphical interface for Windows, GitHub...

Source: blog.devart.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Xcode might be a bit more popular than GitHub Desktop. We know about 145 links to it since March 2021 and only 135 links to GitHub Desktop. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Xcode mentions (145)

An Animated Introduction to Programming in C++ [Full Course]
There are practice problems in each section so that you can practice while learning from the content. These are in the 'Hands-On Practice' section in each section. Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) are tools that allow you to write your own programs. There are some great, free C++ IDEs out there like Visual Studio, Xcode, and CLion. The simplest way to get started is to use a web-based IDE. Replit works... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
Which App Debugging Tools are the Best?
2. Xcode Debugger Xcode remains the standard iOS app debugging tool. Its debugger is exceptional at identifying memory leaks, helping to discover thread races, and even focusing on the cause of crashes. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
Must-Use Mobile Accessibility Testing Tools in 2025
XCode inspector offers VoiceOver Simulation to read out app elements for identifying if descriptions mentioned for the UI are meaningful and informative. It helps to make your app accessible to users with disabilities. Apart from that the Accessibility Inspector offers a complete audit of the app’s UI elements. Also as you make changes to your app the tool offers immediate feedback on accessibility issues. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
From React to React Native – A Beginner-Friendly Guide🚀
Set Up Android Studio and Xcode: To develop for Android, you need Android Studio installed. For iOS development, Xcode is required (macOS only). - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
How To Build a TikTok Clone With SwiftUI
To follow along with this tutorial, you will need an Xcode installation. It is recommended to download Xcode 15 or a later version. Also, to provide access to the user's camera feed in this app, we will use the Stream Video SDK. The Video SDK allows developers to build FaceTime-style video calling](https://getstream.io/blog/facetime-clone/), Twitch-like content... - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago

GitHub Desktop mentions (135)

How to Fix the Issue of Not Being Able to View Your GitHub Account on Other Devices
Download the latest version from the GitHub Desktop website. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
12 Steps to Organize and Maintain Your Python Codebase for Beginners
I’m not going to dive into Git commands here — you can find plenty of tutorials online. If you’re not a fan of using the plain terminal CLI, you can also manage repositories with tools like GitHub Desktop or SourceTree, which provide a more visual, intuitive interface. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
File Governance and Versioning in Corticon BRMS
Using terminal commands isn’t necessary for basic adoption of Git with Corticon Studio files, though. There are various tools that will allow us to bypass the command line when defining rules, including the built-in Eclipse plugin for Git version control. If you’ll be storing your assets on GitHub, though, an even easier solution is GitHub Desktop, a free desktop software that GitHub offers. It can be used in... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
An Introduction to Nix for Ruby Developers
Nix currently is akin to git's "porcelain": powerful but esoteric. However, much like git evolved into exoteric, user-friendly tools such as git-flow, GitHub Desktop, and Tower to become user-friendly, many developers are building abstractions, wrappers, and utilities to simplify Nix usage. Let's briefly look at a few of these tools now. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
Make your first contribution on github easily
1.Download the github desktop. 2.Open the first contribution repository. 3.Open the github app and clone the repository. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago