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Yup. I always wanted to develop, compile, and run programs on a small screen device that is meant to be a personal communication and media consumption device!

Yup. I always wanted to develop, compile, and run programs on a small screen device that is meant to be a personal communication and media consumption device! Just because a device's hardware is capable of something doesn't mean it makes sense to implement it. The whole article feels clickbait to me TBH.

jrm4 3y ago
And who should have that power of implementation? You, because of your opinion? The companies? Or the people who bought and paid for the devices? It is emphatically not the case that there exists any meaningful difficulty or cost to do the implementation. Just open/root the devices for those who choose to do so and let them go. Or would you rather limit freedom?
- can16358p 3y ago
  Opening up a device just because a very niche user base (HN isn't representitive of general public) has a proof-of-concept use case that isn't productive in most cases, that would bring maintenance issues and possible attack vectors? I'm glad Apple doesn't do that and focus on what generally matters.
  - smoldesu 3y ago
    I mean, I feel like I've heard this argument a lot... "HN isn't representative of general public" "We don't need file browsers because the general public doesn't use it" "You shouldn't be able to install Emulators because the general public doesn't" If we follow this reductive line of reasoning, nobody would ever do anything on an iPhone besides buy stuff. The iPhone supports hundreds of features that aren't representative of the general public, Apple chooses to deny you this one because they are afraid of it hurting their bottom line.
- paulcole 3y ago
  I would 100% rather limit freedom of the end user at the expense of the company’s freedom. It’s my choice to buy the product or not.
smoldesu 3y ago
> Just because a device's hardware is capable of something doesn't mean it makes sense to implement it. I disagree. If a device's hardware is capable of something, it should be implemented as soon as possible. Now, it shouldn't be forced on everyone, but having options available has traditionally improved software quality a lot. Even if that capability is bad, exposing it sooner is better than realizing it too late.
rhn_mk1 3y ago
Meant by whom? To some, device they carry in their pocket is meant to be a light hacking tool. That modern devices can't do that even if the owner wants it is a travesty.
- can16358p 3y ago
  Those some can buy (or build) tailor-made devices or root an Android if no other options are available. For 99.9% of the people, stability and security is more important.
arp242 3y ago
It's not really about development as such, at least for me, it's about "I can do whatever I want" and development is just an example of that.
pessimizer 3y ago
> Yup. I always wanted to develop, compile, and run programs on a small screen device that is meant to be a personal communication and media consumption device! I don't even know what this means. Why wouldn't you?
2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
I think the point is that these are all general purpose computers at their core but some have unnecessary barriers erected in userspace to narrow what the user can do. I wouldn't code on it as-is but perhaps I could plug it into a hub at a desktop or find some other use for it.

jrm4 3y ago

And who should have that power of implementation? You, because of your opinion? The companies? Or the people who bought and paid for the devices? It is emphatically not the case that there exists any meaningful difficulty or cost to do the implementation. Just open/root the devices for those who choose to do so and let them go. Or would you rather limit freedom?

can16358p 3y ago
Opening up a device just because a very niche user base (HN isn't representitive of general public) has a proof-of-concept use case that isn't productive in most cases, that would bring maintenance issues and possible attack vectors? I'm glad Apple doesn't do that and focus on what generally matters.
- smoldesu 3y ago
  I mean, I feel like I've heard this argument a lot... "HN isn't representative of general public" "We don't need file browsers because the general public doesn't use it" "You shouldn't be able to install Emulators because the general public doesn't" If we follow this reductive line of reasoning, nobody would ever do anything on an iPhone besides buy stuff. The iPhone supports hundreds of features that aren't representative of the general public, Apple chooses to deny you this one because they are afraid of it hurting their bottom line.
paulcole 3y ago
I would 100% rather limit freedom of the end user at the expense of the company’s freedom. It’s my choice to buy the product or not.

smoldesu 3y ago

> Just because a device's hardware is capable of something doesn't mean it makes sense to implement it. I disagree. If a device's hardware is capable of something, it should be implemented as soon as possible. Now, it shouldn't be forced on everyone, but having options available has traditionally improved software quality a lot. Even if that capability is bad, exposing it sooner is better than realizing it too late.

rhn_mk1 3y ago

Meant by whom? To some, device they carry in their pocket is meant to be a light hacking tool. That modern devices can't do that even if the owner wants it is a travesty.

can16358p 3y ago
Those some can buy (or build) tailor-made devices or root an Android if no other options are available. For 99.9% of the people, stability and security is more important.

arp242 3y ago

It's not really about development as such, at least for me, it's about "I can do whatever I want" and development is just an example of that.

pessimizer 3y ago

> Yup. I always wanted to develop, compile, and run programs on a small screen device that is meant to be a personal communication and media consumption device! I don't even know what this means. Why wouldn't you?

2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago

I think the point is that these are all general purpose computers at their core but some have unnecessary barriers erected in userspace to narrow what the user can do. I wouldn't code on it as-is but perhaps I could plug it into a hub at a desktop or find some other use for it.