About

The Android NDK currently supports c/c++. This project is an effort to add Objective C 2.0 support to gcc 4.2.1 bundled in the Android NDK. The end goal of this project is to build a compiler that is suitable for use with Xcode as a platform compiler. Integration for specification adherence is a large consideration beyond just the linguistic additions.

What this project will/wont do

GCC is a compiler, it does not have any SDKs or libraries associated with building targets (excluding those of which are built by gcc like libobjc etc). This fork of the NDK allows for compilation of Objective C 2.0 based code, it does not allow for the compilation using frameworks like Foundation or UIKit since they do not yet exist for the Android platform.

The compiler is and must retain an open source project. The libraries for CoreFoundation, Foundation, UIKit etc. as Android targeted products as well as the compiler specifications and platform plugins for Xcode are currently closed source and are currently in development stages.

Sponsoring

This fork of the Android NDK is being sponsored and maintained by Versv LLC.

Get Involved

This project needs your help! In order to determine compatibility with obj-c 2.0 there needs to be a considerable amount of testing (both in compilation of the compiler as well as the products the compiler generates).

Testers: Individuals that are intimately familiar with the iPhone SDK as well as the Android Java SDK capable of nailing down where the errors occur and potentially how to fix them.

Compiler Developers: Experience with building gcc from scratch (and modifying the code base) is a must. Also must have vast knowledge when it comes to how the runtime calls that are constructed for objc/obj-c++.

Library Developers: Need to have lots of experience with building JNI libraries, must also be a wizard with the objc runtime: knowing all the in's and out's of how classes are constructed, method calls are dispatched and thread/memory management needs to be implemented for mobile devices.

Interface Builder Integration Developer: Must have vast knowledge on the inner-workings of the Android UI xml as well as a good familiarity with building Interface Builder plugins.

Xcode Integration Developer: Experience making Xcode plugins an absolute must. Must be adept at making templates and xcode specification files.

More Information on joining associated portions of this project. Or email jobs@versv.com