i really like the lemmy apps im using for iphone ogse (thunder) and x (memmy).

i am interested in using the pixelfed app for the ogse but it only supports the latest ios. same goes for a number of lemmy apps i would like to try.

question to devs: is it difficult to include compatibility with older ioses? as someone who only uses hand-me-downs, i use my phones until they die, which are left behind the latest ios upgrade (ogse for example). would like to see this compatibility with apps for other federated services as well, eg firefish.

  • einsteinx2@programming.dev
    2·
    1 year ago

    iOS dev here, especially when using Swift, supporting older OS’s greatly restricts which new Swift features you can use. Especially any OS lower than iOS 15.

    Give the fact that the vast, and I mean like 95% or more, of iOS users update to the latest iOS version within months of release and over 99% of users are on at least the previous iOS version, it’s preferable to start a new app on the latest iOS version possible.

    Unfortunately that means older (usually 5+ years) devices get left out, but with small volunteer dev teams or solo devs it makes practical sense.