4 ms·

Can you use it to write iPadOS applications that you compile and run on the device?

davely 3y ago
This is my biggest hang up about the iPad. Hardware is great. The OS is… passable. Sort of. For me: I can’t do computer things that I want to do (mainly code, but sometimes game, etc). I ended up buying a used Surface Pro X. A bit slow, but I like that I can run something like VS Code and a Node server, or even a real web browser with network debugging tools, all using a touchscreen while on a bus or in an airplane. (For my gaming fix, I find that GeForce Now or Moonlight work pretty well for streaming my existing games — not as practical to do on a bus though.)
- criddell 3y ago
  I understand what you are saying. The iPad is the best choice for some people and the worst choice for others. I have an older iPad Pro and it’s by far my favorite computer mostly because it doesn’t really feel like a computer. My favorite apps are Procreate and GoodNotes. For me, either one is a killer app that justifies having an iPad. I also have a ThinkPad for my personal projects and a desktop workstation for my job. Each machine has its strengths and weaknesses. Each was chosen because it was a great choice for what I need to do with it. I’m one of the few people that hope the iPad doesn’t get more computer-like. I miss the days when you had an Atari or Amiga or PC or Mac and they were all very different and exciting and in competition with each other. Now we are approaching a very boring endgame where cross platform apps look the same everywhere and there’s nothing fun about any of it.
  - talldayo 3y ago
    > I’m one of the few people that hope the iPad doesn’t get more computer-like. Genuine question; what loss of features or capabilities are you expecting if the iPad does become more computer-like? I don't understand how features like sideloading, compiling or emulating limits your ability to use Procreate and GoodNotes.
    - fragmede 3y ago
      While I’d love an iPad running macOS (You know there’s a lucky Apple engineer with one), The worry having the features is that it will require futzing with to get it to work right. Right now an iPad is like a Video game console. You just plug it in and it works. There is an expectation of a very, very smooth user experience. The fear is that in adding computer-like features, it won’t be as smooth anymore. Don’t know if I agree with that, but that’s the concern anyway.
      - talldayo 3y ago
        I guess I just don't agree with it either. None of the features I mentioned should have any negative impact on the end-user unless the OEM deliberately implements it wrong.
- twobitshifter 3y ago
  One solution is to tape a pi to your iPad case. :) No internet connection required. This should work for node but not compiled languages. I think that the compilation would happen on the slower Pi but maybe someone can figure out a way to compile but not run on the iPad. https://magpi.raspberrypi.com/articles/connect-raspberry-pi-4-to-ipad-pro-with-a-usb-c-cable https://magpi.raspberrypi.com/articles/connect-raspberry-pi-...
alexpc201 3y ago
That's the main drawback I find with the iPad. So much memory, so much processor, and not being able to use an app that allows me to create iOS apps. It's the reason why I only have an old iPad Air, it's enough for browsing, reading ebooks, and watching a movie on a trip. Anything bigger would be too bulky with the MacBook.
- sharkjacobs 3y ago
  > and not being able to use an app that allows me to create iOS apps Maybe you already know about this and you just mean there isn't an app that provides the equivalent of your full MacOS dev environment, but you can absolutely build and run iOS apps on your iPad with Swift Playgrounds. It has a lot of shortcomings, but I've used it to create a couple little personal apps that I can run without distributing them through the App Store.
  - 2muchcoffeeman 3y ago
    They are basically running 1 platform now. They should merge the iPad and MacBook lines already.
    - jayd16 3y ago
      I fear this would only hamstring macos, not empower ios.
rock_artist 3y ago
While not perfect. For Swift, I’ve actually doing inițial app development using Swift Playgrounds. I’m even maintaining project that still keeps working as Swift Playgrounds. Here is an open source example of such: https://github.com/talaviram/OpenSpoken/tree/main/OpenSpokenPlayground.swiftpm https://github.com/talaviram/OpenSpoken/tree/main/OpenSpoken... But I also have internally a bigger app that is doing similar approach (not open source code though) - https://www.smartercurrency.app https://www.smartercurrency.app I’ve yet tried and I guess it’s limited for trying to do any ObjC++ / C++ / Metal. But I do believe Apple is using playgrounds as a playground for Xcode successor. The biggest issue though, is version control (git…) which requires more work to get things properly.
- Kon-Peki 3y ago
  > I guess it’s limited for trying to do any ObjC++ / C++ / Metal The last time I tried, I couldn't get it to work, except... One of the documented ways of creating compiled Metal kernels is to provide the source code as a string in your Swift code. And that works in Swift Playgrounds. It will compile and run your C++ Metal kernels, but it either works or doesn't. You get no compiler output.

