J_W_I_
Guide

The iOS 6 Setup Guide

Install the toolchain, set up an Xcode project, and build your first app — one step at a time.

Swift on iOS 6 Toolchain installer Setup

Preparing the Toolchain

Choose your macOS

First things first — which Mac are you on? The guide follows your choice all the way through.

Downloads — Mojave

Grab the Xcode version for Mojave, then the toolchain and build script:

Only Swift 5.1.5 required.

Downloads — Big Sur

Grab the Xcode version for Big Sur, then the toolchains and build script:

Both Swift 5.6.3 and 5.1.5 required.

Downloads — Monterey

Grab the Xcode version for Monterey, then the toolchains and build script:

Both Swift 5.10.1 and 5.1.5 required.

Install Xcode

Install the Xcode version recommended for your macOS — Xcode 11.3.1.

Fix Swift Toolchain Paths

Swift 5.1.5:

Terminal · Swift 5.1.5 
sudo install_name_tool -add_rpath /Library/Developer/Toolchains/swift-5.1.5-RELEASE.xctoolchain/usr/lib/swift/macosx /Library/Developer/Toolchains/swift-5.1.5-RELEASE.xctoolchain/usr/bin/swift-driver

How do you want to set up your project?

Two routes, same destination — both end with your first built IPA.

Install Xcode Templates

Terminal · Templates 
mkdir -p ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Templates/Project\ Templates/Application
git clone https://github.com/j-w-i/iOS-6-Swift-Xcode-Templates.git /tmp/iOS6SwiftTemplates
cp -R /tmp/iOS6SwiftTemplates/Templates/Project\ Templates/Application/* ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Templates/Project\ Templates/Application/
rm -rf /tmp/iOS6SwiftTemplates

Select Template

Open Xcode → File → New Project → Select Legacy Swift Application template and you're good to go.

Open the Project in Terminal

Terminal 
cd /path/to/your/project

Make the Script Runnable

Terminal 
chmod +x ./buildScript.command

Run the Build Script

Drag the build script onto the Terminal

Name the App

Type your project scheme name after

Choose the Build Folder

Specify build folder (use "build" if unsure)

Open the Project Settings

First, make a new Project in Xcode that is storyboard based.

Click the info tab in the Project Settings.

Remove the Frameworks

Hover over and click the minus button on the values in the image.

Open Build Settings

Click the build settings tab.

Lower the Deployment Target

Scroll down to the iOS Deployment Target setting in Deployment header and click the dropdown menu.

Set it to 7.0

Scroll down inside that dropdown and click “other”, and type in “7.0”.

Delete the Unused Files

Right click and select delete on the two highlighted files.

Open LaunchScreen

Open the LaunchScreen storyboard.

Add a View Controller

Click “View Controller Scene”.

Switch to Page Layout

On the right, click the page option.

Disable Safe Area Guides

Uncheck the “Use Safe Area Layout Guides” option.

Open the AppDelegate

Go to the AppDelegate file.

Paste the New Code

Copy the code, select everything in AppDelegate.swift with Cmd+A, then paste with Cmd+V.

AppDelegate.swift 
// AppDelegate.swift
import UIKit

@main
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {

    var window: UIWindow?  // Needed for apps not using SceneDelegate

    func application(
        _ application: UIApplication,
        didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions:
            [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?
    ) -> Bool {

        // Create a UIWindow manually
        window = UIWindow(frame: UIScreen.main.bounds)
        window?.rootViewController = ViewController() // Set initial ViewController
        window?.makeKeyAndVisible()

        return true
    }
}
View Xcode reference

Build Your App

To build, navigate to your project directory in the terminal, drag my script onto the terminal and then type your app's Scheme name plus the directory you want it to put your ipa in (just put "build" if unsure).

Enjoy your IPA!

That's the whole setup — the toolchain, the project, and your first build. Every app from here on shares these steps.