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Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

engineering.columbia.edu

41–50 of 108 posts

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or maybe, just maybe, someone who has spent this much time developing a VM for Apple's software architecture has a great skillset and would be a welcome addition to one of Apple's teams. The same exact thing happened to the guy behind ReactOS (an Open Source Windows NT replacement). The guy became /so/ familiar with Windows that he eventually got a job on the actual Windows Kernel team.

Of course he'd have a great skillset, but still, he won't be working on the project. May be, just may be, Apple had different intentions behind taking this man in.

[deleted]

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#42

Here's a comment from this project's creator on the demo video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaple0Ec1Dg ): I have started a job with Apple, and will not be continuing work on this project. The team at Columbia will probably be doing some follow up work, but I won't be involved from here on out. So basically Apple has tried to kill or at least slow down the release of this to the public (he's obviously talented,…

Or maybe, just maybe, someone who has spent this much time developing a VM for Apple's software architecture has a great skillset and would be a welcome addition to one of Apple's teams. The same exact thing happened to the guy behind ReactOS (an Open Source Windows NT replacement). The guy became /so/ familiar with Windows that he eventually got a job on the actual Windows Kernel team.

I don't get why hackers want to work at such large companies. If someone has over about 50 employees or about 10 million backing, I don't see what's interesting about it.

edit (due to the downvotes): Sorry, this was an honest question. I've been working for about 15 years and have always been really put off by the institutional structure of large companies ... the constitution of them just doesn't work for the kind of green-field I'm (and I thought most hackers) are looking for.

I wasn't trying to be negative or deleterious --- I really didn't get it.

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your way requires the developer to use Apportable to port an iOS app to Android. If the developer has agreed with Apple to not port the app to Android, it will never be available. Their way gives the power to the user. The user copies across iOS app binary and system libraries and it's done. Basically, your way empowers the developer, their way empowers the user. You need to be commercially viable because your invest…

> If the developer has agreed with Apple to not port the app to Android, it will never be available. This is not in the developers interests usually. I have heard release exclusives but they all almost have expiration dates. > Their way gives the power to the user. The user copies across iOS app binary and system libraries and it's done. While it may empower users, it's not widely practical. (IANAL) You also have a p…

Is it fair to say that Apportable : Objective-C :: Xamarin : C#?

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#44
post #8

> "a new system that can run iOS apps on an Android device for the first time" We at Apportable (YC W2011) have been doing that for 3 + years in a much for commercially viable way. We strive for source compatibility and are not building an emulator that requires taking libraries from an iOS device.

But the focus is on games. I am developing an app that is not a game that makes heavy use of UIKit and core animation... When can I use apportable realistically?

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or maybe, just maybe, someone who has spent this much time developing a VM for Apple's software architecture has a great skillset and would be a welcome addition to one of Apple's teams. The same exact thing happened to the guy behind ReactOS (an Open Source Windows NT replacement). The guy became /so/ familiar with Windows that he eventually got a job on the actual Windows Kernel team.

I don't get why hackers want to work at such large companies. If someone has over about 50 employees or about 10 million backing, I don't see what's interesting about it. edit (due to the downvotes): Sorry, this was an honest question. I've been working for about 15 years and have always been really put off by the institutional structure of large companies ... the constitution of them just doesn't work for the kind o…

Bigger paycheck, better benefits, better job security, less and more predictable hours, access to amazing tech.

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#46
post #20

Apps on iOS are encrypted and they say they use some modified script from a jailbreak to decrypt the apps. So for this to work, they need a jailbroken device to decrypt the apps first. So not future proof as well.

They're only encrypted when they go to the App Store. You can make a .ipa file and install it on your own/jailbroken devices without it ever being encrypted. It's extremely easy to decompile it and get variable names, string values and stack traces too.

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#47
post #5

... we reused existing iOS frameworks and libraries in our approach, avoiding the difficult and complex reimplementation effort of Wine. Cool, but it's against Apple's EULA to run the iOS binaries on non-Apple hardware, so unfortunately this project suffers from the same problem as emulators that require you to acquire the original firmware somehow.

> but it's against Apple's EULA This is Hacker News, right?

Hacker != Cracker

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#48
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If the developer has agreed with Apple to not port the app to Android, it will never be available. This is not in the developers interests usually. I have heard release exclusives but they all almost have expiration dates. > Their way gives the power to the user. The user copies across iOS app binary and system libraries and it's done. While it may empower users, it's not widely practical. (IANAL) You also have a p…

Is it fair to say that Apportable : Objective-C :: Xamarin : C#?

more pedantically Approtable : native :: Xamarin : CLR

As part of a thought experiment I got Mono running on top of Apportable's platform (I used to work on Mono myself ironically). We just work at a lower level at Apportable.

Xamarin has great high level tools for developing apps if you want to write in C#. We rely on the tools the developers already use and know (mainly Xcode) to develop for other platforms while also providing you a native userland that has most of the same native APIs and frameworks you find on iOS (and most Unix like environments) that you don't get on Android out of the box.

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get why hackers want to work at such large companies. If someone has over about 50 employees or about 10 million backing, I don't see what's interesting about it. edit (due to the downvotes): Sorry, this was an honest question. I've been working for about 15 years and have always been really put off by the institutional structure of large companies ... the constitution of them just doesn't work for the kind o…

Bigger paycheck, better benefits, better job security, less and more predictable hours, access to amazing tech.

Oh yes, what I call the "family argument" (work rules are different if you have a spouse and kid). I always forget about that one. Makes perfect sense. Sorry about that - it was pretty obvious.

Re: Cider Project: Run iOS apps on Android

#50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or maybe, just maybe, someone who has spent this much time developing a VM for Apple's software architecture has a great skillset and would be a welcome addition to one of Apple's teams. The same exact thing happened to the guy behind ReactOS (an Open Source Windows NT replacement). The guy became /so/ familiar with Windows that he eventually got a job on the actual Windows Kernel team.

I don't get why hackers want to work at such large companies. If someone has over about 50 employees or about 10 million backing, I don't see what's interesting about it. edit (due to the downvotes): Sorry, this was an honest question. I've been working for about 15 years and have always been really put off by the institutional structure of large companies ... the constitution of them just doesn't work for the kind o…

Why? If a large company is organised correctly (and I'm not saying that MS is for a second) then you aren't interacting with those over >49 employees. In return you might have access to huge datasets, or at the least huge audiences. And as for financial backing... having a ton of money available is very interesting to many hackers, because it allows them to do a great many things.

Not ever hacker is a startup entrepreneur.

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