build ios app with visual studio using xamarin, without mac build host

Question

I am a new user to xamarin. I installed Xamarin.IOS on visual studio. When i create a new project and want to build it, vs says that you should select a "mac build host". Is it necessary for building ios application? May I do that in a simulator? because I don't have a Mac machine. Thank you very much.

Answer 1

You must have a Mac to act either as a build host or your primary development machine in order to build an iOS app. The iOS build process relies on the Apple iOS SDK and tools that are ONLY available from Apple on OS X.

Answer 2

If you are completely refused any idea of buying Mac here the solution. In my case I use next tools:

• Windows 8.1 x64
• Visual Studio 2015 Update 3 (Xamarin inside)
• VMWare Workstation 12
• Inside VMWare Workstation:
  • OS X 10.11 El Capitan
  • XCode 7.1 (Xamarin's developers recommend 7.3)
  • Xamarin Community 6.0.1

General advice is to use latest versions and updates of all tools.

1. Install El Capitan as it described here.
2. On VM install latest XCode (you probably need Apple ID for it) and iOS part of Xamarin Studio. If Xamarin Installer generates error on downloading JDK 7 then download and install it before Xamarin Studio
3. Enable Remote Login in MacOS settings and allow access for your user
4. Configure VM network as NAT and make port forwarding for port 22
5. Run Visual Studio on Windows and create iOS project.
6. Connect to Mac using IP 127.0.0.1 and type your Mac's username and password
7. Select appropriate iOS emulator in Visual Studio and run.
8. Here the proof pic

Answer 3

Regarding this topic I've tried many approaches. I spent too many hours trying to install hackintosh on a VM on my MS Windows 10 system... I tried a lot of receipts... I could install it free times but I couldn't reboot it none of the tries. @#£%&!!!!

Before this anoying "R&D" I searched for a cheap second hand Mac and I also searched after but without getting good results...

Today I want to share my next step with you all before starting with it because I guess (I hope indeed) is going to be the solution for my next 4-6 months to do iOS developments with xamarin using VS on a Windows machine without owning a Mac, use a Mac hosting already prepared for dev purposes:

https://www.macincloud.com/checkout/managed.html