Xcode for Mac is a developer tool to create applications for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Xcode for Mac has seen significant improvement to it's design and functionality over the years and now the interface features coding, testing, and debugging all within a single window. It's also improved in terms of debugging with the Xcode IDE analyzing your project to identify mistakes in both syntax and logic and in some cases, even fix the code.
Some of the most notable features of Xcode are an Interface Builder which is the main design canvas for Xcode. The Assistant shows what you're editing, such as the header, superclass, or controller. The Version editor shows a live source code comparison through Git or Subversion history. Live Issues displays errors as you type and Fix-it can correct the mistakes for you. The Apple LLVM compiler now includes full support for C++, C and Objective-C and there's a new LLDB debugging engine. Finally, instruments adds System Trace and new iOS instruments including OpenGL ES
Note that Xcode only works in Lion. Also, to test or deploy applications on an iOS device you must be a member of Apple's iOS Developer Program. In addition, to submit your Mac or iOS apps to the App Store you must be a member of the Mac or iOS Developer Program.
Xcode is quite simply an essential tool for anyone interested in developing Mac, iPhone or iPad apps.
