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Even if they find a technical workaround, Apple will just reject the app though. Not sure there is a workaround for that.

userbinator 6y ago
I believe jailbreak or those other "developer" methods (certificates/enterprise?) are still available.
- enitihas 6y ago
  Yeah, both of them will see mozilla kicked out of App Store
yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
I'm given to understand that it's not even a technical issue; you can build an iOS app that uses a real browser engine of your choice, it's always just been that Apple by policy won't let you publish it. (This is all second-hand, though, so take with a grain of salt.)
- enitihas 6y ago
  Does iOS allow creating new executable pages?
  - swiley 6y ago
    Nope. (Well, maybe iOS would allow it with the correct entitlements but apple won’t let you publish an app that can.) You can run a browser in an interpreter but anything modern would be very unpleasant to use that way.
    - yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
      I expect there are 2 options: Either you can make a good (fast) browser without it (unlikely or everyone would do it), or it is possible to do because Safari has to work somehow. > apple won’t let you publish an app that can Agreed, but we're talking about whether you can technically make such an app, say to run in dev mode on your own personal device.
      - enitihas 6y ago
        Safari might be special cased though.
      - fragmede 6y ago
        Dev mode is still limited and doesn't grant root access to the device. In dev mode there's still an app certificate, and Apple still signs it, and still prohibits escaping the app sandbox. There are also JIT specific entitlements to allow an app to dynamically load or generate code. Without those, it's unclear how feasible a developer-signed version of Firefox on iOS is. https://siguza.github.io/psychicpaper/ https://siguza.github.io/psychicpaper/ is a recent writeup that includes more details on (escaping) the limitations.
      - jlokier 6y ago
        > it is possible to do because Safari has to work somehow. Safari is a special case. It is allowed to use JIT and writable executable pages, but this is not allowed for third party apps. It is definitely technically possible on iOS, but a significant challenge for third party developers unless using a jailbroken device.
- pedrocx486 6y ago
  You're correct, no need for grains of salt. Hence why some apps that are in jailbreak "stores" can do things apps from the store can't.
  - yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
    Yeah, I was pretty sure but I don't actually operate in that sphere at all so I'm working completely from random stuff I remember reading:) Thanks for confirming.
  - aerique 6y ago
    My jailbroken iPhone 3GS was the best mobile experience I've had. Used that thing for 5 years.

userbinator 6y ago

I believe jailbreak or those other "developer" methods (certificates/enterprise?) are still available.

enitihas 6y ago
Yeah, both of them will see mozilla kicked out of App Store

yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago

I'm given to understand that it's not even a technical issue; you can build an iOS app that uses a real browser engine of your choice, it's always just been that Apple by policy won't let you publish it. (This is all second-hand, though, so take with a grain of salt.)

enitihas 6y ago
Does iOS allow creating new executable pages?
- swiley 6y ago
  Nope. (Well, maybe iOS would allow it with the correct entitlements but apple won’t let you publish an app that can.) You can run a browser in an interpreter but anything modern would be very unpleasant to use that way.
  - yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
    I expect there are 2 options: Either you can make a good (fast) browser without it (unlikely or everyone would do it), or it is possible to do because Safari has to work somehow. > apple won’t let you publish an app that can Agreed, but we're talking about whether you can technically make such an app, say to run in dev mode on your own personal device.
    - enitihas 6y ago
      Safari might be special cased though.
    - fragmede 6y ago
      Dev mode is still limited and doesn't grant root access to the device. In dev mode there's still an app certificate, and Apple still signs it, and still prohibits escaping the app sandbox. There are also JIT specific entitlements to allow an app to dynamically load or generate code. Without those, it's unclear how feasible a developer-signed version of Firefox on iOS is. https://siguza.github.io/psychicpaper/ https://siguza.github.io/psychicpaper/ is a recent writeup that includes more details on (escaping) the limitations.
    - jlokier 6y ago
      > it is possible to do because Safari has to work somehow. Safari is a special case. It is allowed to use JIT and writable executable pages, but this is not allowed for third party apps. It is definitely technically possible on iOS, but a significant challenge for third party developers unless using a jailbroken device.
pedrocx486 6y ago
You're correct, no need for grains of salt. Hence why some apps that are in jailbreak "stores" can do things apps from the store can't.
- yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
  Yeah, I was pretty sure but I don't actually operate in that sphere at all so I'm working completely from random stuff I remember reading:) Thanks for confirming.
- aerique 6y ago
  My jailbroken iPhone 3GS was the best mobile experience I've had. Used that thing for 5 years.