Is there a way to make an Apple app on Ubuntu?

[JosiahMaybe]

I can program in Swift and have a Lenovo Thinkpad T460 with current Ubuntu and Swift installed. I already make Swift libraries. Is there any way to make an app for any Apple platform on Ubuntu as I have? Like could I make an iOS, iPadOS, MacOS or VisionOS, etc. app? Not all at once obviously but can one be done? If I could even make it on Windows maybe. Trying for native like Swift, not like Ruby or Flutter. X E.

 

[Antero360]

I can program in Swift and have a Lenovo Thinkpad T460 with current Ubuntu and Swift installed. I already make Swift libraries. Is there any way to make an app for any Apple platform on Ubuntu as I have? Like could I make an iOS, iPadOS, MacOS or VisionOS, etc. app? Not all at once obviously but can one be done? If I could even make it on Windows maybe. Trying for native like Swift, not like Ruby or Flutter. X E.

Unfortunately, you are going to run into the issue that you need xcode installed in order to be able to build ios apps natively on other platforms, which is a problem because to my knowledge, it's not portable on ubuntu...I did do a bit more digging and found some articles that explain it better for you:

Can I develop iOS Applications in Ubuntu without using a virtual mac OS system?

I'm a developer of Android applications and a java programmer. I'm learning IOS programming but I don't have mac OS; I use Ubuntu. I want way to program IOS apps in Ubuntu without using a virtual

askubuntu.com

How to Make iOS Development on Linux

Do you want to build an iOS app on Linux, but don’t have the available resources? Here are some smart solutions to do iOS development on Linux like a pro.

mockitt.wondershare.com

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View: https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/comments/tp2564/ios_development_on_linux/

 

[JosiahMaybe]

Yeah, I guess answer may be no because Apple has in their terms that MacOS is strictly for Apple products. I find most cross platform to be like web, not native. I guess Ruby or Java or like that is closest I can come to native. Maybe I should make a Java app. X E.

 

[JosiahMaybe]

Knowing there are pay in things like MacInCloud.com is one thing but I prefer native to this and at those prices I might be better off with a cheap Mac with Open Core or something and Mac OS Sonoma. So far looks like answer is get an Apple product or don't develop for Apple. Maybe if you can explain how it is legal to have MacOS on like my machine but I doubt I should. They have an exclusively for "Apple branded products" thing in their terms for MacOS. I know I can use about everything in Java for MacOS so maybe that is an answer. Sort of native and can be used. Others such as iOS, etc. not so much. X E.

 

[kane12]

Hi @JosiahMaybe

Yes, there are some ways to make an Apple app on Ubuntu using third-party tools such as:
1. Utilize a Virtual Machine: Employ a dedicated software component to load macOS on your Linux system virtually.
2. Using a Sandbox or Dual Boot: Install both Linux and MacOS on your system using a Sandbox or Dual Boot setup. Access macOS features and develop Swift on Linux without a virtual machine.
3. Apply Cross-platform Solutions: For iOS development on Linux, utilize cross-platform solutions that run seamlessly on both Linux and Mac platforms.

Thanks

 

[JosiahMaybe]

I named some cross platform tools and so did Antero360. I am trying for a native app not a web app. I can't legally do those other 2 things because MacOS, which I would need, is in its terms only for "Apple branded products" so if I had a Mac with Ubuntu certainly but I have a Lenovo Thinkpad T460. If you can explain how I can legally use MacOS based on its terms then I may use that. Otherwise I guess I will use Ruby or Java and make cross platform computer stuff. X E.

 

[JosiahMaybe]

Legal - Software License Agreements - Apple

www.apple.com

Apple prohibits legally MacOS on like my machine, 2J MacOS Sonoma. X E.

 

[Michel-may]

Developing an Apple app (iOS or macOS) directly on Ubuntu is not officially supported by Apple. Apple's development tools, such as Xcode, are primarily designed for macOS. However, developers can use cross-platform development tools like Flutter or React Native to build iOS apps on Ubuntu, although testing and deploying may still require access to macOS or macOS virtualization. Additionally, cloud-based solutions like MacStadium offer remote access to macOS environments for development purposes.