macOS how do you organize XCode windows ?

[Tex-Twil]

Hello,
I'm a developer used to work on Linux using Eclipse. I'm learning Obj C development in my spare time and I have a question about the XCode layout. Basically I don't know how to set up XCode to work efficiently. There are too many windows and I have to switch constantly with cmd tab between
- main windows with my code
- console
- debugger
- Reference library

In Eclipse everything is visible at once thanks to "Perspectives".
- when coding you see the code + Reference + workspace paths
- when your start debugging the layout changes to code tab + variables values + function call stack

I don't want to reproduce the Eclipse behavior at all cost, I just want to know how are you used to handle this.


Thanks,
Tex

 

[Detrius]

I'm used to handling this with multiple really big monitors. It's really frustrating now that I'm working on a 13" laptop instead of a Mac Pro with dual 30" LCDs.

Just to verify, have you played with the verify first option in the Xcode preferences dialog? You might want to try the "All-In-One" layout.

Regardless, I still wound up having a lot of windows open. Lightning quick access to Exposé is your friend (hot corners or extra mouse buttons).

 

[Tex-Twil]

I'm used to handling this with multiple really big monitors. It's really frustrating now that I'm working on a 13" laptop instead of a Mac Pro with dual 30" LCDs.

Just to verify, have you played with the verify first option in the Xcode preferences dialog? You might want to try the "All-In-One" layout.

Regardless, I still wound up having a lot of windows open. Lightning quick access to Exposé is your friend (hot corners or extra mouse buttons).

yeah I guess that on a 30" you have a more space

The All in one function looks very good ! thanks,
Tex

 

[Stratoukos]

The way I work with the console and the debugger I always open and close them with hotkeys (console: cmd+shift+R, debugger: cmd+shift+Y or the little spray icon that shows above the text editor when you reach a breakpoint). So, I hit cmd+R to run the program and if I want to check the console I hit the hotkey. When I'm finished with the console I hit cmd+w to close it, so the main window plus any editing windows I have open stay always on top. With this and expose mapped on an extra mouse button I have no problems at all.

As for the documentation, I too solve this with a second display. If you don't have one you can try to put it on a different space, but I guess that after a while switching constantly between spaces could become tedious.

 

[kainjow]

I only have a single 15" display but I use hotkeys for opening the console and running the program, and showing the debugger when necessary. Haven't given it a second thought in forever, just is natural now.

 

[mongrol]

I use the all-in-one layout option. When running the code I have the option set to switch to debugger/console layout. To switch back from that I press cmd+o (or is it 0?)

Seem's to work quite well.