I use Linux. I have used Linux for many years. I have gotten used to being treated like a third class citizen by software companies. That is why when I write software, I design the software so that it either runs on most platforms or that it can easily be ported to most platforms. This includes Mac. To me, Mac people are considered second class citizens. I empathize. That is why I am so irritated at Apple's methods to force people to pay money.
First, here is a little background. Mac has a file with an extension of .app. This file contains an entire application. This makes it really easy to install and uninstall applications. You crop a .app file somewhere to install it. The problem with that is that method for installing software is REALLY insecure. Unbelievably insecure. Mac likes to pride itself at the illusion of security, so it decided to "fix" this problem.
The fix for the problem is actually pretty easy. The .app file supports a digital signature. This means not only can you verify who made the .app file, you can verify that Apple "trusts" the person who made the .app file. This type of thing is fairly standard in the industry. The problem is who does Apple "trust"?
It turns out Apple only trusts you if you pay them $99/year. If you are developing an app for their store, then $99 might not be too bad. My problem is I am writing FREE software that I planned on giving to my aunt and a few friends that run Mac. For my friends and family to use the software that I wrote, I have to pay Apple $99 a year.
This is just ridiculous. I'm not going to pay $99 a year to give my family software to run. Apple's behavior is very anti-open source. Their goal is to force people to pay Apple in any way possible. Which brings me to the next pain......being forced to buy their hardware!
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