4 ms·

I wonder why developer tools are not a priority for Apple for “pro” iPads. At this point, it uses the M2 chip so the limitations on running IDEs, compilers and

I wonder why developer tools are not a priority for Apple for “pro” iPads. At this point, it uses the M2 chip so the limitations on running IDEs, compilers and other tools just seem arbitrarily imposed.

2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago
What developer tools? The ability to create and install your own applications like an actual computer? That would circumvent their walled garden. I wish they'd just ship macOS as an "app" on their iPads
- bwilliams 4y ago
  I'd even be happy with a performant VM app that I could run linux on at this point. It would be so nice to be able to swipe up and go from linux VM -> imessage, etc.
hankchinaski 4y ago
I would assume this would cannibalise mac sales, very doubtful we will ever see compilers on ipad os
- lbotos 4y ago
  If I get a 1TB iPad Pro (16GB of ram) with pencil and keyboard it's $2200. Without the pencil it's $2148. If I get a 1TB 13 Inch M2 Macbook (16GB ram) it's 1899. I have been avoiding getting an iPad because it can't run xCode, and it's cheaper for me to get the laptop. Sure, some people are buying both, but I'm sure there are many like me that aren't because of this exact trade off.
- zefhous 4y ago
  Steve Jobs and Tim Cook have both stated that they don't hesitate to cannibalize their own products, and Apple has proved that many times over. Especially at the scale in which iPad having developer tools could ostensibly cannibalize Mac sales — there's no way this would be a factor in the existence of those tools.
- makeitdouble 4y ago
  We saw a huge push to bring the mac near iOS territory (the Mac Store, gatekeeper, catalyst, the new design language etc.) . If Apple could, I bet they'd exchange every new mac for an iPad and effectively gain the tightest control they could ever get of a huge part of the ecosystem.
etchalon 4y ago
There are developers tools for iPadOS, they're just not anything you can do professional work with. The main problem, I think, is most development tools require a relatively low-level of operating system access that Apple has not figured out a way to do given what they want iOS/iPadOS to "be". My suspicion is they'll eventually find a way to do containers in a manner that's relatively "safe", and they'll lean on Cloud-based build tools that move the hard work off device.
musictubes 4y ago
I keep hearing about the desire for developer tools on an ipad and I just don’t get it. The entirety of iPadOS would need to be overhauled in order for it to be conducive for developer work. What is the appeal of doing dev work on a touch based UI with limited access to the file system on a cramped screen? The Mac is perfectly set up for that work.
- philliphaydon 4y ago
  What about something like Jetbrains Fleet where its all done on a remote computer but the IDE is local?
- sixstringtheory 4y ago
  I don’t want to use the touch interface while developing. I want to be able to do development on the same device that I can use the touch interface for other things as well, like using the Pencil to markup screenshots or design docs. It seems ridiculous that I still have to carry around a bigger, heavier laptop just for that one final use case. I also have been using a 13” mac for years, so “cramped screen” doesn’t really apply to me on a 12.9” iPad pro’s XDR. It is more than capable, and I would hopefully be able to plug it into my external monitor at home.
- Siira 4y ago
  An iPad is more portable than a Mac.
  - asdff 4y ago
    You are saving like a pound and a half
- lynndotpy 4y ago
  I’ve done a significant amount of coding on a terminal on an Android phone. > The entirety of iPadOS would need to be overhauled in order for it to be conducive for developer work I disagree. I used an iPad for sysadmin, datascience, some math, and some web dev. Most of the pain comes from arbitrary restrictions Apple places on iPads. (I’d imagine it’ll get more painful as my eyes worsen.) The appeal is simple: Being able to develop with whatever device you have on you. A laptop beats a tablet, a tablet beats a phone, and a phone beats pencil and paper.

2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago

What developer tools? The ability to create and install your own applications like an actual computer? That would circumvent their walled garden. I wish they'd just ship macOS as an "app" on their iPads

bwilliams 4y ago
I'd even be happy with a performant VM app that I could run linux on at this point. It would be so nice to be able to swipe up and go from linux VM -> imessage, etc.

hankchinaski 4y ago

I would assume this would cannibalise mac sales, very doubtful we will ever see compilers on ipad os

lbotos 4y ago
If I get a 1TB iPad Pro (16GB of ram) with pencil and keyboard it's $2200. Without the pencil it's $2148. If I get a 1TB 13 Inch M2 Macbook (16GB ram) it's 1899. I have been avoiding getting an iPad because it can't run xCode, and it's cheaper for me to get the laptop. Sure, some people are buying both, but I'm sure there are many like me that aren't because of this exact trade off.
zefhous 4y ago
Steve Jobs and Tim Cook have both stated that they don't hesitate to cannibalize their own products, and Apple has proved that many times over. Especially at the scale in which iPad having developer tools could ostensibly cannibalize Mac sales — there's no way this would be a factor in the existence of those tools.
makeitdouble 4y ago
We saw a huge push to bring the mac near iOS territory (the Mac Store, gatekeeper, catalyst, the new design language etc.) . If Apple could, I bet they'd exchange every new mac for an iPad and effectively gain the tightest control they could ever get of a huge part of the ecosystem.

etchalon 4y ago

There are developers tools for iPadOS, they're just not anything you can do professional work with. The main problem, I think, is most development tools require a relatively low-level of operating system access that Apple has not figured out a way to do given what they want iOS/iPadOS to "be". My suspicion is they'll eventually find a way to do containers in a manner that's relatively "safe", and they'll lean on Cloud-based build tools that move the hard work off device.

musictubes 4y ago

I keep hearing about the desire for developer tools on an ipad and I just don’t get it. The entirety of iPadOS would need to be overhauled in order for it to be conducive for developer work. What is the appeal of doing dev work on a touch based UI with limited access to the file system on a cramped screen? The Mac is perfectly set up for that work.

philliphaydon 4y ago
What about something like Jetbrains Fleet where its all done on a remote computer but the IDE is local?
sixstringtheory 4y ago
I don’t want to use the touch interface while developing. I want to be able to do development on the same device that I can use the touch interface for other things as well, like using the Pencil to markup screenshots or design docs. It seems ridiculous that I still have to carry around a bigger, heavier laptop just for that one final use case. I also have been using a 13” mac for years, so “cramped screen” doesn’t really apply to me on a 12.9” iPad pro’s XDR. It is more than capable, and I would hopefully be able to plug it into my external monitor at home.
Siira 4y ago
An iPad is more portable than a Mac.
- asdff 4y ago
  You are saving like a pound and a half
lynndotpy 4y ago
I’ve done a significant amount of coding on a terminal on an Android phone. > The entirety of iPadOS would need to be overhauled in order for it to be conducive for developer work I disagree. I used an iPad for sysadmin, datascience, some math, and some web dev. Most of the pain comes from arbitrary restrictions Apple places on iPads. (I’d imagine it’ll get more painful as my eyes worsen.) The appeal is simple: Being able to develop with whatever device you have on you. A laptop beats a tablet, a tablet beats a phone, and a phone beats pencil and paper.