Xcode 7 allows people to download, build, and sideload iOS apps for free

BY Evan Selleck

Published 10 Jun 2015

Xcode 7

One of the changes that Apple made during its Worldwide Developers Conference was to the way it handled its developer program, moving away from individual programs and combining them instead.

Now, developers can simply pay $99 per year to develop for the iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac all-in-one. On top of that change, though, Apple also made a change to the way that applications are actually tested on devices. Instead of paying to have that opportunity, developers and testers can now simply load apps onto an iOS device without having to pay anything at all.

What’s more, developers will also gain the ability to release applications outside of the App Store for those iOS devices, as long as those applications are released as an open source item. For those in the know, users could get that open source application, run it through Xcode 7 and compile it, and then “sideload” it on their iOS device.

As pointed out by 9to5Mac, the process at face value is similar to the way that Android users can sideload apps onto their devices, but this process takes a few more steps. To get it to work a user will need Xcode installed on their Mac, physically connect an iOS device to the machine, and then run the app through Xcode to build the app. It takes a bit more of a technical know-how to get it done, but for those that know what they’re doing, it’s certainly an option.

It’s a huge move for emulators, too, such as the popular GBA4iOS, which works for both the iPhone and iPad as long as the handset is jailbroken. With this method, though, users could simply build the app in Xcode and then directly install it on their iOS device.

The monthly subscription that Apple requests for developers, at this point, is simply to get apps into the App Store and available in that way.

[via 9to5Mac]