QuantumSTEP vs iPhoneSDK
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Some definitions
- [mySTEP] is the GNUstep based GUI toolkit (i.e. frameworks) extended by QuantumSTEP (which adds an application suite e.g. for address book, calendar, mail, etc.) to develop applications for Linux/X11 based handheld devices (i.e. Sharp Zaurus, OpenMoko Phone)
- iPhone SDK is the Apple SDK to develop native applications for the iPhone and the iPod Touch
Comparison
| QuantumSTEP | iPhone SDK | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | continuous progress since 2003 (mySTEP) | beta now, final June 2008 |
| Frameworks | Foundation, full AppKit, Small WebKit, PDFKit, IOBluetooth, X11 (Render), SQLite | (Core) Foundation, UIKit, WebKit, Core Audio, Core Animation, OpenAL, OpenGL, SQLite |
| SDK cost | free (cross-gcc, etc.) | free (by registration only) |
| Simulator | not required (100% same source code) | included (since Apps don't run natively on a Mac) |
| Development Systems | Mac: Xcode 2.4 or later, Interface Builder, Xtoolchain
Linux: Project Center, GORM coming |
Intel Mac: Xcode 3.1, (Interface Builder coming)
Linux: no |
| Minimum gcc | 2.95.3 (with Obj-C 1.0) | 4.x (with Obj-C 2.0) |
| Distribution of your App | free and open as you like and need | only through „App Store“ at 99$-299$/year + revenue sharing |
| Developer Program | none, but www.gnustep.org | appears to be initially limited and US only |
| Devices | Sharp Zaurus, OpenMoko, Acer n30, more to come | iPhone, iPod Touch, (more to expect, e.g. Tablet?) |
| GUI-Design | Interface Builder | by Code (IB coming) |
| License | LGPL | NDA |
| Restrictions | none imposed by project | type of applications is restricted (i.e. no download of other executables) |
| Installed Base (E2008) | 10k ... 1 Mio (number of OpenMoko devices with Linux/X11 capable of using mySTEP) | ca. 10 Mio |
| Backed by | FSF GNUstep project, quantum-step.com | Apple |
| Portability | Source can be (re)used on Mac, Linux, Windows | needs complete GUI rewrite of existing applications, even if Cocoa based |