Apple makes Xcode free to all with release of 4.1 on Mac App Store

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  • Reply 21 of 52
    addicted44addicted44 Posts: 831member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by emig647 View Post


    Before 4.0 you could just be a FREE developer account which was offered to anyone and download Xcode. Once 4.0 came out you had to be a paid developer or pay the $4.99. So yah, Xcode 3.00 was free as was all the versions before it including project builder.



    Before XCode 4, every new version of XCode always accompanied a new paid for, version of Mac OS X.



    Solipsism is right. Its all about the conservative interpretation of GAAP that Apple has adopted. Now that Lion has been released, Apple can charge the costs of XCode development against Lion sales.



    And seriously, if you can't shell out 4.99 for the dev tools, you shouldn't be developing. You should be out on the streets looking for a job to pay for your food.
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  • Reply 22 of 52
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mercurysquad View Post


    Xcode 4 was not available to those with a 'free' developer account. You either got it via the 99$ developer account, or if you didn't want to spend that much, bought it off the app store for 5$.



    It wasn't available due to it's beta and then release candidate status. During it's rewrite they targeted only paying Devs to test it.



    Now that it has become a general release Xcode has moved back to it's expected status of available to anyone with a free dev account, and yes the other poster is correct that what's changed is now anyone with a basic Apple ID can download it.
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  • Reply 23 of 52
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by addicted44 View Post


    Before XCode 4, every new version of XCode always accompanied a new paid for, version of Mac OS X.



    Solipsism is right. Its all about the conservative interpretation of GAAP that Apple has adopted. Now that Lion has been released, Apple can charge the costs of XCode development against Lion sales.



    And seriously, if you can't shell out 4.99 for the dev tools, you shouldn't be developing. You should be out on the streets looking for a job to pay for your food.



    True, but it was $4.99 plus $99 for the Dev Program to get early access to it, until it reached a state of maturity.
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  • Reply 24 of 52
    emig647emig647 Posts: 2,455member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by addicted44 View Post


    Before XCode 4, every new version of XCode always accompanied a new paid for, version of Mac OS X.



    Solipsism is right. Its all about the conservative interpretation of GAAP that Apple has adopted. Now that Lion has been released, Apple can charge the costs of XCode development against Lion sales.



    And seriously, if you can't shell out 4.99 for the dev tools, you shouldn't be developing. You should be out on the streets looking for a job to pay for your food.



    But that was my point in my FIRST post.



    There are unix / x11 apps / libraries out there that people used and needed the Developer Tools to compile against them but, necessarily weren't developers themselves.



    Developer Tools was the easiest way to install / configure / compile video libraries (the first thing that comes to mind).



    Remember we are on FreeBSD after all. Shouldn't we have a free way to compile open source software?



    I don't buy the whole GAAP argument. If this was true, I believe apple would have charged a lot more than $4.99. There was some speculation among the community that there was some royalty that apple had to pay. I think that's been thrown out the window at this point.
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  • Reply 25 of 52
    emig647emig647 Posts: 2,455member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer View Post


    True, but it was $4.99 plus $99 for the Dev Program to get early access to it, until it reached a state of maturity.



    I could always download 4 (even the betas) from my paid Dev Program without paying the 4.99. You just had to click on the extra tab that is next to the normal one under the developer account to get to it. I haven't ever downloaded 4 through the app store. *been using it since preview 5*
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  • Reply 26 of 52
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by emig647 View Post


    Go assume more newb.



    See, solipsism? What'd I tell you?



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Neves View Post


    post



    We have a signature system here so you don't have to copy/paste that every time.



    Besides, it looks like you're spamming with an advert when you do.
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  • Reply 27 of 52
    boriscletoboriscleto Posts: 159member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Steven N. View Post


    You could always sign up for the free developer accounts and get XCode for free. They just opened it up for anyone with an Apple ID.



    Not much of a change but a welcome one at that.



    Nope. XCode 4 was $4.99 if you had a free account.
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  • Reply 28 of 52
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by emig647 View Post


    Remember we are on FreeBSD after all. Shouldn't we have a free way to compile open source software?



    You're a developer and you think Xcode is the only way to use a compiler on Mac OS?



    Quote:

    I don't buy the whole GAAP argument. If this was true, I believe apple would have charged a lot more than $4.99. There was some speculation among the community that there was some royalty that apple had to pay. I think that's been thrown out the window at this point.



    ? http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...ios_users.html



    :sigh:



    Pray tell, why do you think they would have charged a lot more than $4.99 when they have a history of charging little for software and services in order to get you to buy their HW? Your not understanding accounting doesn't mean it's nonexistent. You don't even have to agree with the silly practice but a rationale person would acknowledge the existence and Apple's usage of it on several occasions in the past.
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  • Reply 29 of 52
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by boriscleto View Post


    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Steven N.


    You could always sign up for the free developer accounts and get XCode for free. They just opened it up for anyone with an Apple ID.



    Nope. XCode 4 was $4.99 if you had a free account.



    You're both correct. Xcode 3 was free with a free ADC account. It's Xcode 4 that was a charge for those with non-paying ADC accounts or no account at all for use on SL.