This is my biggest hang up about the iPad. Hardware is great. The OS is… passable. Sort of. For me: I can’t do computer things that I want to do (mainly code, but sometimes game, etc). I ended up buying a used Surface Pro X. A bit slow, but I like that I can run something like VS Code and a Node server, or even a real web browser with network debugging tools, all using a touchscreen while on a bus or in an airplane. (For my gaming fix, I find that GeForce Now or Moonlight work pretty well for streaming my existing games — not as practical to do on a bus though.)

criddell 3y ago
I understand what you are saying. The iPad is the best choice for some people and the worst choice for others. I have an older iPad Pro and it’s by far my favorite computer mostly because it doesn’t really feel like a computer. My favorite apps are Procreate and GoodNotes. For me, either one is a killer app that justifies having an iPad. I also have a ThinkPad for my personal projects and a desktop workstation for my job. Each machine has its strengths and weaknesses. Each was chosen because it was a great choice for what I need to do with it. I’m one of the few people that hope the iPad doesn’t get more computer-like. I miss the days when you had an Atari or Amiga or PC or Mac and they were all very different and exciting and in competition with each other. Now we are approaching a very boring endgame where cross platform apps look the same everywhere and there’s nothing fun about any of it.
- talldayo 3y ago
  > I’m one of the few people that hope the iPad doesn’t get more computer-like. Genuine question; what loss of features or capabilities are you expecting if the iPad does become more computer-like? I don't understand how features like sideloading, compiling or emulating limits your ability to use Procreate and GoodNotes.
  - fragmede 3y ago
    While I’d love an iPad running macOS (You know there’s a lucky Apple engineer with one), The worry having the features is that it will require futzing with to get it to work right. Right now an iPad is like a Video game console. You just plug it in and it works. There is an expectation of a very, very smooth user experience. The fear is that in adding computer-like features, it won’t be as smooth anymore. Don’t know if I agree with that, but that’s the concern anyway.
    - talldayo 3y ago
      I guess I just don't agree with it either. None of the features I mentioned should have any negative impact on the end-user unless the OEM deliberately implements it wrong.
twobitshifter 3y ago
One solution is to tape a pi to your iPad case. :) No internet connection required. This should work for node but not compiled languages. I think that the compilation would happen on the slower Pi but maybe someone can figure out a way to compile but not run on the iPad. https://magpi.raspberrypi.com/articles/connect-raspberry-pi-4-to-ipad-pro-with-a-usb-c-cable https://magpi.raspberrypi.com/articles/connect-raspberry-pi-...

alexpc201 3y ago

That's the main drawback I find with the iPad. So much memory, so much processor, and not being able to use an app that allows me to create iOS apps. It's the reason why I only have an old iPad Air, it's enough for browsing, reading ebooks, and watching a movie on a trip. Anything bigger would be too bulky with the MacBook.

sharkjacobs 3y ago
> and not being able to use an app that allows me to create iOS apps Maybe you already know about this and you just mean there isn't an app that provides the equivalent of your full MacOS dev environment, but you can absolutely build and run iOS apps on your iPad with Swift Playgrounds. It has a lot of shortcomings, but I've used it to create a couple little personal apps that I can run without distributing them through the App Store.
- 2muchcoffeeman 3y ago
  They are basically running 1 platform now. They should merge the iPad and MacBook lines already.
  - jayd16 3y ago
    I fear this would only hamstring macos, not empower ios.

rock_artist 3y ago

While not perfect. For Swift, I’ve actually doing inițial app development using Swift Playgrounds. I’m even maintaining project that still keeps working as Swift Playgrounds. Here is an open source example of such: https://github.com/talaviram/OpenSpoken/tree/main/OpenSpokenPlayground.swiftpm https://github.com/talaviram/OpenSpoken/tree/main/OpenSpoken... But I also have internally a bigger app that is doing similar approach (not open source code though) - https://www.smartercurrency.app https://www.smartercurrency.app I’ve yet tried and I guess it’s limited for trying to do any ObjC++ / C++ / Metal. But I do believe Apple is using playgrounds as a playground for Xcode successor. The biggest issue though, is version control (git…) which requires more work to get things properly.

Kon-Peki 3y ago
> I guess it’s limited for trying to do any ObjC++ / C++ / Metal The last time I tried, I couldn't get it to work, except... One of the documented ways of creating compiled Metal kernels is to provide the source code as a string in your Swift code. And that works in Swift Playgrounds. It will compile and run your C++ Metal kernels, but it either works or doesn't. You get no compiler output.