iSH is awesome. I've been using the beta for about a year (or more) and have provided some feedback to Theodore a few times. This eventuality was almost certain because of the App Store restrictions that have been in place since before the iSH project was launched. In this way, Apple sucks. They have complete control over what an app can and cannot do. There is no alternative (besides jailbreaking) to the Apple App Store for iOS apps. This is part of the deal that you should know about when you buy an iOS product.
About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
141–150 of 484 posts
Re: About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
#142Earlier quoted context omitted.
But its absolutely not true that this is enforced consistently. My iPhone currently contains three full programming language interpreters from the App Store---one for JavaScript, one for Python, and one for Clojurescript. I know one of those can make arbitrary network requests because I've done it, and I think the other two can as well. So how is that different from iSH? Apple has approved a bunch of apps that can go…
I think JavaScript/Clojurescript is the exception because they control the runtime and JIT: whether or not you buy their explanation, I think the reason they state is that this is to enable sandboxing. This is at least plausible to me: to have effective sandboxing, you need to restrict the APIs that a device can call, which means blocking the ability to generate and run arbitrary machine code on-device.
> This is at least plausible to me: to have effective sandboxing, you need to restrict the APIs that a device can call, which means blocking the ability to generate and run arbitrary machine code on-device.
This isn't true. You can sandbox arbitrary machine code by restricting the process it runs in (this is how seccomp works on Linux).
Re: About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
#143"we received a call from Apple" is this a literal statement where some human from Apple called on the telephone to speak to someone about this situation, or is this a phrase that actually means they received an email notification about the situation? I ask because it seems well outside the norm of no-human contact regarding support from FAANG companies.
I've even had Apple calling me back for consumer stuff.
When I had a battery issue I called them and they called back with instructions on where to send it to it fixed.
Their whole phone support system is kind of weirdly different, at least in the countries I used it (South America and Europe). It doesn't have call-centre noise, the accent matches the region I'm calling from, and the person on the other side seems to have WAY more freedom to go off-script and even joke with us. It's almost like calling a friend.
I guess that's why the products are expensive.
Re: About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
#144Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’m actually not sure about that, as far as I can tell there’s no way for me to build the app without having access to another Apple machine running the full MacOS. I just have an iPad and a Linux desktop, which generally suits me fine. So, the App Store fiasco sucks, and doubly so for those who are not already entirely inside Apple’s walled garden.
Last I checked it was possible to run Mac OS in a VM on linux and install via USB tether. This isn't quite the grade school level of difficulty, but if you're using linux as your daily driver you're already accustomed to doing things the hardest way.
IIUC this isn't legal as the macOS license doesn't allow running it on non-Apple hardware. (unless your Linux box is a Mac of course)
Re: About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
#145Earlier quoted context omitted.
iOS developers have made over a half a trillion dollars over the last decade on this unsustainable, constantly shifting foundation that they hate so much. Makes you wonder why they bother ? Maybe it's because the very rules you say developers hate are the ones users find appealing.
Curious, people complain about the monopoly, yet they still purchase from monopoly.
The people complaining are developers, while the ones purchasing and defending it are users or are doing so from the point of view of users.
Re: About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
#146As beautiful and polished as iOS is it is policies like these that keep me on Android. I wish iSH the best of luck, but I will stick with Termux ( https://termux.com/ ) on Android for now.
It's sad. I'm a Linux diehard, but during the pandemic I considered buying an iPad to SSH into my office workstation, browse the web, etc. as I got stuck in an awkward accommodation. Hardware is great, but the keyboard lacks a dedicated ESC, and I was quite uncomfortable with the fact that terminal apps seem like second rate citizens / not well liked by Apple. IMHO, there's a lot of untapped potential in the iPad as…
I guess you might be interested in PineTab, native GNU/Linux tablet.
Re: About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
#147Earlier quoted context omitted.
i thought termux is going to have issue in latest version of andriod? This is what we get from monopoly.
The Termux developers have a plan ( https://github.com/termux/termux-packages/wiki/Termux-and-An... ). >> This is what we get from monopoly. Agreed. The Apple / Google mobile OS dualopy leaves few choices.
The few choices are Librem 5 and PinePhone, native GNU/Linux phones.
Re: About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
#148This isn’t sustainable. Software developers can’t build on a foundation that is constantly, capriciously shifting. This on top of the App Store's already-onerous restrictions and the fact that it’s the only practical way to get your software on one of the world's largest computing platforms has already engendered a deep antipathy [1] among Apple developers, and there are no signs it’s getting better. Something has to…
They can build on it... developers have been building on it for years and making money doing it. Don't make an app that allows users to run unapproved software. I think that's a pretty clear rule. If your app makes money (directly or indirectly), pay Apple whatever portion of your revenue that Apple demands. I also think that's a pretty clear rule. If there's something that should obviously be regulated out of existe…
You already pay $99 / year for being on their app store
Re: About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
#149PSA: You don't actually own your i* devices. You did pay for them but someone else controls them and determines what you get to run on them.
Incorrect. You can do local builds and installs of any code you like.
But you have to go through the hassle of signing the certificate every 7 days. It's not exactly the same experience.
Re: About iSH’s pending removal from the App Store
#150Earlier quoted context omitted.
iOS developers have made over a half a trillion dollars over the last decade on this unsustainable, constantly shifting foundation that they hate so much. Makes you wonder why they bother ? Maybe it's because the very rules you say developers hate are the ones users find appealing.
The question is this: Do you want to build within a certain set of categories Apple unambiguously supports? If you're building a to-do app supported by a monthly subscription, there's no shifting foundation there. If you're building a free-to-play game whose in-app purchases consist of "handful of gems," "bag of gems," and "trunk of gems," you have nothing to worry about from App Review. If you're building something…
No, your biggest risk when building your business on iOS will be selling nothing, which is the most common result. So many people try and the expected outcome is nothing.
People tend to like iOS better because the app ecosystem is better and it is that way because of restrictions. The restrictions aren't necessarily the exactly correct set to achieve the quality and profit apple seeks, but if they were all that terrible, the iOS experience would be terrible and it isn't.
It'll essentially keep staying just bad enough that it doesn't get regulated to hell or abandoned by users... and no better.
People are generally upset because the barrier for entry to create an app is low and the profit for winners can be very high, which means there are an enormous number of people trying and regulating that is hard.