How to Run Pygame in Xcode?

Last Updated : 28 Jun, 2024

While Xcode is primarily designed for Swift and Objective-C development, it can also be configured to run Python projects, including those using Pygame. This guide will walk you through the steps needed to run Pygame in Xcode.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure you have the following installed:

Xcode (available from the Mac App Store)
Python (preferably the latest version)
Pygame (installable via pip)

Step 1: Install Python and Pygame

If you haven't already installed Python, download and install it from the official Python website. Once Python is installed, you can install Pygame using pip:

pip install pygame

Step 2: Set Up a New Xcode Project

Open Xcode and create a new project:

Select "Create a new Xcode project."
Choose the "macOS" tab and select "Command Line Tool."
Click "Next."

Configure your project:

Enter a product name (e.g., PygameProject).
Choose your development team, if applicable.
Select a language (Objective-C is the default, but we won't be using it).
Click "Next" and save your project to a convenient location.

Step 3: Configure the Project to Run Python

Modify the Scheme

Click on the project name in the top-left corner of Xcode.
Select "Edit Scheme."

Set the Executable

In the scheme editor, select the "Run" tab.
Under the "Info" tab, set the "Executable" to the Python interpreter. This is usually located at /usr/bin/python3 or /usr/local/bin/python3 depending on your installation.

Set Arguments and Working Directory

Still in the "Run" tab, navigate to the "Arguments" section.
Add the path to your Pygame script (e.g., main.py) in the "Arguments Passed on Launch."
Set the "Working Directory" to the directory where your Pygame script is located.

Step 4: Add Your Pygame Script

Create a new file in your project directory (outside of Xcode) and name it main.py.

Write a simple Pygame script to test your setup. Here’s an example of a basic Pygame script:

Note: Use .bmp image file to run this code.

Python

import pygame
import sys

pygame.init()

size = width, height = 640, 480
speed = [2, 2]
black = 0, 0, 0

screen = pygame.display.set_mode(size)
ball = pygame.image.load("ball.bmp")
ballrect = ball.get_rect()

while True:
    for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            pygame.quit()
            sys.exit()

    ballrect = ballrect.move(speed)
    if ballrect.left < 0 or ballrect.right > width:
        speed[0] = -speed[0]
    if ballrect.top < 0 or ballrect.bottom > height:
        speed[1] = -speed[1]

    screen.fill(black)
    screen.blit(ball, ballrect)
    pygame.display.flip()

Add the script to your Xcode Project

In Xcode, right-click on the project navigator and select "Add Files to [Your Project Name]."
Select main.py and add it to your project.

Step 5: Run Your Pygame Project in Xcode