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Comment by nottorp | Hacker News Reader

Question then: why are you investing time in something that Apple will never allow in the app store? Isn't it better to spend your effort on a more open platform?

Note: i use an iPhone and iPads. I do my hacking/customizing elsewhere.

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Because it’s fun to do and it’s cool to play with. I want to run a Linux development machine on my iPad. I couldn’t care less about making money or growth hacking or starting a side hussle or one of the dozen other reasons why people here believe they must do to have their free time be seen as “optimal”. I just want to have fun with it.

HOW DARE YOU

Another reason is that even though right now they don’t allow it, what if they do start allowing it in the future? Pythonista app is a perfect example of this. It was originally not allowed but they eventually changed their rules to start allowing it back in ios 11 I believe. Maybe the same would happen with this if this becomes decently useful. IPad is already going in a more mainstream direction.

Yes, it's okay if you think along the "i bought the hardware, i do whatever i want with it" line.

There's that nagging feeling you're giving Apple too much mind share though.

Because it's useful even if it's not allowed in the App Store? There's tons of useful open-source software for iOS which will never make it to the App Store.

This includes the real Firefox.

Please explain...

Using the Gecko/Servo like desktop Firefox, not WebKit like Safari.

Ah I see. For a moment I thought you meant someone had made some side-loadable full Firefox and I was going to be so happy.

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