EEliberto

EEliberto/IPA-Download

Swift Apache-2.0 Mobile Single maintainer risk

一款用于安装 IPA 历史版本的工具,适用于获取旧版应用并自动捕获数据包。下载后,可直接通过 AirDrop 传输至 iPhone、iPad 上并安装并使用。

1.5k stars
90 forks
recent
GitHub +38 / week

1.5k

Stars

90

Forks

0

Open issues

1

Contributors

Pastel9 22 Jun 2026

AI Analysis

Pastel is a macOS application for downloading historical versions of iOS/iPadOS apps (IPAs) from the App Store, with support for multiple regional stores and automatic Apple account region detection. It is purpose-built for users who need to access older app versions, capture network traffic, and sideload apps via AirDrop to iOS/iPadOS devices. This tool is specialized for macOS 26+ with Apple Silicon only; it is not for general app management but specifically for app version archival and net...

Mobile Application Discovery value: 6/10
Documentation 7/10
Activity 9/10
Community 7/10
Code quality 5/10

Inferred from signals mentioned in the README (tests, CI, type safety) — not a review of the actual code.

Overall score 7/10

AI's overall editorial judgment — not an average of the bars above, can weigh other factors too.

ios-app-management app-downloader macos-utility ipa-tools swiftui
Actively maintained Niche/specialized use case Well documented Production ready
Deep Analysis · Based on README and public signals
2w ago

macOS IPA download tool with multi-source support and Apple account integration, launched June 2026

Pastel is a Swift-based macOS application for downloading current and historical iOS app versions (IPAs) from multiple sources including Apple's App Store, with features for multi-region App Store browsing, two-factor authentication handling, AirDrop integration, and ICloud Keychain credential storage. Target users appear to be iOS developers, security researchers, and users seeking older app versions. Built for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 26+. The project gained 308 stars in its first 7 days (15 days after creation), suggesting initial momentum within a specialized audience.

Origin

Project created June 13, 2026. Explicitly acknowledges prior work by ipatool (Go, 9,494 stars) and ipatools.ts, along with architectural references from SideStore and Asspp. Positions itself as solving specific pain points in existing IPA download tools, particularly around two-factor authentication reliability and data persistence. Appears to be a Swift-native alternative to existing Go and shell-based solutions.

Growth

Extremely recent project (15 days old at analysis date). 308 stars gained in first 7 days represents high initial velocity for a niche developer tool. However, this brief timeframe makes growth trend prediction unreliable. The appeal to Chinese-speaking developer communities (primary language support, references to 618 shopping event) and macOS+Apple Silicon specificity may have driven early adoption within that demographic. Recent push activity (June 22, 2026) indicates active development continuation.

In production

Adoption not verified. No documentation of production usage, user testimonials, or deployment metrics. README describes features and UI but does not quantify real-world user base. The tool appears designed for end-user deployment (AirDrop to iOS devices) rather than enterprise infrastructure, making adoption difficult to measure from public signals.

Code analysis
Architecture

Built in Swift with SwiftUI for macOS 26+ UI. Appears to use Node.js backend (npm dependency noted in build instructions). Likely implements App Store authentication via GSA (Graphical Secure Authentication) derived from SideStore. Based on README, supports multiple IPA sources (Timbrd, Agsy, Bilin) via version ID lookup. Integration with iCloud Keychain for credential storage suggested by README but implementation not visible.

Tests

Not documented in README. No mention of test suites, CI/CD pipelines, or testing methodology.

Maintenance

Last push 6 days before analysis date (June 22, 2026) indicates active development. Repository is 15 days old, so assessment of long-term maintenance patterns is premature. 80 forks and 1,376 stars for a brand-new project suggest community interest, but long-term commit frequency cannot be assessed from metadata alone.

Honest verdict

ADOPT IF: you are a macOS (Apple Silicon) user needing reliable multi-source IPA downloading with strong two-factor authentication, prefer native SwiftUI interfaces, and work within the Chinese developer ecosystem or require multi-language support. AVOID IF: you require Windows/Linux support (explicitly not planned), need production-grade stability signals over 6+ months, or depend on cross-platform CLIs rather than GUI applications. MONITOR IF: you are an iOS developer or security researcher evaluating tools in early maturity—watch for sustained commit frequency, issue triage responsiveness, and real-world reliability reports over the next 2–3 months before production reliance.

Independent dimensions

Mainstream potential

3/10

Technical importance

6/10

Adoption evidence

2/10

Risks
  • Dependency on Apple's App Store authentication mechanisms; future App Store API changes could break core functionality without warning.
  • Platform lock-in to macOS 26+ with Apple Silicon; no Windows version planned and no indication of future iOS/web client support.
  • Extremely recent project (15 days old); long-term maintenance commitment and bug-fix responsiveness unproven; single-author project structure unclear from README.
  • Multi-source IPA repositories (Timbrd, Agsy, Bilin) outside developer's control; availability and legality of historical versions may vary by region and content.
  • Two-factor authentication implementation relies on GSA protocol borrowed from SideStore; vulnerabilities or discontinuation in upstream dependency could cascade.
Prediction

Likely to retain steady adoption among Apple Silicon Mac users in Asia-Pacific regions (given language support priority), with potential growth if two-factor auth reliability becomes a known pain point in competitor tools. Unlikely to displace ipatool given Go's portability advantage. Project trajectory will depend heavily on whether author sustains active development beyond the initial launch phase and addresses bug reports responsively.

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Languages

Swift
73.9%
JavaScript
25.7%
Shell
0.4%

Information

Language
Swift
License
Apache-2.0
Last updated
3w ago
Created
4w ago
Analyzed with
anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5

Stars over time

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Contributors over time

Top 100 contributors only — repos with more will plateau at 100.

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Open issues

No open issues — clean slate.

Open pull requests

No open pull requests.

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vs. alternatives
majd/ipatool (9,494 stars, Go)

Mature, multi-platform Go implementation with established adoption. Pastel differentiates via native macOS UI (SwiftUI), multi-source support (Timbrd/Agsy/Bilin), and explicit two-factor auth improvements. ipatool remains significantly larger and platform-agnostic; Pastel optimizes for Apple Silicon Macs specifically.

LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit (2,655 stars, Shell)

Broader legacy iOS device support (downgrading, jailbreaking). Pastel focuses narrowly on IPA downloading and installation. Different use cases; not direct substitutes.

Lakr233/AssppWeb (3,480 stars, TypeScript)

Web-based IPA distribution platform. Pastel is a client-side downloader; AssppWeb is a server/hosting platform. Serve different roles in the IPA ecosystem.

abrignoni/iLEAPP (1,111 stars, Python)

iOS app analysis and log parsing. Does not compete with Pastel on IPA acquisition; addresses post-acquisition forensic analysis instead.