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Xcode 3.2.2 available for developers

Apple has made version 3.2.2 of their Xcode developer tools available for download.

Topher Kessler MacFixIt Editor
Topher, an avid Mac user for the past 15 years, has been a contributing author to MacFixIt since the spring of 2008. One of his passions is troubleshooting Mac problems and making the best use of Macs and Apple hardware at home and in the workplace.
Topher Kessler
3 min read

Apple has made version 3.2.2 of their Xcode developer tools available, which is primarily a bug fix for the debugger and interface builder, as well as the llvm-gcc compiler and some of Apple's optimization tools including Clang and Shark. The update also addresses bugs with Interface Builder. If you have earlier versions of Xcode, keep in mind that this update will need to be installed over OS 10.6.2 or later.

Besides bug fixes, the update provides more support for developing iPad and Universal iPad/iPhone apps, providing the options to convert current iPhone apps to iPad apps with a new "Upgrade Current Target for iPad" option in the Project menu.

In addition to this enhancement, the update provides the following new features and fixes:

  1. The assistant interface has been completely revamped, making it easier to create "New Project", "New Target", and "New File" resources. This release of Xcode also adds new assistant templates for both Mac OS X and iPhone OS applications.
  2. New optional LLVM compiler uses the much faster Clang front-end parser coupled with the LLVM back-end compiler for fast compiles and fast executable code. The LLVM GCC 4.2 compiler benefits from the improved back-end code generation of LLVM, but uses the GCC 4.2 parser to maintain backward compatibility and add C++ support. The LLVM compiler will fall back to using LLVM GCC 4.2 when it encounters C++ code.
  3. New build menu item "Build and Analyze" will generate build warnings using the new static analyzer, identifying potential coding mistakes by analyzing most possible code paths. These build warnings can also be viewed using the new message bubbles which, when clicked, will display arrows that walk through the steps that can create the coding error.
  4. New, less-obtrusive message bubbles stay right-justified and take up less room within the editor window, without re-flowing the source code.
  5. New build results window persists results so that old warnings are not lost, allowing a quit and re-launch of Xcode to more easily return to the previous state.
  6. New "Quick Help" feature (option-double-click on an API) gives instant access to the most common documentation information, replacing the Research Assistant. Quick Help will disappear when focus is changed, or the window may be dragged to a more docked position on the screen.
  7. Documentation is now downloaded from the web by default after installation, and will be automatically updated in the background. If you do not wish to download the documentation to save disk space, you may uncheck the the documentation at install time and the docs will instead be viewed from an online server.
  8. New Developer Documentation window presents search results along the side by category, making it easier to navigate the search results.
  9. A new Overview toolbar item lets you see and set the project's active Target, Configuration, Executable, Architecture, and SDK with a single control.
  10. Setting Architectures and SDKs are now done with provided pop-up lists rather than manually entered strings or long paths.
  11. It is now easier to add known frameworks to your project.
  12. The source code editor now allows you to "Edit All In Scope", to edit all instances of a symbol in a particular scope.
  13. Build settings can be set for any combination of architecture and SDK.
  14. GCC 4.2 is the default system compiler for the 10.6 SDK
  15. Using the LLVM compiler requires the 10.6 SDK
  16. Using LLVM GCC or GCC 4.2 requires the 10.5 SDK or 10.6 SDK

The update is a 577.6 MB download that is available via Software Update for those who have Xcode installed, but can also be installed for free if you download the full Xcode installer from the Apple Developer website. In order to download, you must be logged in with a developer ID (registration is free at the developer website).



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