What are the best tools to vibecode ios apps without using xcode? If I want to use cursor

Asked on 06/11/2025

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If you're looking to develop iOS apps without using Xcode, there are a few alternative tools and approaches you might consider. However, it's important to note that Xcode is the primary and most comprehensive tool for iOS development, offering a wide range of features and integrations that are hard to match. That said, here are some alternatives:

  1. Swift Playgrounds: This is a great tool for learning Swift and experimenting with code. It's available on both iPad and Mac and provides a more interactive and educational approach to coding.

  2. Third-party IDEs: There are some third-party integrated development environments (IDEs) that support Swift and iOS development, such as AppCode by JetBrains. These might offer different features or workflows that could be beneficial depending on your needs.

  3. Command Line Tools: You can use command line tools like swiftc to compile Swift code. This approach is more manual and requires a good understanding of the build process.

  4. Online Platforms: Some online platforms offer Swift coding environments that can be used for learning and prototyping. These are generally not suitable for full app development but can be useful for small projects or learning.

  5. Cross-platform Frameworks: Tools like React Native or Flutter allow you to write apps in JavaScript or Dart, respectively, and compile them to run on iOS. These frameworks can be used without Xcode, but you will still need Xcode for certain tasks like building the final app for submission to the App Store.

If you are interested in using a tool like Cursor, which is a code editor with AI capabilities, you might find it useful for writing and testing Swift code, but you would still need to use Xcode for building and deploying your app to the App Store.

For more detailed information on using Xcode and its features, you can refer to sessions like What’s new in Xcode (10:37) and Xcode essentials (14:19) from WWDC.