If you are new to C++ Windows 10 development and want to compile code for the first time we recommend you try the free C++ Builder Community Edition for students, beginners, and startups. C++ Builder is the easiest and fastest C and C++ IDE for building simple or professional applications on the Windows, macOS, iOS & Android operating systems. It is also easy for beginners to learn with its wide range of samples, tutorials, help files, and LSP support for code. C++ Builder comes with Rapid Application Development Studio, also known as RAD Studio, and C++ Builder is one of the most professional IDE’s that work under RAD Studio. It is the most mature C/C++ IDE (it began as Borland TurboC in 1990 and was later renamed Borland C++ Builder). Under the Embarcadero brand, it comes with new versions, features, updates, and support. RAD Studio’s C++ Builder version comes with the award-winning VCL framework for high-performance native Windows apps and the powerful FireMonkey (FMX) framework for cross-platform UIs. More details about C++ Builder & RAD Studio for the beginners can be found in Official Wiki of Rad Studio.
Here are the features of the C++ Builder CE version;
- Build Windows and iOS C++ Applications 10x Faster with Less Code.
- C++Builder Community Edition provides you with an integrated toolchain and professional-level developer tools from Day 1
- Featuring Clang-enhanced compiler, Dinkumware standard library, MSBuild/CMake/Ninja support, and popular libraries like Boost and Eigen.
- Develop Windows and iOS applications with a single codebase and responsive UI
- Enjoy the award winning Visual Designer using the C++Builder VCL and FireMonkey frameworks for maximum productivity
- Built-in Debugging Tools that allow you to debug on any device
- Build database apps with local/embedded capabilities
- Hundreds of included components to enhance your app and reduce development cycles
- Direct access to InterBase, SQLite, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, DB2, SQL Anywhere, Advantage DB, Firebird, Access, Informix, MongoDB, and more.
- Licensed for use until your individual revenue from C++Builder applications or company revenue reaches $5,000 US or your development team expands to more than 5 developers
Here are the steps to develop iOS apps on Windows 10,
Table of Contents
Step 1. Download the free C++ Builder / C++ Builder Community edition to develop iOS apps on Windows 10
C++ Builder CE is the easiest and fastest Windows 10 development C & C++ IDE tool to develop simple or professional applications on iOS. It is also easy for beginners to learn with its wide range of samples, tutorials, help files and LSP support. C++ Builder comes with Rapid Application Development Studio, also knowns as RAD Studio, and C++ Builder is one of the most professional IDEs that work under RAD Studio.
You can download the free C++ Builder Community Edition here: https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder/starter.Professional developers can use the Professional, Architect or Enterprise versions of C++ Builder. Please visit https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder.
Step 2. Install RAD Studio / C++ Builder with iOS Platform Support
Run RAD Studio Installer and during installation be sure that C++ Builder iOS Enterprise is checked as below. See Additional Options tab, select Samples and Help or any other options needed, then press Apply.
If you forget to install iOS support don’t worry, RAD Studio / C++ Builder allows you to install these packages from the IDE. Just run RAD Studio / C++ Builder go to Tools -> Manage Platforms … then check C++ Builder iOS Enterprise option. See Additional Options tab, select Samples and Help or any other options needed, then press Apply. This will Install the latest iOS development packages for the C++ Builder.
Step 3. Create a new C++ project to develop iOS apps on Windows 10
If you download C++ Builder Community Edition (or RAD Studio CE version) or any Professional, Architect, Enterprise versions of C++ Builder. Install it on your windows computer and run RAD Studio or C++ Builder.
1. Choose File->New-> “Multi Device Application- C++ Builder” menu
2. Select Blank Application to develop application with a blank form UI. You can add many UI components on it later.
3. Save all Unit File and Project file to a folder by using File -> Save Project As .. menu. For example: Folder name can be MyIOSApp and Unit file name MyIOSApp_Unit1.cpp and the project name MyIOSProject_Project1
Step 4. Change your platform to iOS
On the right side there is Project window which lists platforms for this project. Multi-Device projects can be compiled for Windows, iOS or Android, the default is Windows 32-bit. To see these OS platforms, click the > icon on the left of Target Platforms section. This will show platforms, then double click to activate iOS Device 64-bit. After this all compilations will be done for the iOS platform. Anytime, you can back to Windows or Android and you can compile your project for that platform too.
