Why mono touch can write iOS apps in C# and can submit to AppStore?

Question

Is this the mono touch using a C# interrupter or compiler to transfer the C# code to Objective C? But based on the Apple guideline, a interrupter or compiler application is not allow to submit on the AppStore. How is this magic going on? Thanks.

Answer 1

From the Introduction to MonoTouch documentation:

MonoTouch allows you to write native iOS applications using C# and the .NET Base Class Library (BCL). Via the magic of Mono’s compiler, applications built on the MonoTouch platform compile down directly to native ARM assembly code.

Since it is compiling down to ARM code, there is no interpretation happening on the device while your app is running, which is why apps are in compliance with the AppStore requirements.

Answer 2

In the documentation, Introduction to MonoTouch (emphasis added):

MonoTouch allows you to write native iOS applications using C# and the .NET Base Class Library (BCL). Via the magic of Mono’s compiler, applications built on the MonoTouch platform compile down directly to native ARM assembly code. This contrasts with compilers for traditional .NET applications that create Intermediate Language (IL) code that compiles at run time. Even things like generics, which used to rely on Just In Time (JIT) compilation are available via Mono’s Ahead Of Time (AOT) compiler.

So there is no interpreter. It compiles to native ARM assembly.