Apple Limits Intel OS X Source Code Access to Thwart Hackers
by , 3:40 PM EST, February 24th, 2006
"With the release of Mac OS X for x86 processors, Apple has chosen to not release source to key components of the OS, such as the kernel and all drivers," Rob Braun recently wrote for Daemon News. As fellow developer Peter O'Gorman noted, Apple likely did this to thwart the efforts of those who want to hack the Intel version of Mac OS X and get it running on non-Apple hardware.
" I can understand and applaud the goal, but not the methods," said Mr. O'Gorman. "By limiting published source code to that which is 'infected' by the GPL [GNU General Public License -- editor], Apple is, in my honest opinion, scoring an own goal," he added, referring to the soccer term that describes a team scoring a goal in its own net.
"We are going through yet another cycle of losing access that we once had," said Mr. Braun. "This means Darwin/x86 is dead in the water; Darwin/ppc has many closed source components and is a deprecated architecture.
" One has to wonder why Apple even bothers to release non-GPL'd source at all, if it is unwilling to cooperate with external developers to increase their return on investment and accept external bug fixes and features."
An article at PC Pro offers more background on the situation.
Observer Comments
Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:58 pm Subject: Wasn't this debunked?
The story has NOT been debunked. The kernel (xnu) is not being made available by Apple, as making it available would either a. require Apple to publicize its TCPA chip keys, or allow an enterprising programmer to remove any TCPA checks and create a kernel that can run on non-Apple x86 hardware.
Well, there are a lot of contributions Apple makes all over the place, not just GLP stuff, and there's a lot of return from that for Apple.
So I think they and the community will figure something out.
I understand the frustration of the Darwin team though, and really can't see why anybody would run darwin without the rest of the juice.
If that's your thing, I'd think it's better to just go with BSD. Lots of Apple interaction there too.
Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:45 pm Subject: Scoring an own goal?
Well, at least Apple isn't scoring an own sister, referring to the soccer term that describes someone scoring with his own sister.
BTW, this was partially debunked. And another BTW, when a "developer" whines, the best thing to do is wait a week, because developers who whine are whiney and whiney developers tend to have premature whining problems, if you know what I mean. Oh, and so what if "developers" can't build the latest x86 version of the Darwin kernel. Rumor has is that if 3 people died in a plane crash, Apple wouldn't be able to either.
Well its pretty easy to get a definitive answer. Just go over to ADC and download the source! They have 10.4.5 source available so I guess someone just has to check and see if it compiles. I personally would think that Darwin would never include any TPM stuff, so the Darwin source obviously wouldn't either. So if they are continuing to release Darwin I see no reason they would not release all the Darwin source.
Are we sure this isn't just some whiney developer who was stupid enough to think Apple was going to release the source to the software pieces of the TPM implementation in Intel OS X and now is making a fuss because they aren't?
it is inevitible yet Apple persists in trying to protect something that it will not be able to control. This is actually VERY humerous and will accomplish NOTHING for Apple. Changing over to Intel chips while making Apple mainstream will cause it to be cracked WIDE open. ANYthing Apple makes can and will be built cheaper and better AND you can stretch the money you need to spend over months of parts buying.
Recent Headlines - Updated January 8th
- Thu, 5:49 PM
- News - TOM BIHN, Waterfield Designs Release 17” Unibody MacBook Pro Notebook Cases
- 3:50 PM
- Macworld Expo 2009 - Targus Shows File Share Cable for Mac
- 3:40 PM
- Macworld Expo 2009 - Blackmagic Demonstrates Video Recorder
- 3:14 PM
- News - Microvision Demonstrates SHOW WX Laser Projector
- 2:53 PM
- Just a Thought - First Time: A Closer look at Macworld and San Francisco
- 12:35 PM
- News - Mac Gamers Can Now Fight For Good or Evil in City of Heroes
- 12:12 PM
- News - EVE Online to Expand the Known Universe in March
- 11:53 AM
- News - Feral to Ship Rome: Total War Gold in March
- 11:19 AM
- News - Freeverse Says Commander: Napoleon at War is on the March
- 10:34 AM
- News - Whither Macworld Expo?
- 9:47 AM
- News - Paragon Issues 30 ‘Talking’ Dictionaries
- 9:13 AM
- News - IntelliScanner Intros SOHO Cubed Scanning Solution
The Mac Observer Reader Specials
- Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
New MacPro Memory 800Mhz With Apple Spec Heat Sink - 2GB $62 / 4GB $82 / 8GB $158. Click to Maximize your Macs...
Mac observers can now play Party Poker for Mac as well as Mac casino games by going to MacPokerOnline.com.
RamJet Memory: Upgrade a MacBook to 4GB RAM for $99! Add a 320G MacBook Hard Drive for $73! MacBook Pro 17" 8GB Kits Available Now! Click hereFor the latest Apple products use Ciao a comparison website to find laptops like MacBook Air. Then find the best prices on MP3 players and use our comparison tool to evaluate cell phones.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.


