How to install XCode 6 GM (or any other XCode version) without deleting prior version

This is an English translation of  Diego Freniche original article




Theory

An OSX App is not more than a folder (a bundle) containing executable files and resources. We can see it on Finder right clicking an app file and selecting "Show package contents". It is even more evident from the Terminal:

$ cd /Applications/ 
$ ls -d Xcode*

drwxr-xr-x@ 3 dfreniche admin 102B 10 sep 09:47 Xcode.app/ 
drwxr-xr-x  3 root wheel 102B 16 abr 10:30 Xcode5.app/ 
drwxr-xr-x@ 3 dfreniche admin 102B 2 jul 02:52 Xcode6-Beta3.app/ 
drwxr-xr-x@ 3 dfreniche admin 102B 1 ago 23:17 Xcode6-Beta5.app/ 
drwxr-xr-x@ 3 dfreniche admin 102B 16 ago 00:35 Xcode6-Beta6.app/ 
drwxr-xr-x@ 3 dfreniche admin 102B 28 ago 09:01 Xcode6-Beta7.app/

we can see all versions of XCode installed. They are just UNIX directories.

On practice

During the beta stage, the XCode dmg file we download contains a directory named for example XCode6-beta6. This name is different than XCode so there is no conflict.

When the GoldMaster and ultimate version arrive, Apple releases a DMG  with an app named XCode. It is XCode 6 but it has same name that the previous XCode 5 that you have already installed in your machine. If you copy it will replace XCode 5.

Xcode5 before copying Xcode6 GM

But there is an easy solution: before copying the file to the Applications folder, rename Xcode (probably you  will need to introduce your administrator password) and set up your preferred name (it is up to you, I have one named Ye olde XCode 4.3).

Installing  Xcode 6 after renaming Xcode 5

Easy. Is it not?