Python and Apache on the iPhone
Monday October 15, 2007
As is well known, Apple has rather tight restrictions on who can develop applications for the iPhone. There is no SDK (software development kit), and an official one will probably never exist. However, the cracking of the iPhone's system has subsequently allowed developers to compile software for it.
Recently, open source hackers have been able to install and run Python and Apache on the iPhone.
In lieu of an SDK, the availability of Apache means that you can run on an iPhone anything you can write for the Web. Whether it's Google Docs or an RSS Reader, you can use the iPhone to do it all. Check out the tutorials in "Web Development" for more web-based fun or, if you know what you are doing and want to help the developers, join in the iPhone fun on IRC.
Do note: In all of this development, there are no guarantees that you won't render your phone inoperative (so-called "bricking"), but that was never guaranteed even with in-store use of the phone. Further, none of this makes the iPhone anymore secure on your network.
In lieu of an SDK, the availability of Apache means that you can run on an iPhone anything you can write for the Web. Whether it's Google Docs or an RSS Reader, you can use the iPhone to do it all. Check out the tutorials in "Web Development" for more web-based fun or, if you know what you are doing and want to help the developers, join in the iPhone fun on IRC.
Do note: In all of this development, there are no guarantees that you won't render your phone inoperative (so-called "bricking"), but that was never guaranteed even with in-store use of the phone. Further, none of this makes the iPhone anymore secure on your network.
Comments
Apple’s plans for an SDK release were public information at the time of the iPhone’s launch. I’m not sure where you received the conclusions you leapt to in your article.
Thanks for your comment. From where are you getting your information? When the iPhone came out, I recall no talk of an SDK save for the non-existence of one. Mind you, the option was not ruled out, but it was not promised either.
Yesterday, 9 June 2008, they released an SDK along with the new generation iPhones, the so-called 3G.