Introduction
Apple is famous for its sleek products and closed ecosystem. But for developers in countries like Pakistan, the Apple ecosystem is more of a nightmare than a dream. From setting up a Mac to creating an Apple ID, from finding a compatible iPhone to dealing with PTA approvals — every step is frustrating, costly, and restrictive.
This is my personal journey of trying to build and test an iOS app from Pakistan.
1. Why You Need Mac and iPhone for iOS Development
If you want to develop for iOS:
Mac is required to build your project.
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iPhone is required to test your app.
Sounds simple. But when you don’t own a MacBook or an iPhone, you start looking for alternatives. That’s where my troubles began.
2. Running macOS on Virtual Machines (VirtualBox vs VMware)
I first tried to install macOS Ventura on a VirtualBox VM. After several attempts, the system kept getting stuck in a loop and would not boot properly.
I then switched to macOS Big Sur, which worked on VirtualBox. But the problem with Big Sur is that it only supports older versions of Xcode. The App Store, on the other hand, provides only the latest version.
This meant I needed an Apple account to download the right version of Xcode.
Later, I discovered that VMware runs macOS Ventura much more smoothly than VirtualBox. If you’re trying to set up macOS Ventura on PC, VMware is the better choice.
3. The Apple ID Verification Problem in Pakistan
Creating an Apple ID in Pakistan is another headache.
No matter how many times I tried (different carriers like Jazz and Zong, incognito mode, early morning attempts), I always faced this error at the phone number verification step:
“Security Code Error: Verification codes can’t be sent to this phone number at this time. Please try again later.”
After endless attempts, I found a workaround to create Apple ID when you are not getting the verification code on your phone number:
- Use a random US number during the Apple ID sign-up.
- Skip verification by selecting “Verify Later.”
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| Verify later to proceed with the account creation process in apple id. |
- After the account is created, go to Settings and change the phone number to your real Jazz/Zong number.
- You will then receive the verification code successfully.
Many developers in Pakistan face the same Apple ID verification error, and Apple still hasn’t fixed it.
4. Buying an iPhone for Testing in Karachi (The Saddar Experience)
The next step was to buy an iPhone.
In Saddar, Karachi, I found that a JV iPhone 13 Pro costs around 1.0 to 1.1 lac PKR. But here’s the problem: JV phones will never be PTA-approved.
I purchased one iPhone 13 Pro for testing, but soon discovered it wasn’t airtight, despite the shopkeeper claiming it was. A simple test at my local shop (blowing air through the SIM tray) proved it was leaking. When I confronted the seller, he made excuses and agreed to take it back.
Lesson learned: never trust blindly when buying phones in Saddar. Or even your Career! Always trust Allah!
5. Why I Dislike Apple’s Ecosystem (Especially in Pakistan)
Here are the reasons why I find Apple’s ecosystem frustrating:
- $100/year developer fee just to publish apps.
- Apple takes a large cut from app revenue.
- macOS runs properly only on Apple hardware, which is expensive.
- Virtual machines are slow and unreliable.
- Apple ID creation in Pakistan is buggy and unnecessarily complicated.
- iPhone upgrades feel less and less significant.
- PTA approval costs make iPhones even more unaffordable.
Conclusion
For developers in Pakistan (and many other countries), the Apple ecosystem feels like a closed club, expensive to enter and frustrating to deal with.
Yes, iOS development is lucrative, but the barriers make it discouraging. For now, I’ll continue experimenting, but one thing is clear:
👉 The Apple ecosystem is not developer-friendly, especially outside the US when you dont want to spend or don't have enough money to invest.
Remember my journey is not end here. I will share more experiences when I get another device.
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