Barriers to iPhone development

NathanE · 11 Feb 2010 at 13:42

Looking into this and it seems to the barriers are exceptionally high...

1. You need a Macintosh computer
2. You need to *buy* the iPhone SDK from Apple
3. If you want to use C# you need to *buy* the MonoTouch SDK from Novell. And even then you can't use Visual Studio or even a Windows PC at all to develop on.

You have to wonder how iPhone Apps came to be so popular when the barriers are this high :confused:

Discuss

NathanE · 11 Feb 2010 at 21:19

wush said:
The MonoTouch point is a bit of a stretch - its very existence is a side issue.

When the alternative is Objective C ... ?

I don't think asking for C# is much of a stretch.

Agreed though it's not Apple's problem. It's Novell's and Microsoft's. But still, it is a barrier to entry for me.

NathanE · 11 Feb 2010 at 21:22

Xenoxide said:
1. Ok, yes.
2. You do not need to buy the SDK. You can develop apps to your hearts content without paying a penny. You only need to pay Apple the $99 licence fee if you want to sell your app on the App Store.
3. Well, that's more Novell's issue than Apple's.

The barriers aren't that high, the MacBook and MacBook Pro are now the worlds best selling laptops, selling more of them than any other manufacturer. Not to mention that buying a Mac isn't that expensive anymore, not with the Mac mini and MacBooks.

I read somewhere you had to buy the SDK. If that's false, then fine. That's good.

So assuming I'm not interesting publishing my apps on their App Store. All I need then is a Macintosh and possibly MonoTouch SDK?

What's all this about needing a digital certificate if you want to run your creations on your iPhone?

NathanE · 16 Feb 2010 at 20:00

_TubbZ_ said:
On the apple control freak front it will be nice to see how they handle Opera Mini. Especially since Opera have already been showing it off. I personally wouldn't be surprised if they block it

Opera has proven itself to be a remarkably successful company in the courts.