Apple clamps down on code tools

[xxMATTGxx]

Apple has clamped down on the software tools that developers can use to write programs for the iPhone.

Before now developers have been free to use many different tools to create applications for the iPhone and iPad.

Imminent changes to the way the iPhone software development kit is used will restrict these tools to just three.

The move has brought protests from many software developers with some declaring they will no longer produce applications for Apple's handset.

Apple said the change was made to improve the quality of applications appearing on its hugely successful App Store.

But critics say the changed text in section 3.3.1 of the development licence move is unnecessarily restrictive and is aimed more at Apple's rivals than poor quality code.

Many developers use other tools that have specific utilities, such as physics models and 3D graphics engines, that are useful help when creating certain sorts of applications such as games.

Any application submitted to Apple that does not use the mandated tools will be rejected.

Many developers took to their blogs to complain about the change.

"Developers are not free to use any tools to help them," wrote Hank Williams, adding: "This is akin to telling people what kind of desk people sit at when they write software for the iPhone."

Pierre Lebeaupin said clause 3.3.1 was so widely drawn that it was "completely impossible to enforce" and urged developers to contact Apple to show how strongly they feel.

Many joined an "I'm with Adobe" Facebook group which now has almost 6,000 members. The new terms led one programmer, Dan Grigsby, to say he would now no longer develop for the iPhone.

Developer Greg Slepak wrote an e-mail to Apple boss Steve Jobs setting out his problems with the clause saying it "limited creativity".

Mr Jobs responded saying that the limits would improve the quality of the applications. Letting developers use other tools would produce "sub-standard apps" and hold back the progress of the iPhone.

Apple has not yet given any official comment on the criticism it faces over Section 3.3.1.

Industry experts said the restrictions might be intended to stop developers re-using applications written with Adobe's Flash. Neither the iPhone nor iPad can run Flash applications.

Adobe released a software package, Creative Suite 5, on 12 April which can turn Flash code into iPhone code.

Flash programs are very widely used on the web and many games and videos are created using the software. However, under the new terms and conditions using Creative Suite 5 would lead to an application being rejected.

In a statement, Adobe said the change to section 3.3.1 would not stop it releasing the software.

"We intend to still deliver this capability in CS5 and it is up to Apple whether they choose to allow or disallow applications as their rules shift over time," wrote Kevin Lynch, Adobe chief technology officer, in a blog post.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8616274.stm

Apple have caused some upsets within the passed few days then.

[MrGazet]

OUCH! That is frustrating.

So,many developers will tend to not develop for iphone/ipad now?

[marriott0.01]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/10/s...ent-tool-rest/ Their reasons are all explained there

[GommeInc]

Hardly surprising. It's funny how Jobs says "Letting developers use other tools would produce "sub-standard apps" and hold back the progress of the iPhone." Ironic

[xxMATTGxx]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/10/s...ent-tool-rest/ Their reasons are all explained there

I'm guessing he didn't reply back when he mentioned "The Mac has only been helped by the fact that Firefox, Ableton Live, and hundreds of other high-quality applications can run on it thanks to the fact that developers have a choice as to what tools they can use on it."

[marriott0.01]

I'm guessing he didn't reply back when he mentioned "The Mac has only been helped by the fact that Firefox, Ableton Live, and hundreds of other high-quality applications can run on it thanks to the fact that developers have a choice as to what tools they can use on it."

Presumably not, and I wouldn't really say 'only been helped by' them. Because I've never actually used Firefox for mac as it's utter crap compared to the other browsers I can use. Safari and Chrome are my main browsers on the Mac, and I'd never even heard of Ableton Live, but I didn't need to, I have Logic Pro, which is amazing?

[xxMATTGxx]

Presumably not, and I wouldn't really say 'only been helped by' them. Because I've never actually used Firefox for mac as it's utter crap compared to the other browsers I can use. Safari and Chrome are my main browsers on the Mac, and I'd never even heard of Ableton Live, but I didn't need to, I have Logic Pro, which is amazing?

I think he was trying to point out they have a choice on the tools they can use. But now Apple have done this and have limited them to whatever.

[Apolva]

Surely if their tools were superior, everyone would use them anyway.

[MrPinkPanther]

As both am AS3 and Obj-C developer, I agree with Apple. The iPhone is full of shovel ware already, now imagine if indie Flash developers were allowed on the platform. The Appstore would be flooded with mindless rubbish and the checking service that Apple takes apps through we be slowed down even more. By retaining Xcode as the predominant publishing tool Apple is introducing some kind of check by which people have to have a decent knowledge of programming in order to release an app rather than Flash which every Tom, **** and Harry can use.

[marriott0.01]

I think he was trying to point out they have a choice on the tools they can use. But now Apple have done this and have limited them to whatever.

But is iPhone OS really the place to have so many different tools, it'd make it less secure (I presume), and it'll probably have some sort of errors somewhere along the line. I'm not saying I'm for this decision as I was looking forward to Adobe Air to come to all platforms, but Apple always has a reason, and I doubt it'd be because they want to monopolise on tools used on Apps. It'll be some other reason.