Prerequisites

Before you set up your machine, check that you have everything on this list. These are hard requirements — without them, the build process won't work.

Hardware and OS

iOS development requires a Mac. There is no workaround for this — Xcode only runs on macOS.

• Mac running macOS 14 Sonoma or later (Intel or Apple Silicon)
• 16GB RAM recommended — Xcode and iOS Simulator are memory-hungry
• 50GB free disk space — Xcode is ~10GB, Simulators add another ~10-15GB

Accounts you need

1. Apple ID — you almost certainly have one. Free.
2. Apple Developer Program — free for Simulator testing. $149/year to test on a physical device and submit to the App Store. You can defer this until Doc 11 (Review and Deploy).
3. GitHub account — free. For version control and CI.
4. Claude Pro or Max — for Claude Code. Required.

Knowledge level

This guide assumes you can:

• Use a terminal (cd, ls, mkdir — basics)
• Read code even if you don't write it fluently
• Follow structured checklists without skipping steps

You do not need to be a Swift developer. Claude Code writes the code. You review, test, and approve it.

Optional but recommended

• Physical iPhone — for testing on real hardware. The Simulator covers most cases but some features (camera, push notifications, haptics) only work on device.
• Cursor or VS Code with the Swift extension — for AI-assisted editing alongside Xcode. Many developers use both.

Checkpoint

Before moving to Machine Setup, confirm:

• You're on a Mac running macOS 14+
• You have an Apple ID
• You have a Claude Pro or Max subscription
• You have a GitHub account
• You have at least 50GB free disk space

All clear? Go to Machine Setup.