Can you install the Xcode 5 Developer Preview in parallel with Xcode 4.6.2?

Question

Apple announced the Xcode 5 Developer Preview today and I want to try it.

But before I download this, I want to know that what happen with my current version of Xcode (version 4.6.2)?

Will the Xcode 5 Developer Preview install as a different application or it will remove the old version? Will some common tools collide, like the command line tools?

Answer 1

The Xcode 5 developer preview comes as a normal app DMG (not with the usual packager/installer) and has a different name.

So essentially, you download it, open a DMG, then pull to the Applications folder and thence have two Xcodes there (the old and the new one called Xcode5-DP). It even comes with a slightly different icon (red badge across a corner) and the intro screen is different too, so there is very little chance of confusing them.

I already did that today (and a colleague also).

Answer 2

Now that xcode 5 has reached the first official release and is no longer in beta, you have to do ONE of the following if you wish to keep BOTH versions.

1. Run the dmg of the new version you download from developer.apple.com. Drag the app to applications, and when asked to overwrite click KEEP BOTH. This will rename the existing app to xcode 2 I believe.
2. Select your existing xcode 4 in applications. Rename it to xcode4 or whatever. Now you can drag in the new version without overwriting the existing one.
3. Drag the new xcode to someplace other than applications. Rename it and then drag it into applications.

I personally favour option 2, since going forward we'll be using xcode 5 and it's helpful if it retains the default name from the get go for easy updating.

BTW, if you do have more than one xcode installed expect the mac app store to report that you need to do an update. Probably best to install it by downloading it from the developer portal if this sort of thing bugs you.

Answer 3

Xcode 5 preview works fine with Xcode 4.6.2 or any other Xcode, It has different icon and it runs from its .dmg file (no install).

Pay attention you cannot submit an app with Xcode 5, So keep the old Xcode till Apple would release the stable version of Xcode 5.

Answer 4

Short answer: Dont replace XCode 4! If you plan to deploy some app to appstore, you can't do it using Xcode 5 at this moment.

The best way is download the Xcode 5 version, unpack it and run the app on different folder (not application folder). You will stay with Xcode 4, and can run Xcode 5 separated (You don't need to 'install' xcode 5).