> Eventually the MacOS application/compiler options users had would slowly diversify under OSX/intel-cpu, but the M1/M2 architecture shift would drop again to burn down any progress people made opening the platform. The easy to cross-port GNU applications still cling to the underbelly of modern posix based MacOS, but you can guarantee it is an uphill battle to get anything deployed outside the Apple App store ecosystem build tree.
This entire paragraph is completely mystifying to me. What are you trying to say here? What uphill battle? What burned down progress?
Any CTO foolish enough to rely on Apples partner offerings, had better plan on mitigating chaotic shifts in their architecture/legal/DRM policies... often primarily focused on locking out general purpose small firm software/hardware. i.e. The thread asks "Why borland" (or any sane company) would avoid Apple's walled garden ecosystem over the years.
"What uphill battle?"
Try to publish anything on their platform without signed software DRM, or integrated 3rd party hardware. Essentially your group will end up paying Apple with a tithe and legal encumbrances, as it is essentially a closed ecosystem from the users perspective.
"What burned down progress?"
The generic hardware around Intel cpus meant better support for standardized game engine GPU drivers, easier compiler ports, and alternate software sourcing ecosystems. The M2 was nice silicon... but few folks are going to invest years porting to Apples whimsical unicorn product trajectory for lower market share. lol
"This entire paragraph is completely mystifying to me"
That is because you don't yet understand most successful commercial software companies make money by reselling the same software, and not mired in the perpetual cost/liability of software porting to product-run specific chips.
I was not specifically picking on Apple here if that was your concern. You would likely have needed to experience the OS8 and Desktop PowerPC deprecation to understand why people avoided Apple for years after. =3
This entire paragraph is completely mystifying to me. What are you trying to say here? What uphill battle? What burned down progress?