    It's was already known Xcode 4 would be free for Lion users from the App Store, regardless.
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  • Reply 30 of 52
    steven n.steven n. Posts: 1,229member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by emig647 View Post


    You are wrong. As of Xcode 4.00 they started charging $4.99 unless you were a PAID iOS or Mac developer. The free accounts couldn't download 4.00 any more. They could download 3.xx if you could find the url though.



    https://discussions.apple.com/thread...art=0&tstart=0

    http://www.astrobetter.com/mac-app-store-xcode4/

    http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/09/apple...-for-everyone/

    http://www.macrumors.com/2011/03/09/...tore-for-4-99/



    About 3-4 months back. Weird. I missed that one.
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  • Reply 31 of 52
    emig647emig647 Posts: 2,455member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    You're a developer and you think Xcode is the only way to use a compiler on Mac OS?



    :sigh: Will you please re-read what i wrote? I did NOT say ONLY way, I said EASIEST. I'm starting to get irritated with you questioning me being a developer for words you're putting into my mouth. Are you always this confrontational?



    Quote:

    http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...ios_users.html



    :sigh:



    Pray tell, why do you think they would have charged a lot more than $4.99 when they have a history of charging little for software and services in order to get you to buy their HW? Your not understanding accounting doesn't mean it's nonexistent. You don't even have to agree with the silly practice but a rationale person would acknowledge the existence and Apple's usage of it on several occasions in the past.



    4.99 from the few people that paid it isn't going to make up for their development costs. I'll admit I'm not an accountant or anywhere near it. But this has been discussed in depth on other forums, none of which points to 4.99 making up for any additional costs. Especially when a great number are already paying $99 or $198 for both Mac and iOS accounts. Nor does it point to the returns on gaining developers who are interested in the platform but are then forced to pay 4.99 to learn about it where it used to be free.
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  • Reply 32 of 52
    cloudgazercloudgazer Posts: 2,161member
    http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/...=vssitebuy_buy



    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/buy.aspx



    Yep, that $4.99 for Xcode 4 was an outrage and $99 for a developer subscription is scandalous
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  • Reply 33 of 52
    solipsismsolipsism Posts: 25,726member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cloudgazer View Post


    http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/...=vssitebuy_buy



    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/buy.aspx



    Yep, that $4.99 for Xcode 4 was an outrage and $99 for a developer subscription is scandalous



    Right?!
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  • Reply 34 of 52
    revilrerevilre Posts: 67member
    So if everyone is done fighting over $4.99, and would like to discuss some useful information:



    I discovered while trying to install Xcode 4.1 that with iTunes 10.4 running it would not install (not unusual) however even after quitting iTunes it kept the "please quit iTunes" up. I had to go into activity monitor and force quit iTuneshelper before the Xcode installer recognized that iTunes was not running.
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  • Reply 35 of 52
    nobodyynobodyy Posts: 377member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by revilre View Post


    So if everyone is done fighting over $4.99, and would like to discuss some useful information:



    I discovered while trying to install Xcode 4.1 that with iTunes 10.4 running it would not install (not unusual) however even after quitting iTunes it kept the "please quit iTunes" up. I had to go into activity monitor and force quit iTuneshelper before the Xcode installer recognized that iTunes was not running.



    This bug has been in the installer since the beta of Xcode 4.1. I reported it but obviously it was overlooked.



    As for the $4.99, get over it. It was only $5, as much as a coffee from Starbucks. You should just go ahead and pay the extra $94 to get the real developer advantages...
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  • Reply 36 of 52
    strobestrobe Posts: 369member
    I'll reserve my kudos for when they revise their iOS developer tax.
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  • Reply 37 of 52
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by emig647 View Post


    I could always download 4 (even the betas) from my paid Dev Program without paying the 4.99. You just had to click on the extra tab that is next to the normal one under the developer account to get to it. I haven't ever downloaded 4 through the app store. *been using it since preview 5*



    True, because you paid $99. Your fee went towards the development of Xcode 4. I probably gave the impression you had to pay $99 and then $4.99. That was incorrect. Paid devs always get the Dev tools. The $4.99 was a way to open up the Dev Tools to a wider audience before Lion arrived.
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  • Reply 38 of 52
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by johnnyb0731 View Post


    no it doesn't



    Un huh ....with a Crayola.
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  • Reply 39 of 52
    anakin1992anakin1992 Posts: 283member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by addicted44 View Post


    Before XCode 4, every new version of XCode always accompanied a new paid for, version of Mac OS X.



    Solipsism is right. Its all about the conservative interpretation of GAAP that Apple has adopted. Now that Lion has been released, Apple can charge the costs of XCode development against Lion sales.



    And seriously, if you can't shell out 4.99 for the dev tools, you shouldn't be developing. You should be out on the streets looking for a job to pay for your food.



    someone mentioned before that because of Sarbanes-Oxley act apple has to charge nominal amount for some new features or goodies to their customers who purchased apple products when future new features were not yet announced or announced on later products but want to port it for early versions.



    i don't know how the amount is calculated, though.
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  • Reply 40 of 52
    jonamacjonamac Posts: 388member
    Reality check: It was $4.99. Are you really wasting finger breath arguing over the price of a Big Mac?
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