Alcatraz: Xcode Package Manager

[kennywinker]

Interesting. At first I thought this was a rival to CocoaPods, but it's actually for installing Xcode file/project templates. See the packages.json file for examples of what it managed https://github.com/mneorr/alcatraz-packages/blob/master/pack...

[orta]

Marin, the creator, is a member of the Cocoapods team, we've been testing it internally. Big fan.

[tvon]

It seems to be for plug-ins, color schemes and project templates.

[Camillo]

Looks very nice. But how stable is the Xcode plugin API these days?

BTW, what's the connection between the name "Alcatraz" and the idea of a package manager for Xcode plugins? Try as I might, I can't see one. I don't know why all open source projects need an arbitrary name these days - I would have simply called it "Xcode Package Manager". I don't mean this as criticism: I am just baffled by this phenomenon, and just a little bit concerned that we're going to run out of memorable names if every single niche project needs one.

[Samuel_Michon]

Alcatraz was a high-security prison associated with some high profile escape attempts, though no successful escapes have been confirmed. I suspect the creators of this package manager were trying to link the tech terms ‘walled garden’ and ‘jailbreak’ to real life penitentiaries. If so, I think ‘Shawshank’ would have been a better name, because it’s a fictitious prison and the story has a happy ending.

[signalsignal]

Alcatraz was a prison known for tight security, so I am guessing that based on their motto "…your plugins are mine…" the project is just trying to tie all the external projects into one secured location. But I am just guessing.

Others may have more cynical views, though.

Here is the project list: https://github.com/mneorr/alcatraz-packages/blob/master/pack...

[terhechte]

There is no API, it's all reverse-engineered (AFAIK). I've been using the XVim plugin full time for the past year, and it's been very, very stable lately. It still crashes from time to time, but that can just as well also be XCode.

[danpalmer]

This is worth installing just to get the plugin that disables animations when you open/close the file browser and inspector panes.

But seriously, I hadn't really known about Xcode plugins, despite using it a lot of the time. I'd used a few but they were annoying to find and install. This is perfect and with an "Xcode Plugin" template available in it, I look forward to many more plugins emerging soon!

[lloeki]

Doesn't that work? (honest question, I don't use XCode that much):

    defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticWindowAnimationsEnabled -bool false

[scrumper]

I like this. Having a useful central repository of 3rd party project templates is a good thing, especially as Apple seem to keep cutting back on them. (Until I saw this it hadn't even occurred to me that people might contribute their own; I must be a bit too comfortable in the walled garden).

In the spirit of sharing I've added my own, long-standing color theme.

[bound008]

first do this:

mkdir -p '/Users/{{username}}/Library/Application Support/Developer/Shared/Xcode/Plug-ins'

[mneorr]

Thanks for the report, adding this in the Alcatraz. He should do it instead of you ;)

[badhairday]

I want to use this, but I cannot get it to install. Even after creating this directory.

[mneorr]

Just fixed that issue.

[willfarrell]

Alcatraz is now integrated with Alfred Project Managers Workflow. https://github.com/willfarrell/alfred-workflows

[nikolakirev]

Looks great! There is an issue with installing/running it on OS X Lion, but I am sure it will get fixed soon.

[fyolnish]

I get "x failed to install :( .xcodeproj not found" every time I try to install something.

[mneorr]

You need to install Command line tools from the Preferences pane. After that you should be good to go.

We'll add that notice probably tomorrow.

[sebbean]

needs a mkdir in that install script for people without the plugins folder

[mneorr]

updated install script

[bjz_]

I'm getting 'curl: (6) Couldn't resolve host 's3.amazonaws.com''

[lucian1900]

Something is likely wrong with your DNS.

[chrismealy]

I get "color scheme installation fail" for everything.

[mneorr]

If you mkdir -p ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/UserData/FontAndColorThemes/ , does it work then?

[benatkin]

Fitting name.