The next iterations of Apple Inc.’s iOS and macOS operating systems may pack a big surprise for application makers.

Citing anonymous insiders, Bloomberg today reported that the iPhone maker is working on a unified development model for its devices. Application teams that wish to target both mobile and desktop users must currently build a separate version of their software for each of Apple’s operating systems. The new project, which is reportedly code-named  “Marzipan,” aims to enable the creation of a single cross-platform app in such scenarios that would work just as well on a Mac as an iPhone or iPad.

Apple’s vision is similar to what Microsoft Corp. tried to achieve with the Universal Windows Platform. It’s a technology that was originally meant to let developers port their desktop applications to Windows Phone without a complete rewrite. Since then, however, Microsoft has given up on its mobile operating system ambitions and changed the focus of UWP to other devices such as the Xbox One.

A consolidated development workflow can reduce the amount of resources needed to release software for multiple platforms. Apple’s new project should consequently make it feasible for more iOS developers to bring their applications to the Mac App Store, which currently has a fairly limited selection.

That’s particularly good news for Apple’s enterprise partners. SAP SE, IBM Corp. and several other big names have partnered with the iPhone maker in recent years to develop business apps for iOS. Marzipan could make it easier for them to make all those apps available on the Mac, which is the desktop platform of choice at a growing number of companies.

Reaction to the potential consolidation ranged all over the map. “I’ve always felt like Apple’s approach to keeping these platforms separate made more sense than trying to force them together a la Windows,” Jackdaw Research Chief Analyst Jan Dawson wrote in a tweet. “Worried a move in this direction would be a mistake.”

Others, however, had a more positive view, even while acknowledging that it could be a difficult transition for Mac developers in particular. Web and iPhone software developer Marco Arment tweeted that although “going to make a lot of Mac developers pretty mad,” he likes the idea, and not just because it could provide a better experience for users. “It makes Mac apps economical for iOS developers to make,” he noted. “It’s the difference between a rich, modern Mac-app ecosystem, or a lot of potential Mac apps not existing at all or being relegated to shitty web/Electron apps.”

Bloomberg’s sources said that the project may be unveiled next June at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. As for when Marzipan will become generally available, the release roadmap could reportedly see it roll out as early as next year, presumably as part of the next releases of macOS and iOS. But the tipsters said that the plan is “still fluid” and may see the implementation undergo major changes or even get scrapped altogether.

As per usual, Apple declined to comment on the report.  

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