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macOS Programming on an old Macbook

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Becutan

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 26, 2012
28
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I plan on using an older model, a late 2009 polycarbonate Macbook for college and I am going to need some compilers. We will be working on C and C++ so I was thinking on buying OSX Mavericks for that Macbook since I do not plan to use my MacBook Pro for college purposes. One of the basic reasons why I plan to upgrade on OS X Mavericks when it comes out is Xcode.
Can you point our some compiler, some free of charge I can use for 2-3 weeks at least until I upgrade the Macbook to Mavericks?
Currently it is running version 10.6.8 on a 2.26 GHz and 2 GB DDR3 RAM.
Is it smart to invest in Mavericks for a model this old?
 
Are you sure the older polycarbonate MacBook is compatible with Mavericks?

I looked here, and I don't see "polycarbonate" listed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X_Mavericks#System_requirements


You can still download Xcode for Snow Leopard. I forget what the latest version would be, but it will be very different from Xcode 5 on Mavericks.

To get Xcode for Snow Leopard you need to sign up as an Apple Developer. The free level is sufficient.
 
It seems logical that this model, the late 2009 polycarbonate is indeed compatible but I am not completely sure. I hope someone with the answer will drop in and help me out.
I can't install Xcode on the current version I am using.
It requires a version above 10.8.4
 
Becutan said:
I can't install Xcode on the current version I am using.
It requires a version above 10.8.4
Click to expand...

You can't install the current version of Xcode on Snow Leopard.
You can download an older version of Xcode for Snow Leopard.

You get the older Xcode by signing up as an Apple Developer, then logging in. Next, go to the full downloads page:
https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action

That link only works properly if you're logged in. If you're not logged in, it won't show all the older available Xcode versions.

Then enter xcode in the search box at left, and press the RETURN key. Uncheck all the Categories checkboxes EXCEPT "Developer Tools", which must be checked. The resulting list should show every available older version of Xcode. Look for Xcode 3.2.6 for Snow Leopard, which will have a Release Date in April 2011.


Xcode isn't designed to be simple for beginners. It takes study and practice to use well. By the time you figure out how to use Xcode 3, Mavericks will be out and you can get Xcode 5. Then you have to learn Xcode 5 over from scratch.
 
chown33 said:
You can't install the current version of Xcode on Snow Leopard.
You can download an older version of Xcode for Snow Leopard.

You get the older Xcode by signing up as an Apple Developer, then logging in. Next, go to the full downloads page:
https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action

That link only works properly if you're logged in. If you're not logged in, it won't show all the older available Xcode versions.

Then enter xcode in the search box at left, and press the RETURN key. Uncheck all the Categories checkboxes EXCEPT "Developer Tools", which must be checked. The resulting list should show every available older version of Xcode. Look for Xcode 3.2.6 for Snow Leopard, which will have a Release Date in April 2011.


Xcode isn't designed to be simple for beginners. It takes study and practice to use well. By the time you figure out how to use Xcode 3, Mavericks will be out and you can get Xcode 5. Then you have to learn Xcode 5 over from scratch.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much! Can I get Mountain Lion for this old MacBook?
 
chown33 said:
What have you tried?

Did you search for whether your MacBook is compatible with Mtn Lion? If so, what did you find? If not, what search terms did you use?
Click to expand...

Well I found out that amongst the other, supported models include MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) and I am not sure if that includes this plastic late 2009 Macbook. I would very much rather purchase Mavericks but I would settle for Mountain Lion.
 
Becutan said:
Well I found out that amongst the other, supported models include MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) and I am not sure if that includes this plastic late 2009 Macbook. I would very much rather purchase Mavericks but I would settle for Mountain Lion.
Click to expand...
if is a late 2009 macbook white unibody, yes you can install mountain lion or mavericks
 
chown33 said:
Are you sure the older polycarbonate MacBook is compatible with Mavericks?

I looked here, and I don't see "polycarbonate" listed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X_Mavericks#System_requirements
Click to expand...

MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)

The polycarbonate is the Early 2009 or newer model. It has either the 9400M NVidia graphics or Nvidia 320M so it will run. The earlier plastic Macbooks with the Intel graphics won't run Mountain Lion, though.
 
I'm typing on a late '09 macbook with Mountain Lion. You'll need to upgrade the RAM, though. 4GB officially supported (8GB unofficially.)
 
For the first two years you most likely won't be using Xcode at all. You'll likely take CS1 and CS2 with either Java or Python, as well as Assembly (Comp. Org.) and possibly C. None of which require Xcode.

You will start to specialize in some ways in your third and fourth years. You'll probably want a new laptop by then. But you got 2 years to save up for one :D
 
Thank a lot everyone. Actually the other day we were introduced to algorithms and of course did the Hello World thing :D
We worked in Microsoft Visual Studio with some C++ beginner's things and the professor gave us assignments to practice at home so I thought it would be great to work on my Mac instead on a Windows. Is there a compiler I can work in on my Mac for C++?
 
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