Question

According to the (in)famous iPhone Developer Program License Agreement change

3.3.1 — Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner
prescribed by Apple and must not use
or call any private APIs. Applications
must be originally written in
Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit
engine, and only code written in C,
C++, and Objective-C may compile and
directly link against the Documented
APIs (e.g., Applications that link to
Documented APIs through an
intermediary translation or
compatibility layer or tool are
prohibited).

So it is allowed to develop iPhone apps using C++

My questions

1. Is there a compiler / IDE for developing iPhone apps using C++?
2. Is that compiler / IDE available on non Mac environments? (Windows? Linux?)
3. If not, why? I mean an eclipse C++ plugin for iPhone development will be quite popular, or is there already any serious attempt to do that?

Answer 1

1. yes (XCode, though you’ll still need a bit of Objective-C glue code to init your application)
2. no
3. because they don’t want you to and you have to accept the license agreement

EDIT: here you go for restrictions on 3). Simply put, you agree to only use the SDK provided by Apple, in conditions restricted by Apple.

1.2 Definitions

“SDK” (Software Development Kit) means the Documentation, software (source code and object code), applications, sample code, simulator, tools, libraries, APIs, data, files, and materials provided by Apple for use by You in connection with Your Application development, and includes any Updates that may be provided by Apple to You pursuant to this Agreement.

–

2.1 Permitted Uses and Restrictions

Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, Apple hereby grants
You during the Term, a limited,
non-exclusive, personal, revocable,
non-sublicensable and non-transferable
license to:

(a) Install a reasonable number of
copies of the SDK portion of the Apple
Software on Apple-branded computers
owned or controlled by You, to be used
internally by You or Your Authorized
Developers for the sole purpose of
developing or testing Applications;

–

2.6 No Other Permitted Uses

You agree not to install, use or run the SDK on any non-Apple-branded computer, not to install, use or run the iPhone OS and Provisioning Profiles on or in connection with devices other than iPhone OS Products, or to enable others to do so. You may not and You agree not to, or to enable others to, copy (except as expressly permitted under this Agreement), decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, attempt to derive the source code of, modify, decrypt, or create derivative works of the Apple Software or any services provided by the Apple Software or otherwise provided hereunder, or any part thereof (except as and only to the extent any foregoing restriction is prohibited by applicable law or to the extent as may be permitted by licensing terms governing use of open-sourced components or sample code included with the Apple Software).