Software development for Mac

[neuro.akn]

I'm looking to develop a program for Mac, specifically iOS, but am unsure of which language to use. I know that of course Xcode and Objective-C are ideal for Apple development; however, you need to agree to licensing and things like that, and my snow leopard OS is not compatible with Xcode. Which languages can I use to develop a complex program for iOS that I can simply download?

[Tony]

You need Xcode to get your basic programming tools on your machine, even if you're not going to be using Xcode directly.

[mirhagk]

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3tl6ar/

[neuro.akn]

Tony, I don't really know what you mean by that. Could you elaborate?

[Tony]

if you want to make an iOS app, you need tools that come packaged with Xcode for any language of your choice.

[neuro.akn]

Okay, I see. Thank you. Are there any recommendations of which language I use? The program I am looking to build is complex and structured. Somewhat hard to describe, sorry.

[wtd]

Use Objective-C. It's a good language and you won't be swimming against the current.

[rdrake]

As Tony said, Xcode is required as it provides the toolchain to compile, link, sign, deploy, and debug iOS applications. As wtd has said, Objective-C is the primary language for developing both iOS as well as Mac applications. It's a decent language with some nifty features, though it can be quite verbose.

There are other languages that you can use on iOS if you desire. Objective-C is the path of least resistance and just about everybody knows it who develops on iOS.

[mirhagk]

If you choose to go with mono you get the ability to cross-compile to android, iOS or windows phone, meaning you just have to change the interface for each one (which ideally should be the least difficult part).

[Insectoid]

Xcode is on your OSX install disks, if you still have them.

[ncvitak]

If you are running on snow leopard it is only $20 I think to upgrade to Mountain Lion, and then Xcode is available for free off of the Mac App Store. Xcode is one of the most advanced IDE's in the world, so it is a must have if you are programming any C language, and you have a Mac. Without Xcode you do not have the tools to publish, let alone create an app for Mac or iOS.

Also
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OLDER XCODE VERSIONS FROM APPLE THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH SNOW LEOPARD
Xcode 3.2.6 for Snow Leopard: https://adcdownload.apple.com/Developer_Tools/xcode_3.2.6_and_ios_sdk_4.3__final/xcode_3.2.6_and_ios_sdk_4.3.dmg

More developer tools: https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action