Step 5. Add your UI items on your form design
In C++ Builder, you can add your UI elements (also called as components) by dragging them from your Palette Window. There are many visual and non visual components for the C++ Builder. For example,
- Add Button (TButton) and Memo (TMemo) components to your Form (TForm) design by dragging these components from your Palette Window.
- You can set Style selector to iOS and View selector to an iOS Device.
- Double Click to Button1 on your Form Design. This will create OnClick() event of this Button which is Button1Click() event, a method runs when clicked. Here is a form example that we create as an iOS application.
Step 6. Add your C++ codes to develop iOS apps on Windows 10
Note that you can easily switch between UI Form Design and Code Area by using use F12 key. Or you can also use tabs below the IDE. You can easily switch between .cpp, or .h header codes and Design.
If you did 3rd part of Step 4, now, you can modify inside of Button1Click() as given example below,
This example above is a modern “Hello World” example for iOS which runs with C++ Builder. Modern applications have a GUI. Note that VCL projects are Windows only. FireMonkey projects are Multi Device (multi-platform) applications that you can compile and run on Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android.
Step 7. Install PA Server to develop iOS apps on Windows 10
The Platform Assistant server (named paserver) is a command-line application that can be installed on Windows, macOS, and Linux. You install the Platform Assistant on a remote system, in the same network as your development system, to let RAD Studio interact with that remote system, so that you can develop cross-platform (multi-device) applications for macOS, iOS, Linux, or Win64 (this last from a Win32 development system). The Platform Assistant allows you to develop multi-device applications and to debug applications remotely.
The Platform Assistant needs to be running and connected to the IDE in order for you to do the following:
- Run and debug multi-device applications remotely (Win64, macOS, iOS, Linux).
- Deploy multi-device applications (Win64, macOS, iOS, Linux).
- Add to RAD Studio a local copy of a macOS or iOS SDK, which is a prerequisite for developing Delphi or C++ applications for macOS, iOS or iOS Simulator (Delphi only).
Installing PA Server on Mac:
Here is the latest official link that explains how to install PA Server on a Mac device,
https://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Alexandria/en/Installing_the_Platform_Assistant_on_a_Mac
Running PA Server on Mac:
Here is the latest official link that explains how to run PA Server on Mac device,
https://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Alexandria/en/Running_the_Platform_Assistant_on_a_Mac
Installing the PAServer Manager on a Mac:
Here is the latest official link that explains how to install PA Server Manager on Mac device,
https://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Alexandria/en/Installing_the_PAServer_Manager_on_a_Mac
Acquiring Permission to Support Debugging on a Mac:
Here is the latest official link that explains how to acquire permissions to support debugging on a Mac device,
More about PA Server:
If you need to know more about PA Server for different Operating Systems please check this official page
Step 8. Create a connection profile and compile your C++ project
If you installed PA Server successfully press F9 to run click Run with Debugging.
In the first time, it will as for the Connection Profile name for the PA Server. Give a name and then Enter your remote machine IP and passwords as below,
For the general usage;
1. Run project by hitting F9 or click Run with Debugging
2. If there is error, please check your lines
3. If all is fine then save all project
If you are a beginner “Hello World” examples are good to understand features of that programming language. It is good to understand how to edit text, how to write in its format, how to compile and link, how to debug and execute, and how to deploy or release the finished program. If you still have problem during these steps or you want to learn more about iOS development follow this official link.
Learn how you can develop iOS;;App C++ with Windows 11 application development tools in the next article.
You can download the free C++ Builder Community Edition here: https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder/starter.
Professional developers can use the Professional, Architect or Enterprise versions of C++ Builder. Please visit https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder.
The latest posts along with more examples and tutorials can be found here on the Embarcadero Blog with this dynamic search https://blogs.embarcadero.com/?s=C%2B%2B and in LearnCPlusPlus.org.