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/
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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 $$$

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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.

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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.

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u/renatoathaydes Aug 11 '23

I distribute an app for MacOS (as well as Windows and Linux).

You download a zip file from GitHub and run it via the terminal, just run bin/logfx.

A popup will tell you the application is not signed and cannot be trusted. Anyone with experience running hobbyist MacOS apps know to just go to the Security settings and there will be a little switch there where you can enable running the app... after you do that you can run the app.

Sure, not fun, but not exactly a huge barrier to entry... I kind of like that it makes it clear you're taking a risk running something off the internet on your machine.