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Due to its large range of developer tools, Mac has stood out as a very reliable development platform choice for developers. These Mac developer tools help you and other programmers create apps that keep you productive and entertained across your Apple devices.
Olga Weis
Last updated Sep 10, 2024
With so many Mac-specific solutions out there, choosing the right one can be tough. In this article, we've rounded up the top 12 Mac apps for developers. Whether you're just starting or an experienced developer, our list can help you find the best coding software for Mac to make your projects run smoothly and boost your productivity.
An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) on Mac provides you with vital tools for writing, testing, and debugging software. Combining compilers, code editors, and debuggers into a single interface improves your productivity by streamlining tasks like project management and version control.
Popular developer tools like InteliJ, Visual Studio Code and Xcode offer a pretty good amount of features and provide you with a seamless user experience—accommodating development needs.
Additionally, some of the best Mac browser emulators for online web testing can be used to improve your development rate. By choosing the right IDE, you can improve your software development to give you a seamless coding journey. Thankfully, this article compiles some of the leading IDEs on macOS.
Xcode is Apple’s official Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which is designed specifically for macOS. As a developer, it provides you with a comprehensive suite of Macos developer tools to create apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Coupled with a user-friendly interface, Xcode simplifies the development process, making it easier for both new and experienced developers to write, test, and debug code.
Xcode supports a variety of programming languages, including Swift and Objective-C, and integrates seamlessly with Apple's frameworks and services. This ensures that your apps are optimized for performance and quality on all Apple devices.
As one of the best coding apps for mac, Xcode offers a range of powerful features designed to streamline the app development process. At its core, Xcode includes an advanced code editor that supports syntax highlighting, code completion, and real-time error detection, enabling you to write clean, efficient code. The integrated debugger, relatively similar to some of the best iOS debugging tools, allows step-by-step code execution, making identifying and fixing issues easier.
Another Xcode feature that Mac developers love is Interface Builder. This visual design tool lets you create user interfaces with a drag-and-drop interface. It is useful for designing layouts that adapt to different screen sizes and orientations. Xcode also includes simulators for testing apps on various Apple devices without needing the actual hardware, and this speeds up the testing process.
Another significant feature is Xcode's version control integration, particularly with Git. This allows developers to track changes, collaborate with team members, and seamlessly manage different versions of their projects. This is pretty important, as collaboration with other developers can save you tons of effort.
SwiftUI Apple’s modern framework, is used for building user interfaces across all Apple platforms, including iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Launched in 2019, SwiftUI simplifies UI design by using declarative syntax, allowing you to write less code and achieve more.
It seamlessly integrates with Xcode, providing real-time previews and helping you see changes instantly. SwiftUI is designed to work with Swift, Apple's powerful and intuitive programming language, making it easier to create visually stunning, responsive, and consistent user experiences across all Apple devices.
SwiftUI's declarative syntax is one of its most powerful features. It helps you describe what your user interface should do without writing complex code. This approach reduces boilerplate code and makes the UI code more readable and maintainable. With SwiftUI, you can create interfaces for any Apple device using a single set of tools and APIs, ensuring consistency across different platforms.
Another standout feature of this Mac developer tool is its seamless integration with Xcode. SwiftUI provides real-time previews, allowing you to see changes you made immediately without building and running the app. This instant feedback loop speeds up the development process and makes UI design more intuitive. Additionally, SwiftUI’s built-in animations and transitions make it easy to create smooth, engaging user experiences with minimal effort.
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. VS Code supports various programming languages and offers powerful tools like IntelliSense for smart code completion, debugging, and Git integration.
Although it was not initially created for Mac, its rapid development, the expansion of its infrastructure, the emergence of numerous extensions and features, strong debugging testing instruments, and compatibility with AI GitHub Copilot.
Its highly customizable interface allows you to tailor the editor to your workflow. With an extensive library of extensions, VS Code can be adapted to suit any development environment, making it a universal tool for programmers of all skill levels.
VS Code stands out with its robust IntelliSense feature, which provides smart code completion based on variable types, function definitions, and imported modules. This speeds up coding and also reduces errors, making development more efficient. The built-in debugging tools allow you to inspect variables, set breakpoints, and execute commands in a console, simplifying the process of identifying and fixing bugs.
