I do not consider logging into iCloud to be part of "finishing setting up" my computer. In fact, I would like more out-of-the-box visibility into the phoning-home that Mac OS X performs.

With Xcode specifically, I think a computer should be immediately programmable, like a BASIC interpreter used to be included. Especially to encourage young people.

Most computing devices include a web browser with a JavaScript interpreter.

However, it isn't easy for beginners to discover or to learn to use.

But even if programming environments were easily discoverable and beginner-friendly, I wouldn't expect much interest since:

1) Most typical computing tasks can be completed without user programming, simply by using pre-programmed apps which are readily available.

2) Some computer scientists (Matt Walsh, Bertrand Meyer, et al.) predict that programming will turn into an obsolete skill as AI systems become capable of creating programs automatically.

>Most computing devices include a web browser with a JavaScript interpreter.

A web browser is not a computer. They are working hard to make it one, but they are just not there yet. /s

I was responding to "a BASIC interpreter used to be included", pointing out that although BASIC may no longer be shipped with every PC, JavaScript usually is.

Your point is well taken though - JavaScript, while arguably more powerful than BASIC in many ways, usually doesn't allow the same low-level hardware access that Microsoft (and other) BASIC implementations once did. Nonetheless it's often possible to write pretty good, full-screen games in JavaScript with sound, 2D and 3D graphics, network capability, and even game controller support.

And while BASIC could call out to assembly language, JavaScript can call out to WASM.

Fwiw, you don’t need iCloud to get Xcode , it’s installable from the website.

Better yet, you don’t even need to do that to get the command line tools. Just do xcode-select —install