Is there an "emulator" that can be used with self-hosted apps for testing purposes without doing a full-blown app compliation, etc. Would like a simple emulator that would take the BT code and generate screen views and perhaps interactions with menus, etc. Anyone have some guidance in this regard?

I used to create a 'generic' app that I DID have to compile, but then I could mess around with options to see what happened. To create that, you do need to compile in XCode, but with no graphics etc, you can do that out of the box. Once it's running in the emulator, you can just update your control panel, refresh the control panel and it will update without another recompile.

Fingers Crossed is absolutely correct in saying that once you have downloaded the app once, you can update the app's content in the emulator/simulator. You just tap a button and within a second, it's working. Another way to go is to have an online simulator. This is often much more troublesome than just downloading it into Xcode or Eclipse, and these services also ask for a monthly subscription. However, the plus side of this would be that you can view it from any computer in the world and share it with others.

Any names or links to the simulators? Pay is OK, as long as the bugger works - right? The advantage, as we see it - is that you can build out an app and NOT have a Mac to view how it will work. This is our situation at present. MacMini + "stuff" has been ordered but won't be here until after the holidays. We, of course, would like to do some initial testing before then - so any direction to the simulators what would handle BuzzTouch files would be appreciated - as are all these support messages.

You can easily do the Android stuff on any Windows, Mac or Linux box. I have instructions on how to set that all up on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/GoNorthWest For iOS apps, I think you're stuck until you have a Mac running Xcode. Xcode is like Eclipse, in that it's needed to compile the actual source code provided by Buzztouch. To the best of my knowledge, there's no other way around it, because the code has to be compiled somewhere! Mark

You could use Macincloud, but that may not be the best solution. www.macincloud.com Cheers! -- Smug

In addition, theoretically if you have a developer create you an app in a self hosted environment, you can then be one of their '100' and you can install the app on your phone (along with a provisioning profile) and be able to run the non published app. With self hosting, you can then configure the app in the same manner. It's a way to circumvent owning the mac, but you would need to have a developer both with that setup and willing to create the app and give the access to it.

Thanks all. Just so everyone understands, we are NOT trying to "beat the system" with a work-around to XCode. We just want to do some temporary testing until our MacMini and Monitors, etc. are in place and set up. We have a developers account, etc. Again, my sincere thanks to all of you who reply to our postings.

If you do manage to 'beat the system', share. ;) Cheers! -- Smug