How to Make iOS Development on Linux: Possible Ways to Build an iOS App on Linux
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If you think that a Mac is needed to work on Swift or create an iOS app, then this would be a must-read guide for you. While iOS apps are extremely popular, they can be developed on other platforms like Linux or Windows as well. Due to their open-source features, Linux versions are popular in app development.
The best thing is that you can work on iOS development on Linux by using the right tools. In this post, I will let you know how to develop an iOS app on Linux in different ways.
- Part 1: How to Make iOS Development on Linux
- Part 2: The Best Tool to do iOS App Designing on Linux - [Step-by-step Tutorial]
How to Work on iOS Development on Linux: 3 Possible Solutions
Even if you don't own a Mac, you can work on iOS development on Ubuntu by using third-party tools (like a sandbox or a virtual machine). I would recommend the following solutions to develop iOS apps on Linux.
Method 1: Use a Virtual Machine
In nutshell, a virtual machine is a dedicated software component that would let you load the macOS on your Linux system virtually. Two of the popular virtual machines for macOS that you can further explore are VirtualBox and VMware WorkStation.
Source: Mano
Once you have installed a virtual machine supporting macOS, you can simulate it on your Linux system. Later, you can use Xcode and an iOS simulator to build an iOS app on Linux.
Method 2: Use Sandbox or a Dual Boot Machine
With the help of a Sandbox, you can install both Linux and macOS on your system. Instead of a virtual machine, you can access all the features of macOS and can easily develop Swift on Linux. A Sandbox is a trusted and sealed environment that is used to develop or text codes for a particular platform.
Source: Akamai
Here are some of the popular sources that can help you develop an iOS app on Linux via Sandbox (or a dual boot machine).
- osx86project.org
- iSwift.org
- Objectivec2Swift
- Online.SwitftPlayground.Run
- Jdoodle
Most of these tools will let you create a restricted environment on your Linux that can be used to develop and test iOS apps easily.
Method 3: Use Cross-platform Solutions
The best way to do iOS development on Linux is by using cross-platform solutions that would run similarly on both Linux and Mac. For instance, using a reliable cross-platform tool, you can do the entire iOS development on Ubuntu and can later deploy results on a Mac.
Some of the popular options that are used to build an iOS app on Linux would be as follows:
- React Native
- PhoneGap
- Ionic
- Cordova
- Flutter
- Appcelerator
- Xamarin
Out of all the options, React Native and Flutter are considered as the most reliable ways to develop Swift on Linux. Flutter is owned by Google while React Native is a resourceful tool by Facebook. These cross-platform tools have dedicated Swift code libraries that would help you develop iOS apps in your preferred language and platform.
Source: Codemagic
Later, you can even take the assistance of Apple TestFlight to test the functioning of your iOS app on Linux easily.
You May Also Wonder: What is Flutter for Android and How to Use Flutter for Android Apps
The Best Tool to do iOS App Designing on Linux
Now when you know about the iOS development on Linux, let's talk about the overall design of your apps. For this, you can take the assistance of a professional tool - Wondershare Mockitt. Having dedicated app designing features, it will save your time and would also yield better results.
Key Features:
- Offers hundreds of widgets, vectors, and templates to make your app designing job easier.
- A dedicated resource for iOS widgets to import to your canvas and work on your app's design.
- This web-based solution helps to use on Linux or any other platform without compatibility issues.
- Supports to upload your work to the cloud, share and collaborate with your team.
- Maintain different versions of your project and even assign roles to your colleagues online.
To come up with the stunning design of your iOS apps via Mockitt, you can just follow these steps:
Step 1: Enter Details about your Project
To begin with, you can just go to your Mockitt dashboard and click on the "Create" button to work on a new project. You can further select the target perspective for any iOS device.
Step 2: Use the Available iOS and other Widgets
Once you get the working canvas on Mockitt, you can view a floating sidebar with a listing of widgets. You can now drag any widget, drop it on your canvas, and customize it as you like.
There is also a provision to add the iOS widget library to your dashboard. For this, just go to its "Libraries > Resources" and add the iOS library to your resources.
After the library is added, you can go to your workspace again and find the iOS widget option under the widgets section.
Step 3: Add Dynamic Elements and Links
Similarly, you can also add all kinds of transitions, effects, links, and other dynamic elements. For instance, you can drag and drop a link and connect the widget to the target page from the sidebar.
As you would add the link, you can go to its properties from the side and change its trigger and action effects.
Step 4: Preview and Export your Designs
There you go! Once you are satisfied with your app's design, you can go to the "Preview" section from the top to check it from a user's perspective.
There is also a "Handoff" section that you can find at the top of the Mockitt interface. Using it, you can easily export the design of your iOS app in a preferred format.
Conclusion:
After reading this guide, you would be able to develop iOS apps on Linux pretty easily. Even though you do not have a macOS system, you can set up a virtual machine or use a cross-platform tool for iOS development on Ubuntu/Linux.
Besides that, you can also take the assistance of Wondershare Mockitt to create the overall design of your iOS apps like a pro. Used by professionals, it an intuitive designing application that can help you create your app's prototype without any hassle.