Another important feature is VS Code's seamless Git integration. As a developer, you can perform Git commands directly from the editor, such as committing changes, pushing to repositories, and resolving merge conflicts. This integration simplifies version control and improves collaboration within teams. Additionally, the editor’s terminal allows you to run shell commands without leaving the environment, boosting your productivity.
JetBrains offers a range of powerful integrated development environments (IDEs) designed to meet various programming languages and development needs. Known for its intelligence and efficiency, JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, and WebStorm provide many features that streamline coding, debugging, and testing.
They are designed to improve developer productivity with smart code completion, refactoring tools, and seamless integration with version control systems. JetBrains IDEs serve developers of all skill sets, making writing high-quality code and managing complex projects easier.
Additionally, JetBrains IDEs are highly customizable, with extensive plugin support that allows you to streamline your environment to your specific needs. The built-in support for frameworks and languages ensures you have all the tools you need.
AppCode is a smart integrated development environment (IDE) by JetBrains that is designed specifically for macOS and iOS development. It is also one of the best Mac apps for developers.
AppCode supports languages like Swift, Objective-C, C++, and more, providing strong tools to streamline the coding process.
AppCode improves your productivity with intelligent code assistance, refactoring tools, and deep integration with the Apple development ecosystem. Its robust debugging and testing capabilities help you create high-quality apps efficiently. A user-friendly customizable interface and extensive plugin support make it a versatile choice for new and experienced developers.
AppCode offers features like advanced code completion, real-time code analysis, and quick fixes. These tools help you write cleaner code faster, reducing errors and improving overall code quality. Its IDE supports a wide range of languages, including Swift, Objective-C, C++, and JavaScript, making it suitable for different project requirements.
Another significant feature of AppCode is its large refactoring tools. These tools enable seamless code restructuring, making it easier to maintain and improve the codebase without introducing bugs. With a deep integration with Xcode, AppCode ensures compatibility with Apple’s development environment, allowing you and other developers to manage their projects efficiently and use all the resources they are accustomed to. Additionally, AppCode also provides powerful debugging and testing capabilities.
CLion is a powerful cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) developed by JetBrains. Its design is suited for C and C++ development. It also offers advanced coding assistance, robust debugging, and refactoring tools, making it a vital tool for professional developers.
Other languages supported by CLion include Python, Kotlin, and Swift through plugins. Coupled with its user-friendly interface and extensive customization options, CLion has become a favorite among new and experienced developers.
CLion stands out with its intelligent code assistance, offering unique features like smart code completion, real-time code analysis, and quick fixes. These tools help you and other developers write cleaner, more efficient code by spotting errors early and suggesting improvements. CLion supports C and C++ and can be extended to support other languages like Python, Kotlin, and Swift through plugins. CLion’s built-in debugger supports GDB and LLDB, providing detailed insights into code execution and making identifying and fixing bugs easier.
Another key feature is CLion's robust refactoring suite, which enables seamless code restructuring without introducing errors. This helps maintain a clean and organized codebase, which is essential for long-term project management.
PhpStorm is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specifically designed for PHP development. It provides intelligent coding assistance, robust debugging, and testing tools. PhpStorm supports various web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL, ensuring a seamless development experience. With features like code completion, refactoring, and deep integration with version control systems, PhpStorm helps developers write high-quality code efficiently.
PhpStorm offers features like advanced code completion, real-time error detection, and on-the-fly code analysis. These tools help developers write cleaner and more efficient code by catching errors early and suggesting improvements. PhpStorm also supports a wide range of web technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL, making it a universal choice for full-stack web development. Its built-in debugger allows you to set breakpoints, inspect variables, and step through code, making it easier to identify and fix issues.
PhpStorm also integrates seamlessly with popular testing frameworks, allowing you and other developers to write and run tests directly within the IDE, ensuring that code is thoroughly tested and reliable. Its deep integration with version control systems like Git, SVN, and Mercurial makes source code management and enhances collaboration seamless.
Docker is a platform that enables developers to build, deploy, and run applications in containers. These containers are lightweight, portable, and self-sufficient environments that include everything needed to run a piece of software, from the operating system to the application code.
