iOS iPhone 5s Required for 64-bit Debug/Testing?

[skitzogreg]

Does Xcode 5 include tools to debug for 64-bit (forwards compatibility) with only a physical iPhone 5 (non-S) to test with? I'm not asking if the iPhone 5 can test a 64-bit app, but rather if the iPhone tester in Xcode will allow me to emulate a 64-bit app since I don't have a physical 5s to test with. If not, I guess I need to buy a 5s direct from Apple (which is not friendly to the wallet).

 

[firewood]

Xcode does not include an ARM emulator, nor even a Simulator accurate enough to determine if an app will run properly on an actual iOS device (still useful for running most UI code and catching some bugs though).

So best practice is to test on an actual iOS device running the ARM architecture and OS versions supported by your app submission.

Also, arm64 devices can run arm7(s) code, so there is currently no need to even build a 64-bit binary until you have verified some actual performance difference on a device.

 

[skitzogreg]

So would you recommend then to buy a 5s, or do you think I'm okay to stick with 32-bit creation for the next year?

 

[firewood]

Whether or not to build for arm64 depends on whether your app is maxing out the CPU enough for any performance difference to be visible to the customer, and the size of the revenue opportunity.

In some countries, a test device for an app business entity may be a tax deductible expense.

 

[skitzogreg]

Whether or not to build for arm64 depends on whether your app is maxing out the CPU enough for any performance difference to be visible to the customer, and the size of the revenue opportunity.

In some countries, a test device for an app business entity may be a tax deductible expense.

Good points. For a beginner developer, the odds of me maxing out the CPU for a primarily text-based app is slim to none. That is, of course, unless the app is poorly coded - which could actually be good for learning.

I'll stick with the 5 for now and go from there. Thank you very much!

 

[TouchMint.com]

xcode 5 does include a 64bit iOS7 simulator but I think you do need a 5s to physically test. As others have said unless you are doing some intense things I doubt you need it. Another cool tool about xcode 5 is that it shows memory / cpu usage real-time while you are testing on the simulators.

 

[Duncan C]

Does Xcode 5 include tools to debug for 64-bit (forwards compatibility) with only a physical iPhone 5 (non-S) to test with? I'm not asking if the iPhone 5 can test a 64-bit app, but rather if the iPhone tester in Xcode will allow me to emulate a 64-bit app since I don't have a physical 5s to test with. If not, I guess I need to buy a 5s direct from Apple (which is not friendly to the wallet).

Tough call, really.

As others have pointed out, most of use won't need the performance or larger address space from building native 64 bit apps.

However, I have already seen reports of problems that only show up on the 5s, with what looks like internal 64 bit bugs. Face recognition using Core Image sounds like it's broken on the 5s, even for 32 bit apps.

I suspect there will be compatibility issues

 

[PriapusZA]

So then I think the general rule is leave 64 bit alone, unless using it will give your app extra performance, correct?

I also noticed Xcode 5 shows you how much CPU and RAM your app uses in realtime. Very cool. If you can see you're hitting the CPU hard, constantly, then maybe a 64bit route will help, I guess.

As Duncan says - for a lot of use, 64 bit is not needed. For the guys who made Infinity Blade III - I would say 64 bit definitely helped them!

 

[1458279]

Sooner or later, the iPad / iPad Mini will get the 64 bit chip. Many have said the iPhone didn't need the 64 bit setup and the iPads do. I'm not sure, but it does stand to reason that the iPads would be better suited to what the 64 bit chip/os would offer.