Xcode 15.1 Release Candidate (15C65) was released on December 5th, 2023, introducing several notable improvements for iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS developers. In this article, we’ll highlight the key changes in this update that you need to know about as you update your developer tools.
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Introduction
The Xcode 15.1 Release Candidate brings new features, APIs, and capabilities to take advantage of the latest Apple platforms. Key changes include:
- On-device debugging support for iOS 12 and later, tvOS 12 and later, and watchOS 4 and later
- Updated SDKs for iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, tvOS 17.2, watchOS 10.2, and macOS 14.2
- Other improvements to the editing, building, and debugging experience
We’ll explore some of these updates in more detail throughout this article. Keep reading to ensure you’re leveraging all the newest tools to build innovative and engaging apps.
On-Device Debugging Enhancements
One of the most notable improvements in Xcode 15.1 is more robust on-device debugging support across Apple platforms. Here are some highlights:
iOS On-Device Debugging
- Debugging sessions are now supported on iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 12 or later. This expands support further back from the previous iOS 14 requirement.
- When attached to a device running iOS 16 or later, the debugger can now inspect Swift concurrent values, actors, and tasks to understand code execution.
tvOS On-Device Debugging
- tvOS apps can now be debugged easily right on the target tvOS device for versions 12 and up. Previously, only tvOS 13 and later were supported.
watchOS On-Device Debugging
- For watchOS apps, on-device debugging now works with watchOS 4 and higher. Prior to this update, watchOS 5 was the minimum OS.
This expanded on-device debugging back to iOS 12, tvOS 12 and watchOS 4 provides more flexibility when testing and debugging on older OS versions still in active use.
Updated SDKs
Xcode 15.1 also provides updated SDKs fully optimized for the latest Apple OS releases:
- iOS 17.2 SDK: Includes frameworks, compilers, debuggers, and other tools for building iOS apps that leverage features in iOS 17.2.
- iPadOS 17.2 SDK: iPad apps can similarly take advantage of the latest iPadOS 17.2 capabilities.
- tvOS 17.2 SDK: The updated SDK for the newest tvOS allows developers to use new TV-specific features.
- watchOS 10.2 SDK: For Apple Watch apps, this SDK enables the newest watchOS 10.2 features.
- macOS 14.2 SDK: The SDK updated for macOS Ventura 14.2 provides macOS-specific tools and features.
These updated SDKs give developers access to the latest APIs and tools they need to adopt new features in the most recent Apple OS releases.
Further Enhancements
Beyond the major changes highlighted above, Xcode 15.1 also includes many smaller refinements:
- Editing: Improvements to code editing, refactoring, and organization to aid development workflow.
- Building: Faster build times for both debugging and release through build system optimizations.
- Debugging: Enhanced debug tools for framework debugging, Swift concurrency debugging, and logs.
- Stability: General improvements around stability and reliability within the Xcode suite of apps.
While not major headline features, these smaller enhancements cumulatively make a smoother and more productive development environment for building high-quality apps.
Conclusion
The Xcode 15.1 Release Candidate delivers important updates for developers on the cutting edge of Apple platforms. The key highlights we covered include:
- Expanded on-device debugging support reaching back to iOS 12, tvOS 12 and watchOS 4
- Updated SDKs for iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, tvOS 17.2, watchOS 10.2, and macOS 14.2
- A variety of editing, building, debugging, and stability improvements
Together, these updates help developers take advantage of the latest Apple devices and OS features as they become available.
As Apple continues the Xcode 15 platform ramp, it’s worth staying current with the latest releases via the Apple Developer website and release notes. That way you can leverage new capabilities right away and deliver innovative user experiences.
Download the Xcode 15.1 RC today to evaluate the changes and get ready for iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS app development in 2023!
Summary of Key Changes
| Feature | Change |
| On-Device Debugging | Expanded support back to iOS 12, tvOS 12, and watchOS 4 |
| SDKs | Updated to iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, tvOS 17.2, watchOS 10.2, macOS 14.2 |
| Editing Improvements | Faster editing, refactoring, and organization |
| Building Updates | Optimizations for faster build times |
| Debugging Enhancements | New concurrency, framework, and logging debugging features |
| Stability Improvements | General improvements to stability and reliability |