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'Apple: dev platform is awful.

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# Apple. The anti dev platform.
# Apple: The Anti-Dev Platform
## Introduction: A Week of Suffering
This week has been a significant trial. I have had to use MacOS in my day job, and it’s reinforced my existing disdain for the platform. In fact, over the past 10 years of using an Apple-based platform, one thing is clear: it got worse.
This week has been a significant trial. I have had to use MacOS in my day job. It has helped reinforce my existing disdain of the platform, in fact, in the 10ish years since I have used an Apple based platform I can safely say one thing. It got worse. Here's how.
## How It Got Worse
## The Loan Device: A Time Capsule from 2020
* **Outdated Hardware:** My loan device was from 2020, apparently too old to run the latest macOS.
* **Xcode Requirements:** To use Xcode, you need the latest macOS. If your hardware can’t handle that, tough luck.
* **Forced Obsolescence:** This means needing very new hardware to run the latest development tools on a Mac, which is ridiculous. Microsoft is doing something similar with Windows 11 requiring TPM 2.0. This is equally frustrating.
My loan device was from 2020, apparently this is too old to run the latest macOS. I needed Xcode, 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, very new hardware. This is ridiculous.
## The Problem
## Forced Obsolescence: A Love Letter to Capitalism
* **Outdated Hardware:** My loan device was from 2020, apparently too old to run the latest macOS.
* **Xcode Requirements:** To use Xcode, you need the latest macOS. If your hardware can’t handle that, tough luck.
* **Forced Obsolescence:** This means needing very new hardware to run the latest development tools on a Mac, which is ridiculous. Microsoft is doing something similar with Windows 11 requiring TPM 2.0. This is equally frustrating.
I understand MS are doing this as well given that Windows 11 now *needs* a TPM 2.0. This is bullshit as well. This is forced obsolescence. I am lucky enough to have the skills to use Linux and so can put secure and updated OS's on these devices, but these skills are not common and this forced obsolescence should be called out for what it is, wasteful and silly.
## The Real Issue
## The Macbook: A Reluctant Hero
* **Obsolete After 5 Years:** The idea that a machine is “obsolete” after five years needs to stop. Imagine having to replace our cars every five years—absolute folly.
* **Old Hardware, New Capabilities:** I use a 15-year-old machine with an 8-year-old graphics card for AI workloads and gaming. A 4-year-old machine serves as my main gaming computer. Even a 10-year-old all-in-one acts as our kitchen hub computer, running the latest Linux smoothly.
This MacBook I have been loaned, once coaxed, was able to do the development I needed. Fuck me, most developers are using cloud backends now anyway and only need this device to write code (text editor) and then push to remote build pipelines. Game developers and developers who need real compilers are not using these machines.
## The Cost
## The 5-Year Rule: A Joke?
* **Financial Burden:** As a developer, you can’t use hardware older than 12 months on Apple. This creates a false economy and means spending $2k to $3k AUD every year just to develop on Apple.
* **Additional Fees:** On top of that, there’s the $150 annual fee for an Apple Developer License.
The idea that a machine is “obsolete” after 5 years needs to be stopped. Can you imagine if we *had* to replace our cars every 5 years… absolute folly.
## The Ecosystem
## My Setup: A Testament to Linux
This ecosystem is the worst I’ve encountered and should die in a fire. And to general consumers using them: learn how to use a computer instead of relying on “big tech” to look after you.
I use a 15-year-old machine with an 8-year-old graphics card in my lounge room to play games and run AI workloads. I use a 4-year-old machine as my main gaming computer. I have just set up a 10-year-old all-in-one to act as our kitchen hub computer. These computers run the latest Linux swimmingly, give me access to the latest and greatest AI tools (albeit slowly) and more than adequately perform their function as required.
* **Triple Sign-In:** Can someone explain why building my own app on my own device requires triple sign-in and enrollment everywhere?
* **Ownership Issues:** It seems that spending $1k for a phone, $2k for a laptop means I don’t actually have the freedom to use them as I wish.
## The Developer Tax: A New Form of Extortion
## Security Concerns
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 and means that to develop on Apple you basically have a $2k to $3k AUD cost every year… that's not ok. On top of the $150 AUD entrance fee to be an Apple developer.
If you argue about security, remember: using a cloud service already compromises your data. Shut the fuck up.
## The Apple Developer License: A Joke?
## Developer Disgust
On top of that they charge you a “Apple Developer License” to actually do anything useful and give it to other people. These company is toxic and I now feel completely justified in my opinion that they are the most anti-consumer company in the world… and if someone says “BUT MUH SECURITY” I think I'll scream… if you use a cloud service you're already compromised.
As developers, we should be disgusted by this practice. It’s anti-consumer and anti-user. If you find this ecosystem acceptable, take a good long hard look in the mirror. This goes against everything we stand for.
## The Triple Sign-In: A Developer's Nightmare
## Future Advocacy
Can someone please explain why I need to triple sign in and enrol everywhere just to build MY OWN APP ON MY OWN DEVICE? Seriously, who owns the device? It seems that forking out $1k for a phone, $2k for a laptop mean I don't actually have the freedom to use them.
## The Ecosystem: A Love Letter to Control
This ecosystem is the worst I have ever encountered and should die in a fire. And fuck general consumers for using them. My god, you all suck. Learn how to use a fucking computer instead of asking for “big tech” to look after you.
## The Government ID: A Privacy Nightmare
My God, to be an 'Apple Developer' I need to upload my ‘government issued ID’ the fuck is the platform it makes me sick.
## The Cloud Isn't Free: A Lesson in Capitalism
Jesus Christ, you suck. The cloud isn't free. The cost of an Apple Developer license is approx $150. There is no license cost to macOS but you need an Apple to use it.
## A Call to Action: Developers, Rise Up!
As developers we should be disgusted by this practice. This is anti-consumer, anti-user and makes me sick. If as a developer you feel this ecosystem is acceptable you should take a good long hard look in the mirror. This goes against everything we should be.
## The Future: An Apple Tax?
In future jobs I will advocate for an Apple tax be ase $5k for new equipment and 25% extras and hour for wasting my time with unnecessary Apple hurdles. Thank you for your time.
In future jobs, I will advocate for an "Apple tax" of $5k for new equipment and 25% extra per hour for wasting my time with unnecessary Apple hurdles. Thank you for your time.