I have a feeling that this is what's coming, but they're taking their time to do it well. It would absolutely be the right kind of halo-app to promote (and engineer a good solution for) Apple OS convergence.

I suspect that we are in for a massive, top-to-bottom rewrite, cross-platform. Just not sure when it will hit the streets.

That's a really big job, and they can't afford many screw-ups.

It would definitely be very nice to have a keyboard attached to an iPad running Xcode, and when you want to run your iPad app it just launches on the device like when you’re developing a Mac app on the Mac. That would be excellent.

If it could launch on the device with a debugger in slide-over, that would be almost perfect.

If Jon Prosser is to be believed [0], your wish may come true in the next year or so.

[0]: https://twitter.com/jon_prosser/status/1252931201708560385

If you don't require Xcode UTM's Linux VMs will probably work for you as a development platform.

If you're going down that route, a VPS is an alternative (albeit more expensive) option. Blink shell is a great ssh/mosh client, and code-server makes for a great IDE.

Blink shell: https://blink.sh/

code-server: https://github.com/cdr/code-server

+1 for Blink and a good VPS.

For testing big builds or anything you want some power for, a good way to go when you need portability.

I do native Apple development. Xcode is required. Other tools (like AppCode) require Xcode tools, “under the hood.”

You’re right, but we’re talking about hacks here, right?

Technically you can compile iOS stuff on Linux or jailbreaked iOS, all you need is clang and apple toolchain. Examples: https://github.com/theos/theos/wiki or https://github.com/tpoechtrager/cctools-port/

The Surface Pro already does all this, like the comment above said - pointless hackery when you've paid your way into the walled garden yourself.