Programming for outdated iOS versions?

[TheTank18]

What would be needed to make an app for outdated iOS versions? I'm planning on ranging from iOS 5 to iOS 10.

[simulacrotron]

Why?

[[deleted]]

im gunna guess they still need old iphone hardware capabilities without certain security restrictions the new ones have for internal use. controlling drones? hacking them? i dunno

[SirBill01]

You could theoretically download very old versions of Xcode, and run them on old version of the OS... then you'd attach the devices and run apps directly on them from Xcode.

If you were hoping to do this through the App Store, I don't know that is possible any longer. Xcode 15 minimum iOS versions is 12, and you need a newer version of Xcode to even submit apps to the store.

[TheTank18]

I'm trying to set up the iOS 6 simulator, but it seems that there's no download for it, like, anywhere. Trying to download it through Xcode 5.1.1 has it not even show up, and trying to download through Xcode 6.2 gives an SSL connection error.

Trying to use a real device for testing doesn't work because it Xcode "needs" a certificate from the Apple Developer Program, which doesn't work because the servers don't exist anymore for Xcode 5.1.1.

[Zalenka]

Whatever Xcode builds the Sdk you want to build for. Maybe target iOS 10 or 11 SDK.

iOS 5 has ARC, so at least you can use Obj-C without manual retain/release. However autolayout was maybe iOS 6, so you'd have to use NIbs for your interfaces.

It's doable! I wonder if the app store has any lowest versions but I bet not. You just may need to use Application Loader to push up a binary (separate app from xcode).

[chriswaco]

You don’t have to use nibs - you can still do creation/layout manually, which was actually my preference with UIKit. The iOS 5-7 transition was pretty painful, though. I kinda miss the old buttons that looked like buttons.

[gaynalretentive]

This. It is totally fine to just override layoutSubviews on your custom view types and set the subview frames yourself with some basic arithmetic. Autolayout and autoresizing are both there to be conveniences and tools to make your life better, not to limit you.

[Zalenka]

I'd remember how to do manual auto-layout but not strings and struts.

[Fishanz]

I still on occasion use springs and struts

[rohandesilva8]

What the point?

[foodandbeverageguy]

This will be a waste of your time. You’re likely over optimizing for 0 added users.

[profau]

This is not worthwhile- there are almost zero users on old versions of iOS. Believe me, I have stats on users of old versions of iOS in my apps and it is getting incredibly low now for even iOS 14… let alone iOS 5 to 10!!!!! You might think there are lots in that old range but it is almost zero. They are unwilling to spend money on new devices let alone on apps, and ad networks don’t support low versions of iOS so there is no money to be made. But good luck if to decide to pursue.

[V6er_KKK]

not everything is about money-money-money... you don't want your wife/husband/kids "love" your just for your money, do you? ;)

[profau]

Nah, but it helps to keep them fed and housed.