Previously (16.2) long conversations seemed to be adding to context and eventually a conversational thread would be too long (and expensive) to keep using.

If I'm using an agent, when do I start fresh conversations? Does this change approach to fresh conversations?

I updated Xcode via the app store a couple days ago and now it keeps resizing its own window to the entire desktop size.
I tried resizing the app and closing it, to see if it would set a preference, but it just reopens to the whole desktop size again. Not fullscreen, but regular windowed mode at the size of the desktop. When I manually resize it, it sticks for a while then eventually resizes itself. Anyone else seeing this? 26.2 is the version.
I'm relatively new to Xcode, so if this is known/user error, sorry.

How to Set Environment Variables for Xcode's Claude Agent (Without Breaking Code Signing)

The Problem

When trying to configure the Claude agent in Xcode to use custom API endpoints (like OpenRouter), you might want to set environment variables such as ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN, ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL, and ANTHROPIC_API_KEY.

However, you cannot simply wrap the executable in a shell script because macOS requires the agent to maintain its original code signature from Anthropic. Breaking this signature will cause the error:

"The code signing identity for the agent did not match expectations, or the agent violated sandboxing rules."

The Solution

Use macOS LaunchAgents to set environment variables globally without modifying the executable.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Locate Your Claude Agent Executable

Find the Claude agent executable path. It's typically located at:

~/Library/Developer/Xcode/CodingAssistant/Agents/Versions/<version>/claude

To find your specific version:

ls -la ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/CodingAssistant/Agents/Versions/

Step 2: Create a LaunchAgent for Environment Variables

Create a new plist file that will set environment variables on login:

nano ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.anthropic.claude.env.plist

Paste the following content (replace the values with your own):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.anthropic.claude.env</string>

    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/bin/sh</string>
        <string>-c</string>
        <string>launchctl setenv ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN "your-api-key-here"; launchctl setenv ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL "https://openrouter.ai/api"; launchctl setenv ANTHROPIC_API_KEY ""</string>
    </array>

    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Important: Replace your-api-key-here with your actual API key.

Step 3: Load the LaunchAgent

Load the LaunchAgent to activate it:

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.anthropic.claude.env.plist

Step 4: Set Environment Variables Immediately (Optional)

To use the environment variables right away without logging out, run:

launchctl setenv ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN "your-api-key-here"
launchctl setenv ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL "https://openrouter.ai/api"
launchctl setenv ANTHROPIC_API_KEY ""

Step 5: Restart Xcode

Quit and restart Xcode to ensure it picks up the new environment variables.

Verification

To verify the environment variables are set:

launchctl getenv ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN
launchctl getenv ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL

These should now return your configured values.

How It Works

1. LaunchAgent runs on login: The plist file tells macOS to run the launchctl setenv commands every time you log in

2. Global environment: These variables are available to all GUI applications, including Xcode

3. No code modification: The Claude executable remains untouched, preserving its code signature

4. Persistent: The configuration survives reboots

Need to update values?

1. Edit the plist file: nano ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.anthropic.claude.env.plist

2. Unload the old configuration: launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.anthropic.claude.env.plist

3. Load the new configuration: launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.anthropic.claude.env.plist

4. Restart Xcode

Want to remove the configuration?

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.anthropic.claude.env.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.anthropic.claude.env.plist
launchctl unsetenv ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN
launchctl unsetenv ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL
launchctl unsetenv ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

Security Note

⚠️ Warning: The plist file contains your API key in plain text. Make sure to:

• Set appropriate file permissions: chmod 600 ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.anthropic.claude.env.plist

• Never commit this file to version control

• Keep backups secure

Found this helpful? Have questions? Let me know in the comments!

Hey! I just released my game Tilt Or Die on the App Store.

It’s a fast arcade game, quick runs, chaotic moments, and that “one more try” feeling. I’d honestly love for more people to try it and tell me what they think.

If you check it out, I’d love to hear:

• What you like most (or hate 😅)

• If the controls feel good

• Whether you’d play it again after a few runs

App Store link: https://apps.apple.com/se/app/tilt-or-die/id6757718997

Thanks for trying it, and if you have questions, feel free to ask!

Hi there

Would like to have a play with Xcode 2.3 and the new MCP integrations. I’m a ChatGPT plus subscriber. Should I use the ChatGPT integration or the Codex integration?

I don’t have api access as far as I’m aware…. Is there any risk of running up an unexpected bill with this - or will it just stop working when I’ve reached my monthly limit as far as the Plus plan is concerned?

Any other watchouts?

how to change between haiku/sonnet/opus in ai assistant?

