The Hacker News thread discusses "xtool.sh," a tool enabling iOS app development on Linux or Windows, bypassing Apple's requirement for macOS. A major concern raised is potential violation of Apple's licensing agreement, which restricts running Apple SDKs and software on non-Apple hardware. While some believe Apple might tolerate hobbyist use, others fear repercussions if the tool gains popularity. The discussion also touches on CI/CD services, with clarification that they typically utilize actual macOS machines. Users debate Apple's ability to detect builds from non-Apple machines and discuss anti-competitive concerns. Some developers share experiences of being locked into expensive hardware upgrades by Apple's software updates. Alternatives like Flutter are mentioned as attractive options for cross-platform development. Some users point out that Apple should not restrict their software to only apple devices.