Hardware requirements for Mac

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Hi 

I have developing Android Apps using Windows platform for about a year now and getting very excited to go further and invest in a Mac to develop for IOS as well.

I like to invest in a Mac (costly in our part of the world) and I am also new to IOS, so I like to seek advice on what hardware specifications should I be looking at to run coronasdk? 

Any advice appreciated.

Regards

TH

#2

I’ll let someone else give you specific specs, but I want to give you two pieces of advice:

  1. You can get by with an older piece of Mac hardware,  

- BUT -

  1. Don’t get something too old because, iOS is frequently updated.  This drives frequent updates of xCode.  That in turn requires newer and newer versions of Mac OS.  Mac OS eventually drops older versions of hardware… finally leading to your hardware being too old.

Finally, I’m thinking a used 2014 mac mini would do the job.  This is actually the most recent version, but I think a new one is coming out this year (2017).  A 2014 should last you for a few years before being too old for the latest Mac OS.

PS You might even be able to get by with a 2012 Mac Mini, but don’t be surprised if those are actually more expensive than current ones.  AFAIK they are in some respects better than the newer ones.

Interesting and useful links:

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/31/mac-mini-buy-which/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini

#3

I agree with @roaminggamer; eBay and the like can be useful (I’ve never purchased from them before!) but also Apple has reasonable, if not huge, savings on their Refurbished page.

One option is to build your entire app in the Corona sim and only when it gets toward completion you could get a Cloud Mac for developing against the iOS Sim and building with Xcode. This would also allow you to upload builds to TestFlight and install on your dev device without breaking the bank.

EG: http://www.macincloud.com

#4

Hi Horacebury

if I don’t have to buy a MAC, that would be wonderful. 

I always thought that Apple insist on a MAC platform and an iphone to compile for IOS. 

I must check out macincloud option. Thanks and if possible it will save me a bundle. 

Besides I don’t particularly like to use the MAC.

thanks

Rgds

TH

#5

I’ll let someone else give you specific specs, but I want to give you two pieces of advice:

  1. You can get by with an older piece of Mac hardware,  

- BUT -

  1. Don’t get something too old because, iOS is frequently updated.  This drives frequent updates of xCode.  That in turn requires newer and newer versions of Mac OS.  Mac OS eventually drops older versions of hardware… finally leading to your hardware being too old.

Finally, I’m thinking a used 2014 mac mini would do the job.  This is actually the most recent version, but I think a new one is coming out this year (2017).  A 2014 should last you for a few years before being too old for the latest Mac OS.

PS You might even be able to get by with a 2012 Mac Mini, but don’t be surprised if those are actually more expensive than current ones.  AFAIK they are in some respects better than the newer ones.

Interesting and useful links:

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/31/mac-mini-buy-which/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini

#6

I agree with @roaminggamer; eBay and the like can be useful (I’ve never purchased from them before!) but also Apple has reasonable, if not huge, savings on their Refurbished page.

One option is to build your entire app in the Corona sim and only when it gets toward completion you could get a Cloud Mac for developing against the iOS Sim and building with Xcode. This would also allow you to upload builds to TestFlight and install on your dev device without breaking the bank.

EG: http://www.macincloud.com

#7

Hi Horacebury

if I don’t have to buy a MAC, that would be wonderful. 

I always thought that Apple insist on a MAC platform and an iphone to compile for IOS. 

I must check out macincloud option. Thanks and if possible it will save me a bundle. 

Besides I don’t particularly like to use the MAC.

thanks

Rgds

TH