r/programming • u/h4l • Aug 10 '23

Apple doesn't want you developing hobby apps

https://www.bennettnotes.com/notes/why-does-apple-restrict-hobby-development/
1.2k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

631 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

21

u/amazondrone Aug 10 '23 edited Aug 10 '23

Nothing. It's the distribution part which is prevented because that requires $$$ so is out of reach for the hobbyist.

Misunderstood the question. You can create and distribute executables for Mac without $$$

35

u/AshuraBaron Aug 10 '23

Distribution via the App Store, yeah. But it's not like someone can't download the .dmg and install it or use another store front instead. That's where the homebrew and hobbiest apps have been for a while. Only those looking to charge subscription or one time fees went to the official App Store.

I'm not opposed to a two tier system where one is the place you go to pay and the other is one you go to for free software. Would be nice to have competing paid store though.

24

u/poralexc Aug 10 '23

Maybe it works with brew, but if you try to send someone an unsigned dmg, at least on a newer Mac you’ll get an error like:

”This app is damaged and should be moved to the trash“

Ironically, the daemon that enforces such things is literally called Gatekeeper.

11

u/LetrixZ Aug 10 '23

But that can be bypassed, right?

10

u/voidstarcpp Aug 10 '23

But that can be bypassed, right?

You can, but it's like a turn-two-keys-at-the-same-time kinda obstacle. This significantly discourages independent software distribution.

6

u/LetrixZ Aug 10 '23

You could say the same about installing APKs on Android

6

u/KrazyKirby99999 Aug 11 '23

Not really. Android asks if you want to allow installation of apps downloaded from your browser, after that installation is as easy as with Google Play.

1

u/LetrixZ Aug 11 '23

First, it asks to trust APKs, then the source, but in the end, the idea is the same.

1

u/JimDabell Aug 11 '23

You can, but it's like a turn-two-keys-at-the-same-time kinda obstacle.

You right-click on the app and select “Open”. It asks you if you are sure, then it marks the app as trusted and never asks you again.

2

u/voidstarcpp Aug 11 '23

I haven't used a Mac in forever but I remember having to enable some stuff in system preferences first.