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kstenerud / iOS-Universal-Framework

An XCode project template to build universal frameworks (arm7, arm7s, and simulator) for iOS / iPhone.
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Apple Frameworks Not So Ideal, Should this Repo be Retired? #204

Open jarbogast opened 9 years ago

jarbogast commented 9 years ago

I've found that using the Apple built-in framework projects are problematic in a few ways when distributing a pre-built binary framework.

The first is that if you want simulator support, you'd have to ship a development (with simulator support) and distribution (without simulator support) version of the framework to your users. The second is that the frameworks created by the built-in framework projects don't support iOS 7. Since some apps still support iOS 7 that is problematic as well.

Do you have any experience with these issues or know how to resolve them? Can we really retire this repo at this point?

Halle commented 9 years ago

Although I completely understand and support kstenerud's delight about not having to provide and maintain this repo, there isn't much useful about Apple's new framework template if you are distributing universal binary frameworks, meant to be statically linked, that support pre-iOS8, so I am still using this repo to solve that problem and I assume a number of others are as well. Not at all intended as pressure, just wanted to pipe up that dynamic frameworks solve one specific distribution problem that not everyone has, and other problems that aren't addressed by dynamic frameworks continue to be solved by this repo's approach. Whether its owner is still up for maintaining it is a 100% fair and separate question and I don't think it's reasonable to expect someone to support a repo forever (especially one like this that has new challenges every time Apple makes Xcode changes) just because they were kind enough to share it initially.

nrbrook commented 9 years ago

I agree that this project is still very useful. I have frameworks that depend on frameworks that depend on frameworks and libraries, and it is not feasible or desirable to bundle all that up as dynamic frameworks. The simulator/device frameworks are a big problem too. Apple could have done much better on this IMO. I'll be using Mk7 for the foreseeable future, hopefully Xcode doesn't break it!