cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/45648300
When I install an apk I made on my phone and I get warning about unverified apps and threat actors
this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2026
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You can absolutely install whatever the fuck you want on your Mac, including another OS. iOS is much more restrictive however, if you want to install a self-made app, you have to reinstall it every week or pay Apple 100 bucks a year...
macOS just makes you jump through a hoop every time you run an application that’s not notarized.
In practice that means cross platform open source projects don’t want to pay money to join apple’s developer program and set up code singing and deal with certificates.
So after download an unsigned app, macOS refuses to start it until you go to system settings > security > and allow.
You have to do this again after every update.
It’s very annoying and does very little for security.
Indeed, that really is awful. Good luck sending that ~~so~~ to your friends without making it public in app store.
TestFlight
Testflight distribution quickly expires. What is it, 30 days?
90
Better, but still annoying
True, but it’s a per-build expiration, and users usually have it auto-update. So as long as you maintain your app and release an update every 90 days, they’ll never know.
Yes, salvation
So you have to install an app to install an app that has to be tested? Genius.
I don’t think you understand? TestFlight is a program from Apple that allows distributors to send apps to people without it being in the store. TestFlight is actually very cool for developers who want feedback, crash reports, in a very polished environment. It’s Genius.
The TestFlight app just gives you access to the apps you have available to you. Like a Store. Genius.
Wat? On android, you just send a file, they open it and it's installed. TestFlight just forces itself into a transaction where it's completely unnecessary.
Nothing could go wrong sending a random binary to people. 🤷♂️
Look I get it, there is some annoyance when it comes to distributing potentially malicious binaries on iOS. And I do wish there was some kind of method for removing that restriction buried deep in some menu where your grandma can’t find it. But the methods for sending apps outside of the store are there and are very easy.
It’s obvious to me that you’ve never done this, because you’ve not mentioned the biggest hurdle in this process. No I won’t tell you.
Nothing will convince a fruithead that the fruit store can do anything wrong or that there's another way. Once you're in the system, it's like a cult.
Look, I get it, it feels nice and cozy, you feel like you belong and buying that device with those sweet, round patented corners suddenly elevates you above those that still send messages that arrive in different colours. But let me tell you, there's a world outside of the system where things surprisingly still work without papa Cook peering into everything you do.
It's obvious to me that's it's been a while since you've have this major experience others experience daily since you move into the garden. No, I won't tell you :)
Passable and stupid, just to work around their over-engineered walled garden full of overlapping security certificate messes. All controlled by Apple infrastructure.
Very far from genius.
I’ve never had a problem with certificates. But then again, I’m an actual developer.
I’m a Mac user and agree and know that that’s the case. But you’re taking this too seriously. It a joke that a little bit makes fun of Mac but a lot makes fun of windows.
I think its important to point out, a ton of people on here believe that it’s true.
Fair enough. My experience has been that the people you describe are most often dogmatically anti-Apple to begin with, and likely won’t care/listen.
Also very true.
Yeah I guess but this is also me just venting about iOS distribution because I'm having to deal with it hehe
i’m running xattr -c all day every day to get my foss goodness running
You can absolutely install whatever the fuck you want on your Mac
I dont see this lasting much longer, tbh
It’s necessary because people develop software with Macs.
Linux: I installed this app using 3 different package managers and I still have broken dependencies.
No wonder if you have three PMs at once
Linux, where everything is your own fault.
Linux community members are their own worst enemies at times. Instead of acknowledging a common issue. Eg apt vs snap vs flat vs the multitude of container only packages it's a royal pain in the ass.
I've almost gone to full containers. I think it's the only way out of the insanity.
I just never left 100% native (apt in my case). I have been trying to make the switch to 100% flatpak...but it's so painful that I just haven't.
Ubuntu literally unusable once you have to install flat pack 🙄
"read the wiki, noob"
You don't know that because you can't read closed source. Even if you wrote some of it. You don't know.
Wow, someone knows nothing about macOS lmfao.
What makes them seem like they know nothing about MacOS? MacOS does make you go to System Settings for "unverified" apps. I used it for 3 years (fairly recently), and sure, at some point I entered a random command that I don't remember in recovery mode and got rid of that thing. But still it wasn't meant to be this way according to Apple's design.