Why do new apps only work with 10.9 +

[groove-agent]

I wanted to stick with Mountain Lion for speed, but was forced to upgrade to get the latest software updates. Why do these apps not work on Mountain Lion? The app icon typically shows a circle with a line through it (plus app store will only allow you to download an old version). How has it changed between 10.8 and 10.9? Maybe app nap? Compressed memory? Perhaps a developer could chime in.

Thanks.

 

[Intell]

A large amount of APIs have changed between the two versions. Mountain Lion is going on 3 years old and will be end of lifed later this year, if Apple's OS release cycle stays the same.

 

[groove-agent]

So I guess it depends on what APIs a developer uses in their program? When you compile, do you choose which version of OS X to compile to?

 

[Intell]

You have some flexibility, but most often you can only compile for the current and the previous version.

 

[Zorn]

Developers can make things compatible for older versions, but it really ties their hands because they aren't able to use any of the new APIs or features from the last few years. It's not really worth crippling the application and holding back on new improvements just because a few people insist on running old software.

 

[redheeler]

You have some flexibility, but most often you can only compile for the current and the previous version.

If a developer so chooses, they could make an app compatible back to Intel Tiger (Apple did drop PPC support in newer versions of Xcode, unfortunately). APIs are the limiting factor.

 

[Intell]

If a developer so chooses, they could make an app compatible back to Intel Tiger (Apple did drop PPC support in newer versions of Xcode, unfortunately). APIs are the limiting factor.

That's more work than it's worth. The shear amount of testing to get an app to build on 10.4-10.10 limits it to simple apps. APIs are not the only limiting factor, but the primary. Others include the developers' skill set, Apple's allowing of Xcode's expansion, and the limitations of the compilers.