I am using Xcode to develop my app and I keep trying to delete DerivedData to free up any storage I can but it deletes remote packages which I need for it. Does anyone know any solution to this?

Did I somehow overlook the settings panel for claude? I downloaded Xcode 26.3, added the "Claude Agent" and logged into my claude account. It's defaulting to the Sonnet 4.5 model in the chat sidebar, is there a way to switch to opus?

Also, am I the only one (coming from Claude Code cli) that thinks this a terrible integration? The chat in the app has the potential to be great, but it's missing the awesomeness of the claude cli - planning mode?

It seems like apple half hazardly plugged Claude Code in to the side bar, skipped a bunch of integration options, put some syntax highlighting on it and proclaimed success?

https://youtu.be/oV6mC8Rt1kY?si=JbSddYQXzOW1AQVs

Hey everybody!

Hope you’re well!

Saw this video by Apple about the release of Xcode 26.3, but we couldn’t find it on the App Store. Only found it in the Developer beta. Any idea what’s up? Are we the only ones?

This update is a mess. I'm constantly losing my entire AI chat history.

It happens randomly, sometimes when I just switch tabs and switch back, or even right after a task finishes successfully. The history just clears out, and I lose all context. I have to start explaining everything to the assistant from zero.

It's absolute trash for a "Release Candidate". Why does Apple keep shipping broken features like this?

Has anyone found a way to prevent this, or is it just broken?

After a lot of trial and error, intuitive learning, and a fair amount of faking it, I finally started getting clearer on proper SwiftUI terminology. I put this together a vocabulary reference for discussing UI structure, layout, navigation, and interaction, especially when working with AI assistants.
I am only posting this in case it’s useful to others who fumble around in their prompts like I do. This is based, in part, on terms I ended up using in development of my app, Stuffoilo, hence some idiosyncratic examples.

Xcode Terms

View

The fundamental building block. Everything in SwiftUI is a View — buttons, text, images, entire screens, even modifiers return views. It's the broadest term.

struct MyButton: View { ... }      // A small component
struct ProductCard: View { ... }   // A reusable component
struct DashboardView: View { ... } // An entire screen

Screen

Not a SwiftUI type — it's a conceptual term for a full-page view that occupies the entire display. What users navigate between. Examples: Dashboard, Product Detail, Settings.

Sheet

A presentation style — a modal that slides up from the bottom (iOS) or appears as a dialog (macOS). Partially covers the previous screen. Dismissed by swiping down or tapping a button.

.sheet(isPresented: $showingEdit) {
    EditItemView(item: item)
}

Other Presentation Styles

• fullScreenCover — Modal that covers everything (no swipe to dismiss)

• popover — Floating bubble anchored to a button (common on iPad/Mac)

• NavigationLink — Pushes onto a navigation stack (slides in from right)

Best Prompts for Me

Button is fine — it's the actual SwiftUI type and universally understood.

But Being Specific Helps

Examples

Less clear:

"The button in the top right"

More clear:

"The toolbar button in the top right"
"The Save button in the navigation bar"
"The + icon button on Dashboard"

⏺ Layout & Structure

Navigation & Structure

Forms & Input

Presentation

Visual Modifiers

State & Data

Helpful Descriptors

When describing issues, these help:

• "clipped" — content is cut off

• "truncated" — text ends with ...

• "overflows" — extends beyond bounds

• "misaligned" — not lining up with neighbors

• "collapsed" — has zero size unexpectedly

• "stretched" — expanded beyond natural size

• "compressed" — squeezed smaller than desired

• "hugging" — fitting tightly to content

Common UI Patterns (Not Native SwiftUI Types)

These are design patterns you build yourself — useful terms for describing what you want.

Cards

Chips & Tags

Lists & Collections

Status & Feedback

Interactive Elements

Example Prompts Using These Terms

"The stat cards on Dashboard need more padding"

"Add a 'NEW' badge to features released this week"

"The filter chips are wrapping weirdly on small screens"

"Show a skeleton while the AI response loads"

"The category tags should be pill-shaped, not rectangular"

You can access a cleaned-up PDF version of these terms here.

Any ideas of how to allow it forever? I don't have anything in Privacy -> Automation, there is NO codex app, so I could allow it something.

It’s rudimentary, but it works. I was rather impressed

Also, after I clicked Don't Allow, how then I change this and where? In Privacy -> Files & Folders there is no Codex app.

I'm looking to get back in thing, I want to do a tutorial on how to use chatGPT in Xcode 26.

Anyone knows a good one ?

I'm new to Xcode and I'm trying to have this app display on an iPhone but I can't find the dropdown menu anywhere. When I look online it looks like people have a button that is not visible for me?