Some key features of Docker include its version control, containerization, networking, docker hub, security, integration, and orchestration. Docker’s unique features make it a reliable choice for building and deploying applications in containers.
What’s more, Docker can be used in microservice architecture, development and testing, cloud and hybrid development, Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), Legacy Application Modernization, and edge computing.
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. It integrates seamlessly into popular code editors like Visual Studio Code, providing smart suggestions for code snippets, comments, and entire functions based on the context.
Using advanced machine learning models trained on a massive dataset of code, Copilot can help you write, edit, and understand code more efficiently. It also supports multiple programming languages and improves productivity by automating recurring tasks, reducing the likelihood of errors, and providing instant solutions to common coding problems.
Integrated seamlessly with code editors, GitHub Copilot enhances productivity by understanding the context of the code and providing relevant suggestions. It has various features, such as autocompleting entire lines or blocks of code, generating boilerplate code, and offering solutions for complex algorithms.
Copilot's AI model is trained on a vast dataset of public code repositories, enabling it to suggest code snippets, comments, and even full functions. It supports multiple programming languages and also assists in writing tests, refactoring code, and exploring new APIs or libraries. Learning from your coding style and preferences, GitHub Copilot continuously improves its suggestions, making coding faster and more efficient.
FlexiHub is a top choice for Mac developers working on iOS apps. It allows you to share iPhones and iPads over the network, letting you connect to these devices remotely. This feature is useful for testing and debugging iOS apps. FlexiHub works seamlessly across Ethernet, LAN, WiFi, the Internet, or any other network, ensuring secure connections with advanced traffic encryption. With FlexiHub, you can streamline your development process and easily access your iOS devices from anywhere.
FlexiHub is a must-have tool for developers working on iOS software, allowing remote access to iPhones and iPads over a network. This makes app testing and debugging easier by letting you connect to your iOS devices remotely.
FlexiHub supports sharing devices over Ethernet, LAN, WiFi, or the Internet, providing secure, encrypted connections. Its cross-platform compatibility lets it work seamlessly on macOS, Windows, and Linux, making it versatile for any setup. With an intuitive interface, FlexiHub simplifies device management and connectivity, enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows.
This set of interfaces provide tools that help you manage and interact with databases. From drag-and-drop functionalities and visual query builders to intuitive graphics and accessibility, these interfaces are well-equipped to suit a range of needs.
Some of the notabe Graphical Database Interfaces include:
Sequel Pro is an open-source MySQL database management application for macOS. It offers a graphical user interface (GUI) for managing databases, executing queries, and performing various database-related tasks. Designed for developers and database administrators, it also makes database management easier and more intuitive, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
Sequel Pro makes creating tables, editing data, and executing queries seamless. By connecting to a local and remote MySQL database with SSH tunneling, Sequel Pro provides you with secure import/export features for swift data transfer. It also creates a unique visualization relationship that helps you manage complex structures.
With its robust query editing, syntax highlighting, and auto-completion, Sequel Pro improves query writing efficiency and streamlines database workflows, making it a go-to tool for MySQL management on macOS.
DBeaver is a free, open-source universal database tool supporting a wide range of databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server, and more. It provides a user-friendly interface for developers and database administrators to interact with different databases through a single application. With features like SQL editing, database schema management, data transfer, and query execution, DBeaver is a resourceful choice for professionals working across various database systems.
Key features of DBeaver include a sophisticated SQL editor with syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and query execution, which makes writing and running SQL queries a breeze. It also excels in data visualization, allowing you to easily analyze data through various charts and diagrams. Schema management is another strong feature that provides an intuitive way to handle database structures and relationships.
Additionally, DBeaver supports data import and export, making it simple to transfer data between different databases. It also integrates well with various database drivers, enhancing compatibility and flexibility.
MongoDB Compass is the official graphical user interface (GUI) for MongoDB. It allows you to interact with MongoDB databases visually instead of using the command line. MongoDB Compass offers several key features, like visual exploration, query and CRUD operations, index management, schema visualization, data import and export, and aggregation pipeline builder.
