14 DAY TRIAL // While the 'Hello World' applications are the simplest of computer programs on any platform, they do sometimes mark a significant step forward. Such is the case of the very first independent 'real' application for the iPhone.
It has taken nearly a month and many hours of serious work from those interested, but the very first independent 'Hello World' application has been compiled and launched on the iPhone by a users called 'Nightwatch.' The creation of even this simplest application was made possible by the 'ARM/Mach-O Toolchain,' Nightwatch's 'special project,' that he has been working on so carefully over the past few weeks.
While many individuals and companies have been busy creating Web 2.0 application for the iPhone, others have been working hard at breaking the device and creating 'real' application that do not run through the web browser and have full access to the device's capabilities. For this purpose, a special toolchain has been created, which contains essential tools such as the assembler and it is now being refined and tested in order to be released to the general public.
This 'Hello World' is a major landmark for independent iPhone developers that want full access to the device, but it is small and insignificant for everyone else. Although this development could set the course for other programs, it seems unlikely that many developers will jump in simply because of Apple. The Cupertino Company doesn't want third party developers having a free reign and could easily kill all the efforts put so far into development via a simple software update. The vast majority of developers are using the browser for their applications, so such an update would only hurt the small dedicated hacker community that want access to the entire device.
Apple has stated that it will not compromise the security and stability of the iPhone by allowing developers full access to the iPhone, but the developers feel that this is a decision that should be left for the individual user. After all, the mere existence of such applications in no way forces the user to actually using them.