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QEMU for iOS

github.com

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Re: QEMU for iOS

#12
post #2

Not being in the apple world I wondered if this submission meant anything had changed regarding running stuff like this on iOS, but no: > Why isn't this in the AppStore? Apple does not permit any apps that has interpreted or generated code therefore it is unlikely that UTM will ever be allowed. However, there are various ways people on the internet have come up to side load apps without requiring a jailbreak. We do n…

> 2.5.2 Apps [may not] download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps. The rule changed, I think around the time that Swift Playgrounds came out, to add: > Educational apps designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, in limited circumstances, download code provided that such code is not used for other purposes. S…

You can run seemingly unrestricted python code on your iOS devices with Pythonista [0]. I'm using it right now to proxy my hotspot connection through my iPhone.

Not sure how they're allowed to exist on the app store, but it's been solid for me for a while now.

[0] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pythonista-3/id1085978097

Re: QEMU for iOS

#13

This is cool, but I can't help but think that running a VM on an iPad or iPhone would be horrendously slow.

Sure but if it's to emulate a computer from 1985 with half a meg of RAM, it might not be so bad :)

Edit: my bad, somehow I thought this was UAE the amiga emulator.

Re: QEMU for iOS

#15
post #2

Not being in the apple world I wondered if this submission meant anything had changed regarding running stuff like this on iOS, but no: > Why isn't this in the AppStore? Apple does not permit any apps that has interpreted or generated code therefore it is unlikely that UTM will ever be allowed. However, there are various ways people on the internet have come up to side load apps without requiring a jailbreak. We do n…

> 2.5.2 Apps [may not] download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps. The rule changed, I think around the time that Swift Playgrounds came out, to add: > Educational apps designed to teach, develop, or allow students to test executable code may, in limited circumstances, download code provided that such code is not used for other purposes. S…

There's no legal risk. Microsoft allows people to install emulators on their OS without issue.

The issue is that Apple wants a big profit cut on each app. If you were allowed to download & run applications on your own computer, then Apple wouldn't get its cut.

Re: QEMU for iOS

#16
> "Fast native graphics through para-virtualization thanks to SPICE"

I'm assuming the SPICE referred to here is not the SPICE I know, unless they've gone the full video circuit emulation route, which I don't imagine being fast at all :)

Re: QEMU for iOS

#18
post #2

Not being in the apple world I wondered if this submission meant anything had changed regarding running stuff like this on iOS, but no: > Why isn't this in the AppStore? Apple does not permit any apps that has interpreted or generated code therefore it is unlikely that UTM will ever be allowed. However, there are various ways people on the internet have come up to side load apps without requiring a jailbreak. We do n…

This is just not true. There are many emulators in AppStore, from i48 (which runs HP 48's native Saturn ROM), to ZORK, which runs PDP-11 binary of said game underneath, along with emulated RT-11 (or was it RSX-11?).

Re: QEMU for iOS

#19

> "Since iOS 13.3.1, it appears Apple has stopped allowing free developer profiles to sign dylibs." A terrible decision. Users should always be allowed, at the very least, to build and sideload their own code .

I'm not very familiar with iOS but is this restriction a fundamental limitation or just a paper-cut style limitation that's just one more hurdle for developers to jump through?

It appears to me that developers who are previously using dynamic libraries now have to invest in the effort to make them static libraries and link them to the main executable. So it seems like it can be overcome, but just more hassle. Am I correct?

Re: QEMU for iOS

#20
post #16

> "Fast native graphics through para-virtualization thanks to SPICE" I'm assuming the SPICE referred to here is not the SPICE I know, unless they've gone the full video circuit emulation route, which I don't imagine being fast at all :)

Hah, having parameters like --vga-cable-length --ambient-temperature --psrr would be fun though
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