MongoDB Compass is available as a desktop application for macOS, Windows, and Linux, offering a user-friendly tool for database management and development tasks.
As a developer, API testing is necessary to verify your APIs' functionality, reliability, and performance. These tools let you create, send, and manage HTTP requests, supporting various methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.
They usually have user-friendly interfaces, automated testing features, and options for organizing and sharing test scenarios. This makes API development and debugging more efficient and streamlined.
Postman simplifies, develops, tests, and documents APIs. It also allows you to test endpoints, construct requests, and monitor protocol responses like HTTP and HTTPS. Often used by macOS developers, it offers unique features like automation, collaborations, and comprehensive API workflows.
Postman is equipped with automated testing, a user-friendly interface, collection management, collaborations, integration, mock servers, documentation, and API monitoring. All these features work together to provide you with a seamless workflow and, in the long run, an effective output.
Aside from API development, some use case examples of Postman include automation and CI/CD, team collaborations, debugging, and troubleshooting.
Clobbr is a developer tool for testing API endpoints. It allows you to configure request settings and manage multiple endpoints. With a user-friendly interface, it features a built-in JSON editor with autocomplete, validation, and syntax highlighting.
Clobbr ensures test results remain local for privacy and security. Clobbr is available for macOS through Setapp which is ideal for speed and load testing APIs.
Git clients with graphical user interfaces (GUIs) simplify version control for developers. These tools provide intuitive, visual ways to manage repositories, making tasks like branching, merging, and committing code more accessible. Below are some Git Clients (GUIs) that you can explore to suit your Mac needs:
Tower is another advanced Git client designed specifically for macOS. It offers a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies managing Git repositories and version control tasks. With features like branching, merging, commit history visualization, and integration with Git services like GitHub and GitLab, Tower is popular among developers for its user-friendly approach to handling Git workflows.
This powerful tool enhances productivity by streamlining complex Git operations into an intuitive interface.
Sourcetree is a free Git and Mercurial client available for Windows and macOS. It offers a visual interface that simplifies managing Git repositories, allowing you to clone repositories, view file diffs, stage changes, and commit code with ease.
Integrating with popular Git hosting services like GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab, Sourcetree is an all-around tool for both beginners and experienced developers working with version control systems. Its intuitive user-friendly design enhances productivity by streamlining common Git tasks.
GitKraken is a powerful Git client with a user-friendly graphical interface (GUI) designed for macOS. It provides you and other developers with intuitive tools for managing Git repositories, featuring visual commit history and drag-and-drop functionality for branching and merging.
Seamless integration with Git hosting services like GitHub and GitLab further enhances its utility. By simplifying version control tasks and leveraging native macOS features, GitKraken optimizes your development workflow and boosts productivity.
Git client, designed specifically for macOS developers, GitHub Desktop offers an intuitive GUI for managing Git repositories. It simplifies common Git tasks like branching, committing, and merging through a visually appealing interface.
In addition, it allows you to manage your repositories directly from your desktop. Supporting macOS features and workflows, GitHub Desktop improves productivity by streamlining version control operations without the need for command-line interfaces.
Homebrew is a popular developer tool for macOS that automates installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing software packages. It manages collections of software components from your storage and handles your dependencies, ensuring everything works seamlessly. You can easily install, update, and manage various software packages and libraries through the command line interface.
Even better, it makes installing non-macOS software easy and provides robust open-source packages designed for developer and system administrators. Consequently, this package manager makes software installation and management a walk in the park for macOS users.
Alfred enables quick application searches and launches, expands system interaction capabilities, and task automation with the main goal of boosting your productivity. With similar features to a file manager, it improves your file searches and management. Additionally, you can use Finder on your macOS for more comprehensive management.
Alfred has an array of features, some of which include, application launch, clipboard history, workflow automation, web search, file management, text snippet, customizability, an macOSintegration. All these features play unique roles in creating seamless user experience for you and other developers while performing tasks.
Self-dubbed, “the terminal emulator for macOS that does amazing things,” iTerm2 offers advanced features and settings for command-line users and developers. Some of these features include, advanced search capabilities, tab support, instant notification, customizable profiles, and scripting and plugin support.
