Apple plans to allow developers to launch universal applications running on the iPhone, iPad and Mac by 2021, the upcoming SDK in June

Apple aims to allow developers to launch universal applications running on iPhone, iPad and Mac by 2021, according to a new report released today by BloombergThat's Mark Gurman.

The ultimate goal of the multi-step initiative, called "Marzipan", is by 2021 to help developers create an application once and run it on iPhone, iPad and Mac computers, said people familiar with the effort. This should stimulate the creation of new software and increase the usefulness of the gadgets of society.

According to Gurman, Apple plans to let developers carry iPad Mac applications with the help of a new software development kit that the company will release as early as the month of June at WWDC. Apple presented an overview of the apps plan, without revealing the roadmap, at the developer conference last year.

Apple typically introduces the next major releases of its iOS and macOS operating systems to WWDC in June, with beta versions of each platform available for developers and public testers until September. So it makes sense that an SDK for universal applications begins to be deployed pre-release software.

Developers will still have to submit separate versions of the app to iOS and Apple's Mac App Stores, but with the new kit, they will not have to write the underlying software code twice , said the people familiar with the plan. By 2020, Apple plans to extend the kit so that iPhone applications can be converted to Mac applications in the same way.

The "Marzipan" project is considered one of the most important changes in Apple's roadmap, although Apple's plans are "fluid" and could be modified, according to sources. from Gurman.

According to the first rumors about the idea of ​​universal applications in 2017, the first rumors suggest that they were a harbinger of Apple's plans to create a system for the future. unified operation for all its devices, but these rumors seem to have been unfounded. Apple has already announced that it will not combine iOS and macOS into one operating system.

The work on universal apps aligns with Apple's preparations for the transition of some Macs to its own chips as early as 2020. The Apple initiative, which would be codenamed " Kalamata ", is part of an effort to improve the similar functioning of Macs, iPhones and iPads perfectly together. Apple Macs are currently using Intel chips, but Apple is already designing its own A-series chips found in the iPhone and iPad.

Apple plans to hold its annual software conference June 3-7 in San Jose, California, based on license filings discovered by MacRumors.