The set of software development tools, frameworks, and resources utilized to create applications for earlier versions of Apple’s mobile operating system enables continued support and maintenance. An example of its application is modifying an app designed for iOS 5 to function correctly on an iPad 2, or maintaining compatibility with an older peripheral device requiring specific system libraries.
Maintaining access to these older resources allows organizations to extend the lifespan of existing applications, catering to users who have not upgraded their devices or prefer older software versions. This can be particularly crucial for specialized or niche applications where rewriting the entire codebase for a modern environment would be cost-prohibitive. Furthermore, accessing historical versions of the software development environment is key for forensic analysis, research and development requiring reproducibility of experiment on old iOS versions.