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# Apple. The anti-dev platform.
## Introduction: A Decade of Disappointment
This week has been a significant trial. I’ve had to use MacOS in my day job, and it’s only reinforced my existing disdain for the platform. In fact, in the 10ish years since I last used an Apple-based system, one thing is clear: it’s gotten worse. Here’s why.
## The Apple Developer License: A Tax on Ambition
Let’s start with the obvious. Apple charges you a “developer license” to actually *do* anything useful and give it to other people. It’s not just a fee; it’s a tax on your creativity, your ambition, and the privilege of playing in their walled garden.
* **The Price of Entry:** $99 per year (or $299 for the “pro” version, which honestly, I still don’t know what that entails). It’s a recurring cost, not a one-time fee.
* **What Do You Get?** A license to distribute apps on the App Store, access to developer tools, and the joy of knowing that every year, you’ll be paying to continue doing so.
* **The Hidden Cost:** The license isn’t just about money. It’s about the mental toll. Every time you see that $99 fee, it’s a reminder that you’re not just a developer; you’re a consumer in Apple’s ecosystem.
## Forced Obsolescence: The Apple Way
I needed Xcode, but apparently, if I can’t run the latest MacOS, I can’t run the latest Xcode. Therefore, to run the latest development tools on a Mac, you need to use very new hardware. This is ridiculous.
* **The Hardware Arms Race:** Apple’s latest MacOS versions require hardware that’s so new it feels like a spaceship. My loan device was from 2020, and it’s already considered “too old” to run the latest OS.
* **The Developer’s Dilemma:** As a developer, you’re stuck in a loop. You can’t use the latest tools without the latest hardware, and the latest hardware is expensive.
* **The Linux Alternative:** I understand Microsoft is doing this too with Windows 11 and TPM 2.0. But here’s the thing: I use Linux, and I can run the latest AI tools on a 15-year-old machine. Linux doesn’t force obsolescence; it gives you the freedom to use what you have.
## The Cloud as a Substitute: A Shift in Power
Most developers are using cloud backends now anyway, needing only a device to write code and push to remote pipelines. Game developers and those needing real compilers aren’t even *using* these machines anymore.
* **The Rise of Cloud Development:** More and more developers are moving their work to the cloud. It’s cheaper, more flexible, and doesn’t require you to upgrade your hardware every year.
* **The Mac’s Role:** The Mac is no longer the center of the development universe. It’s just a text editor and a terminal. The real work is done in the cloud.
* **The Cloud vs. The Mac:** The cloud is the future, and Apple is the past. While Apple tries to force developers into their ecosystem, the cloud gives developers the freedom to choose.
## The Linux Alternative: Freedom and Flexibility
Can you imagine having to replace your car every five years? Absolute folly. The idea that a machine is “obsolete” after five years needs to stop.
* **Linux on Old Hardware:** I use a 15-year-old machine with an 8-year-old graphics card to play games and run AI workloads. It’s not fast, but it’s functional. Linux doesn’t care about your hardware; it just wants to run on it.
* **The Linux Ecosystem:** Linux is open-source, meaning you can modify it, customize it, and use it on any hardware you want. You’re not tied to a specific vendor.
* **The Developer’s Choice:** Linux gives developers the freedom to choose their tools, their hardware, and their environment. It’s not about the latest and greatest; it’s about what works for *you*.
## The Cost of Apple’s Obsession with New Hardware
The idea that as a dev, I can’t possibly run on hardware older than 12 months is beyond stupid. This creates a false economy, meaning to develop on Apple, you basically have a $2,000-$3,000 AUD cost *every year*.
* **The Financial Burden:** Apple’s obsession with new hardware forces developers to upgrade annually. It’s not just the hardware cost; it’s the software, the license, and the ecosystem.
* **The False Economy:** Apple’s model is a false economy. They’re not just selling hardware; they’re selling a lifestyle. A lifestyle that’s expensive, restrictive, and not very practical.
* **The Developer’s Dilemma:** As a developer, you’re stuck in a loop. You can’t use the latest tools without the latest hardware, and the latest hardware is expensive.
## The Apple Developer License: A Tax on Innovation
These companies are toxic, and I’m now completely justified in my opinion that they are the most anti-consumer companies in the world. If someone says “BUT MUH SECURITY,” I think I’ll scream. If you use a cloud service, you’re already compromised.
* **The License as a Tax:** The Apple Developer License is a tax on innovation. It’s not just about money; it’s about the power to control the ecosystem. Apple is using the license to control who can develop on their platform.
* **The Security Myth:** If someone says “BUT MUH SECURITY,” I’ll scream. If you’re using a cloud service, you’re already compromised. Apple’s security is a myth. It’s not about security; it’s about control.
* **The Developer’s Choice:** The Apple Developer License isn’t a choice; it’s a requirement. If you want to develop on Apple’s platform, you have to pay the license.
## Conclusion: The Future is Open
Thank you for your time. The future is open. It’s not about Apple’s ecosystem; it’s about the freedom to choose your tools, your hardware, and your environment. Linux is the answer. The cloud is the answer. The Apple Developer License is not the answer.
* **Break Free:** Break free from Apple’s ecosystem. It’s not about security; it’s about control. It’s not about innovation; it’s about control.
* **Embrace Freedom:** Embrace the freedom of open-source. Use Linux. Use the cloud. Use your own tools, your own hardware, your own environment.
* **The Future is Open:** The future is open. It’s not about Apple’s ecosystem; it’s about the freedom to choose. It’s about the ability to use your own tools, your own hardware, and your own environment.
## Appendix: A Developer’s Guide to Freedom
* **Use Linux:** Linux is the answer. It’s open-source, flexible, and free. You can use it on any hardware you want.
* **Use the Cloud:** The cloud is the answer. It’s scalable, flexible, and free. You can use it to compile your code, run your AI workloads, and more.
* **Avoid Apple’s Ecosystem:** Apple’s ecosystem isn’t the answer. It’s expensive, restrictive, and not very practical. Avoid it if you can.
* **Choose Your Tools:** Choose your tools wisely. Use open-source tools, use cloud-based tools, use tools that give you freedom and flexibility.
* **The Future is Open:** The future is open. It’s not about Apple’s ecosystem; it’s about the freedom to choose. It’s about the ability to use your own tools, your own hardware, and your own environment.