[cmake-developers] Drop support for older Xcode versions?

[Eric Wing]

On 2/6/16, Gregor Jasny via cmake-developers <cmake-developers at cmake.org> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'd like to get your feedback on deprecating or dropping support for
> older Xcode versions. During changes on the Xcode generator it gets
> harder and harder to test against old and very old Xcode versions like 3
> and 4.
>
> Are there still users around for these versions of Xcode?
>
> PS: I'm talking here about the Xcode generator which creates Xcode
> projects, not the Makefile or Ninja generator.
>
> Thanks,
> Gregor
> --
>

I personally am not using them. My more serious problem is that the
Xcode projects being generated now are not keeping up with modern
Xcode and the features that need to be accessible/set. The reality of
Apple development is you must be on the latest stable Xcode if you
need to ship apps on the Mac or iOS Store, otherwise Apple can reject
your app. Their design philosophy, regardless if you agree with it or
not, is to build with the latest and build against backwards
compatibility deployment targets, not build with the oldest and pray
it will work with future changes that couldn't be predicted at the
time. Their platform, their rules.

So I'm all in favor of dropping legacy platforms if it means
ultimately helping make the Xcode generator work better for modern
Xcode. General rule of thumb for Apple development is support the
latest and -1 version. If you can do more, fine, but don't compromise
the recent stuff in order to achieve distant backwards compatibility.

-Eric