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macOS Why is Xcode sometimes free, other times $4.99?

M

macrumorsuser10

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 18, 2010
359
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I've occasionally looked into iOS/MacOS programming, but sometimes I see that Xcode is free (like in 2010 and right now) and other times it's a few dollars (e.g. $4.99 in 2011) to download. Why does the price vary?
 
I have never seen it not free, the few times I have looked for it.

If you are looking for a book to start, look into Big Nerd Ranch's iOS programming or Objective C. Both have great reviews.
 
As far as I can remember, Apple has always charged for Xcode 4 in Snow Leopard (the version released with Snow Leopard was 3.2.x) - there was some argument at the time about it most likely being due to Xcode 4 providing new functionality that was not part of the advertised package at the time Snow Leopard was released and an overly strict interpretation of Sarbanes-Oxley. The original developer preview was available in the AppStore (with people howling about paying $5), but when Lion was released it was removed and can now only be accessed via a paid developer program. The version of Xcode written for any given version of OS X has otherwise been free (well, it is included in the cost of the OS anyway).
 
I've been a Mac user/developer since 2009 and 2011 is the only time I ever recall Xcode being non-free.
 
Red Menace said:
As far as I can remember, Apple has always charged for Xcode 4 in Snow Leopard (the version released with Snow Leopard was 3.2.x) - there was some argument at the time about it most likely being due to Xcode 4 providing new functionality that was not part of the advertised package at the time Snow Leopard was released and an overly strict interpretation of Sarbanes-Oxley. The original developer preview was available in the AppStore (with people howling about paying $5), but when Lion was released it was removed and can now only be accessed via a paid developer program. The version of Xcode written for any given version of OS X has otherwise been free (well, it is included in the cost of the OS anyway).
Click to expand...

Accounting shenanigans, basically.
 
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